(Too) Efficient formation setting?

[Atrik]

Under Options > Gameplay > Formation control, one can set orders to unit to not override current formation. With the current workings of formations, this can lead to a non-negligible efficiency gain for orders like gather, build, capture... This because units will waste far less time bumping into each others while in the same formation.

I'm posting this because I have for a long time, I not understood it was a setting when witnessing players using it, thinking it was marginal usage of a custom command where the game allowed you to define formation. Recently, much more players starting using it, so I started to try it too. I'm used to using formation at my advantage in fights, so I don't hate the current formation buffs. However for economy, it feels a bit... Weird... To be able to make gains using formations, that should be more like a battle thing.

I don't have a defined opinion or improvement ideas for this, but hoping opening a thread on it can gather interesting ones.

[OP Farms]

I've been using this option too for a while now, and honestly, the difference is quite noticeable, especially for tasks like gathering or building.

[AlexHerbert]

I heard that from weirdjokes too and I also use it

[Boudica]

I just recently discovered that option too. It's probably the easiest of the strong tricks to use. Maybe the option should only be available through a separate mod that people will install if they prefer a less APM-intensive gameplay. 

[Atrik]

27 minutes ago, Boudica said:

Maybe the option should only be available through a separate mod that people will install if they prefer a less APM-intensive gameplay. 

It's a bit more APM overall, you have to make sure formation is toggled only when desired. Which is what I don't really like, you want to get the efficiency gain from it, but you also have to go with the frustrations of having units in formations at random times .

[real_tabasco_sauce]

so basically there's less unit pushing when they are technically in a formation, so they spend less time bumping into each other when gathering.

[Deicide4u]

On 28/09/2025 at 6:05 PM, Atrik said:

Under Options > Gameplay > Formation control, one can set orders to unit to not override current formation.

Good way to make your units stay in formation, even if they're attacking. If you haven't seen Roman Legionaries fighting in a Testudo formation, you're missing out. 

On 28/09/2025 at 6:05 PM, Atrik said:

However for economy, it feels a bit... Weird...

I agree, units shouldn't stay in formation for economic tasks, no matter which option you set. Not even if it's more efficient. 

[guerringuerrin]

@Vantha A call to make a tooltip for the loading screen