Sending Couriers and 1.103

[Hancock the Superb]

I seem to recall being able to send couriers to my subordinate and having them follow them. However, I've been playing recently, and have been unable to make them do anything! The courier gets to them and disappers, but the units don't do anything.

They are not tc'd (though I have tried them with it tc'd), detached (though I've tried with them detached), and everything is normal. Looked in my .ini file and don't see anything odd in there.

.log file is below. I find that the note in the log file about it being 1.102 is interesting, cause I just downloaded the patch (again) to make sure it wasn't 1.102.

Thanks for your help.

[Grog]

I have also found this at the start of a Sandbox game using courier orders to move a corps.

It appears that there is an initial delay of execution, roughly 9-10 mins. The Corps then proceed to their ordered destination after this time has lapsed.

I'm not sure whether this represents the time taken to get a large formation moving or perhaps there is a period at the start restricting courier orders from being executed.

Does this order delay apply later? - I'm not sure. I'll test this out and report, unless one of the lads here can help?

[Grog]

After testing, the courier orders are executed immediately on receiving (once the first 9 mins of the sandbox game has elapsed).

I notice units are in a state of rallying on starting the game. I wonder if this is the reason for this delay?? Perhaps we have to wait for the units to finish rallying?

I havn't noticed if the enemy (AI) have a similar delay.

Appols if this has been answered elsewhere. BTW, is there an up to date list of known issues/bugs?

[Marching Thru Georgia]

Hancock wrote:

I find that the note in the log file about it being 1.102 is interesting, cause I just downloaded the patch (again) to make sure it wasn't 1.102.

No, it should read 1.1034.

I seem to recall being able to send couriers to my subordinate and having them follow them. However, I've been playing recently, and have been unable to make them do anything! The courier gets to them and disappers, but the units don't do anything.

Watch the commander receiving the order. When the courier arrives, the commander's horse will start wagging it's tail furiously. When it stops, the order has finished being transmitted and the commander will begin to act upon it.

Grog wrote:

After testing, the courier orders are executed immediately on receiving (once the first 9 mins of the sandbox game has elapsed).

I have never seen such a delay. Usually at the start there is a delay of a few seconds as the AI gets everything set. Does the entire corps just sit there, or only part of it? If you are using custom settings on the option screen and have the courier orders set to division or brigade, your subordinates will also use couriers to communicate with his troops. This will cause a long delay if the courier has to take a long route to the outlying units.

[Grog]

Thanks Marching thru Georgia

After some playing around with the options, it appears to have been my battle start time which was causing the delay.

I changed it from 7am to 8am. The orders by courier are now acted on immediately (or within a few seconds).

A test for starting at 5am showed no response but I didn't have time to wait until 0709hrs.

Can anyone replicate this delay with early battle start?

PS I wasn't using your excellent Courier and Mini map mod on these tests

cheers

[Marching Thru Georgia]

Ah yes, it's very important to have the orders time and execution time be the same. If the execution time is much earlier than the orders time, your commander will think you want him to carry out your orders the next day! Note, you don't actually have to click on a time, just click on the Time & Date tab and the orders and execution time will be the same.

[Hancock the Superb]

The time does seem to be the problem. It was set for something like 47 something!

The game seems to be up to date, yet that doesn't explain the .log file with the version number. I just downloaded the new version patch again, too.

[Grog]

Thanks MTG

You are correct in your deduction that it is the incorrect execution time which has been causing the delays.

I have been failing to add this to my orders

I had wrongly assumed that the execution time would ALWAYS be automatically set to the current time, unless I wished to delay the orders.

This does happen normally once you have manually set the execution for the very first order.

Unless you do this, the Execution time will be set at the time of the last order from the PREVIOUS GAME.

I don't know if this has been 'Hancock's' problem or if anyone else has noticed this.

Perhaps it is intentional but I would say it looks more like a small bug.

Being little forgetful, I would prefer the execution time to be automatically reset (each game) to the present time on accessing the Courier orders screen, without having to click on the Time/Date tab to reset it.

Cheers

[con20or]

It actually doesnt set up automatically, even after you have sent the first order correctly. You'll see its usually about 1-5 seconds behind. You need to specify the time for every message, even if being sent immediately.

I would agree that it is a bug.

[Marching Thru Georgia]

The time offset has been around since day one. I just automatically click on the Time & Date tab. But you're right, this is an unecessary 'feature'. I'll put it on the list.