some people have been asking about the control system so here are a few details to explain how it works. The thinking behind it all was to avoid a reaction based click fest. We wanted good strategy to win the day & age
* Before the battle you'll see the terrain and deploy your troops. You can set simple orders and set formations. You can also set more complex way points for squads to follow. Once you're happy you start the battle and your men will carry out the orders you gave them until you issue new instructions.
* When an order is issued there is a delay before it arrives with the squad, effectively a messenger.
* Every order issued uses up order points. When these are expended the general must wait for them to recharge before issuing more orders.
* Each type of squads requires a different number of order points to control. E.g. Legionaries are easy to control compared to elephants.
* The formation a squad is in effects the number of points it costs to issue an order. Lines increase the order cost, blocks have no effect & columns reduce the order cost. Often generals will keep a reserve in column so it can be easily dispatched to the part of the battlefield that needs it most.
* Squads can learn skills as they gain experience. The player can choose to specialise them in drill skills which reduce the order points required to control them.
* Squads can learn new formations as they gain skills. Some formations are fundamentally easier to control.
* The general can also learn skills. If he chooses to specialise in command and control he can boost the rate his order points recharge or increase his maximum order point storage.
* When the general dies there are huge order point penatlies and the army becomes very hard to control.
This means you can take direct control of the battles, but you still have to rely at least in part on your initial pre-battle plan. We've found it works really well and gives a great flavour of the period. It's great fun in multiplayer, as you also get the chance to design your army before the battle starts.
I think that covers the basics, but we'll be releasing a demo soon, so you'll be able to check it out for yourselves
