Formation order rework

[Atrik]

This poll aim to define what would be community preference for the order the units have by default in a formation. Thanks in advance for your vote or comment.

https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/pulls/8547

[Atrik]

Assuming we always prefer ranged units behind melee in the poll above. Below a formation with Cavarly first then Infantry, you can see Ranged Cavalry will still be behind melee Infantry.

[Gurken Khan]

1 hour ago, Atrik said:

Below a formation

Assuming you had ten healers, where would they be?

[Atrik]

11 minutes ago, Gurken Khan said:

Assuming you had ten healers, where would they be?

Unchanged. At the back, as all units that we don't sort. We could define a position for them if you suggest one / want to make a point, but very likely the current is fine right.

Edited 18 hours ago by Atrik

[Gurken Khan]

3 hours ago, Atrik said:

the current is fine

Yeah, I guess. (I hated formations, maybe I should have another look at them.)

[Deicide4u]

Cavalry was always at the fore-front in every major historical battle. So, cavalry first, then infantry.

Champions are tougher, so they maybe should be in front of CS in a formation.

Another logic would be that CS are a good fodder, so we should place CS in front of champions. This is also more historically accurate, as many armies reserved their elite troops for later engagements, when the enemy was exhausted by "fodder".

[Gurken Khan]

1 hour ago, Deicide4u said:

Cavalry was always at the fore-front in every major historical battle.

Weren't they usually to the side(s)?

[Genava55]

https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/blogs/gary-brueggemans-the-roman-army-ancient-warfare/the-march-basics

https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/blogs/gary-brueggemans-the-roman-army-ancient-warfare/march-the-legion-components

https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/blogs/gary-brueggemans-the-roman-army-ancient-warfare/march-noncombatants-and-legion-baggage

https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/blogs/gary-brueggemans-the-roman-army-ancient-warfare/march-the-whole-army

https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/blogs/gary-brueggemans-the-roman-army-ancient-warfare/the-order-of-march

https://www.karwansaraypublishers.com/blogs/gary-brueggemans-the-roman-army-ancient-warfare/attacking-the-marching-column

 

[LienRag]

The logic of having cavalry in the back is to allow it to move through the sides.

The problem of having it in the front is that you don't want to send your cavalry first into a spearmen shield wall (which is the dominant historical form).

 

Move formation ("column" in napoleonian warfare) should have cavalry in the front but combat formation ("line") have it in the back.

Except for specific formations, of course.