Tactical micro management
Units located within the same engagement squares may be repositioned for tactical reasons without expending action points. This includes adjusting their order within the engagement square or moving them to adjacent engagement squares diagonal, left, right, front or rear to support offensive maneuvers or defend vulnerable units. If units are relocated to a different engagement square following their initial movement and this new location falls outside the designated operational zone, micro-management facilitates this maneuver. This approach enhances the game's flexibility in deploying troops in a line formation. The rotation of the unit's display is strictly prohibited for the purpose of facilitating the movement of other units. This function is exclusively intended for engagement actions and should not be utilized as a means of micro-management.
Consider the following example: a small battle group composed of two units in column formation, where a cavalry unit is positioned behind an infantry unit in an engagement square (smaller grid). To facilitate a cavalry charge, the infantry can be strategically repositioned to its rear within that same engagement square. Alternatively, should there be sufficient space available, the infantry unit may be relocated to another engagement square, either to the left, right or diagonal to clear a path for the cavalry's advance. This ability proves invaluable during combat scenarios, especially when units are organized into battle groups. Micromanagement can be implemented at any time during a player's turn, before or after an engagement It is important to note that each unit may only be repositioned once through micro management. This rule is consistently applied to all units relocated via micro management and requires no expenditure of action points.
Square formations
Infantry units can strategically position themselves into a square formation in the anticipation of a cavalry charge using micro management, by aligning four units from adjacent grids within movement range to converge in the same engagement square to a carré also known as square formation. Furthermore, infantry units can form a divisional square covering an entire operational zone by aligning eight units, another advantage that comes with the divisional square formation, is that artillery units can be protected as there is enough space around the units. This formation significantly enhances the infantry's defense against cavalry charges and costs no action point to use. Square formations can be effectively disrupted through coordinated infantry or lancer cavalry charges. To break the formation, direct a charge at one of the units composing the square. If this targeted unit survives, it will be forced to exit the engagement area, consequently dismantling the square's structure. This initial disruption permits subsequent cavalry units to execute follow-up charges, exploiting the compromised defensive capabilities of the broken formation.
Commanders have the strategic option to seek refuge within a designated square during critical situations. Once units are in square formations, they become stationary and must wait for one turn to disengage from this formation or to move to another location while in square formation. Additionally in a square formation, units have the capability to target surrounding adversaries and can break free momentarily to charge at enemy units before returning to their original positions.
Important to know, upon forming a square formation, they transition into a cohesive battle group. This formation allows them to move one operational zone per turn and engage in combat when required, utilizing one action point. It is important to note that infantry units cannot employ square formations in urban areas or when encircled by obstacles. Square formations are exclusively effective in open terrain, as only under these conditions can cavalry effectively target them.
Generals and micromanagement
The repositioning of Generals, whether prior to or following a battlefield engagement, is classified as micromanagement. This allows for advancing a commander within range before combat so that troops can benefit from the General’s influence. Notably, moving generals falls under tactical micromanagement and does not incur any action points.
Ambulance wagons and micromanagement
The relocation of ambulance wagons along the baseline of the battlefield is classified as tactical micromanagement. These movements can be executed at any moment during a player's turn without using any action points.