Battlefield tactics?

[RedRooster81]

Given the success of Mount & Blade and Warband under Paradox's aegis, I wonder if it would be possible to implement some basic take-the-field tactics. Nothing that would drain off too much graphical resources, but especially when your current character is acting as his (or her ) own general it would be nice to have the option of at least watching the battle unfold, at least from horseback or atop a good viewing position. EU3 had some basic tactical mapping during battle resolutions, but I want a bit more out of the programmers, which I mean with all possible respect.

There is a thread asking for the ability to play as an adviser to the king. Why not a marshal or mercenary captain, at least at the very beginning, or maybe the leader of a town? Medieval and Renaissance Italy (as well as many other parts of Europe and the Mediterranean world) is just not the same without those either condottieri or city-states.

 

[Kodos666]

I don't think thats possible with the Clausewitz-engine.
Maybe a short event which gives us some semi-random choices of tactics (as they are dependant on terrain) which give benefits or negate enemy tactical benefits.

 

[unmerged(52731)]

Eww, god no. Nothing personal but that idea is terrible. Pdox games are great as large, overarching strategy games. Playing something as "zoomed in" as a character in battle would detract from the overall experience. Not to mention, games that attempt to do everything rarely do any of it well.

 

[LordofSaxony]

I wouldn't mind if it was similar to Dominions 3 in that regard, it's pretty light-weight yet deep, well as deep as you want it to get I guess. The battle is also automated.

I can go either way, but it's nice to have a little depth regarding tactics (even if very light), otherwise it's the "biggest blob wins". If you don't want to do tactics, there can be a simple playbook of just pre-created normal tactics that you can choose from.

 

[Nimic]

This will never, ever, ever, ever happen in a Paradox game.

Ever.

 

[LordofSaxony]

What if there was a pop-up when first initiating combat that simply says..

Tell your army to..

• Normal attack
• Flank the enemy
• Attempt to ambush the enemy
• Charge the enemy

Each has it's bonuses and penalties, which can lead to narrow wins, crushing defeats, and such. This could, if done right, tone down the whole "biggest army wins" problem. For example, if you choose normal attack and the enemy chooses flanking, you get a penalty. If you choose attempt to ambush the enemy and they choose flank the enemy, you'll get a bonus. Since this would be only at the beginning of combat, I wouldn't think it would be much of a hassle.

 

[Nimic]

But you're not supposed to do the tactical side of it. You've got generals for that.

In any case, that sounds a bit too much like a rock, paper, scissors-arcadey feature .

 

[DukeWilleo1630]

merging ck and m&b would be neat, but it would be a whole new game. I've always thought it would be neat to be 'in' a game like EU/CK. Like you're the king, at court. Heh.

But I liked the combat system in the original CK to be honest. Hope there's not much of a change.

 

[unmerged(52731)]

What I think WOULD be cool is battlefield events similiar to HoI: flank, feint, etc which, depending on the makeup of yours and the opposing army, can have major effects on the battle. Combine that with the feature from Rome were certain generals gain affinities for certain tactics and your golden. Imagine actually caring about the makup of your armies due to the fact that your flank happy general can defeat a force 3 times his strength with enough light cavalry. It would be a feature for those of us who want a little more potential control over battles without being as intrusive and agitating as events or, god help us, tactical battles.

 

[LordofSaxony]

What I think WOULD be cool is battlefield events similiar to HoI: flank, feint, etc which, depending on the makeup of yours and the opposing army, can have major effects on the battle. Combine that with the feature from Rome were certain generals gain affinities for certain tactics and your golden. Imagine actually caring about the makup of your armies due to the fact that your flank happy general can defeat a force 3 times his strength with enough light cavalry. It would be a feature for those of us who want a little more potential control over battles without being as intrusive and agitating as events or, god help us, tactical battles.

I wouldn't mind seeing that, anything to make the biggest army wins problem go away.

 

[Bonkajs]

I like LordofSaxony idea

 

[SAS]

If you want a tactical crusader game get the upcoming Lionheart game from Paradox.

 

[philios82]

The biggest problem with this I can see is that if you're at war and you've got twenty battles to fight in the next year, how long before you just start hitting auto resolve. Seems like a cool feature but I bet most people wouldn't use it.

 

[RedRooster81]

Optimally, it would be optional and for me only if your current character is the commander. Just on my mind and thought I'd throw it out there as both a fan of M&B and CK.

 

[ComradeOm]

I love M&B as much as the next person but that just wouldn't fit with a P'dox game. If only because it would make the game far too easy