Slitherine

I like the ability to transfer battles to FOG. The one thing I do not like is being forced to fight a battle whem it would be wiser to retreat. One solution could be to simply have a retreat before combat option. Mre realistic however would be to have the option to attempt a retreat to either a neighbouring region or to a regional fortress you hold in the present region. Chance of success would be determined by a range of factors including the opposing general's skills. the amount and type of cavalry (heavy, light). terrain, force strength, whether you are trying to retreat to a fortress or to another region etc, This might have one of several results.

1 The army might successfully break contact and retreat

2 As above but enemy pursues either to the neighbouring region and repeats the process as long as movement points are available

3 The army is forced into battle

When a battle is fought it would be good to be presented with the same options as given in FOG 2 (eg flank march) perhaps best decided in the tactical battle interface, Deciding which units are sent on a flank march would be a good feature, You could choose a reargaurd option as a further attempt to gain time for the army to escape

It's time to bring FOGII's rear guard battle mode. If one wants to retreat, he or she has to fight rear guard battle to ensure the main part of the army can retreat to somewhere. Otherwise, if rear guard battle fails, which means you are caught by the enemy. You have to have a full scale battle(engagement mode maybe) to ensure your retreat(because retreat has been chosen at the first hand, so you have to retreat even win the battle).

Indeed, why not do both. The strategic/operational approach I outlined might generate a rear-guard action as Melm suggests. There might be other choices offered, for example you want to harass the enemy as they march which generates an attack the baggage Or you could decide to do a flank march

Really like the idea of using the other battle modes in FOGII (or even inventing new ones)