The Battle Interface

Introduction

Use the battle interface to control your forces in combat. This basic guide to battlefield functionality can get you started straight away:

The Balance of Power Bar

During a battle the balance of power bar tracks the relative strength of your force against that of the enemy.

The Tactical Overview Map

The tactical overview map allows an aerial view of the battle detailing the position of our units or ships and those enemies that are visible, and also topography to assist in planning an attack. Orders can also be given from it. Click on the toggle button to display the map full screen. Remember to use it to check for enemy reinforcements.

Game Speed Controls

The game speed controls are used to adjust the speed of the battle. You can pause the game or put it into slow motion by clicking on buttons to the left or return it to normal by clicking on the central button again. The two positions further right are for double and quadruple speed respectively. Remember that you can use these controls instead of tiring your troops out by running to engage the enemy.

The Battle Timer

The battle timer shows how much time is left before a battle ends. The attacker must rout or destroy the defender within the time limit or lose the battle. To claim victory the defender has only to keep the attacker at bay. It is possible to turn off the battle timer in the game settings of the game menu, accessed either by pressing Esc or clicking on the game menu button from the campaign map or battlefield, or through the faction selection screen.

The Battle Review Panel

The battle review panel is the bar that appears across the bottom of the screen during battle. It contains the unit or ship cards representing your force, from which you can check their status and casualties. Clicking on a card selects a unit or ship, double-clicking on it zooms the camera directly to it. Pausing the game then right-clicking on a card opens an information panel. Ctrl + left-click on multiple cards enables you to easily select several units at once for grouping together.

The Fire-at-Will Button

Fire-at-will is a mode that allows your missile troops to pick their own targets rather than only firing when specifically ordered to do so. It can be toggled on and off with the button at the bottom of the screen. Keeping it toggled off helps preserve ammunition, but if you take your eye off them they may be forced into melee.

The Halt Button

Pressing this button cancels orders and makes selected units or ships stop where they are. This is a quicker alternative to giving them a different order.

The Loose Formation Button

As a reflection of their flexible and ultimately superior tactical training, loose formation can be used to increase the target area of Roman melee units only, making them more difficult for the enemy to target (as they not standing closely packed together). Loose formation is not suitable for charges of any kind, as a closely-packed mass of men is crucial to the impact required to smash through a line. It can be toggled on and off by clicking on the loose formation button that appears at the bottom of the screen when the relevant unit is selected.

The Melee Mode Button

Pressing the melee mode button locks the selected melee-capable units into melee mode, so all attack orders will result in a hand-to-hand attack until you click on the melee button again.

The Skirmish Mode Button

When in skirmish mode missile troops avoid getting into melee by keeping their distance from the enemy. When a unit of missile troops is selected the skirmish mode button will appear at the bottom of the screen, where it can be toggled on and off. A missile unit in skirmish mode, and with fire-at-will toggled on, can be a deadly combination.

The Wedge Formation Button

Wedge formation is available to cavalry units whose general has the "Cavalry Commander" skill, its "arrow head" shape increasing the violence of their charge and enabling them to more easily break through a defending unit’s ranks. It can be toggled on and off by clicking on the wedge formation button that appears at the bottom of the screen when a cavalry unit is selected.

The Withdraw Button

The withdraw button causes a unit or ship to leave the battle by travelling toward the edge of the field by the shortest route. It can be called back at any stage before it leaves by issuing a move or attack order.

The Movement Speed Button

The movement speed button is used to instantly increase or decrease the speed of units or ships. This is useful for going somewhere in a hurry, but using it too much causes fatigue.