Help with courier system please

[Martin James]

Is it me, or are some elements of this not working as intended? I have had mixed results using couriers in single and multiplayer, in terms of whether the subordinates respond. So this morning as a test I set myself up as a division commander and tried sending couriers to nearby brigade commanders. I found that, while they respond to several of the orders, others appear to have no effect. I focussed on just the ‘Orders’ tab, and didn’t check all of the options, but those listed have been tried multiple times, with more than one recipient.

Those which worked:
-------------------
Have your unit Take Cover
Face your unit in this Direction
Wheel your unit Left
Wheel your unit Right
Change to this Formation
Have your unit Take Cover
Have your unit Halt
Have your unit About Face

No apparent effect:
-------------------------
Move to.......... (either to map point or location)
Advance your unit
Have your unit Fall Back
Have your unit Retreat

Has anyone else noticed this?

Still a great game though, and apologies if I've posted this in the wrong place.

Martin

[RebBugler]

Move to and advance work, you're doing something wrong. Fallback and retreat only work if the unit is engaged. Arty are stubborn to advance once they are firing, think you have to TC them, or hold fire, or orders none, or something...Help here, MTG?

[Martin James]

Thanks RebBugler.

Noted re Fall Back & Retreat. I hadn't realiased that, but can see it makes sense. Do you have to be in action for Advance to work too?

Re Move to...... I'm really not sure what else to do. Have tried with execution time as the current time, and as c15 mins later. Have tried prefacing move order with "Execute the Following Orders" and without. Also tried moving to a named location and by pointing on the map. Nothing works for me.

I should say that I am trying to give orders to infantry brigade commanders. Just tried again. I'm so close I can watch the courier arrive. This message(s) I've sent appear on screen, but the guys just sit there on their horses and smirk at me (well that last bit may be a fib).

Any suggestions?

Martin

[Marching Thru Georgia]

RebBugler wrote:

Help here, MTG?

At your service.

When giving the 'Move to map location' command, you also have to give the unit a formation order. Otherwise, the unit won't move.
Here is a typical movement order that I give. It is all in one order:
1. Move to a map location.
2. Face your unit in this direction.
3. Change to this formation.
4. Stance order. Hold, defend, attack, etc.
5. Use roads if possible. (only if this is more efficient than cross country travel.

Getting the artillery to move if the enemy is within range, (<1000 yds) is a little tricky. First you must cancel their stance, which is normally 'Hold at all costs' if they are firing away.
1. No orders. (otherwise they will not move)
2. Movement order.
3. Change to battery in line. (needed only if the movement order was to a map location)
4. Face your unit in this direction.

There is a division level tutorial in the NSD News section, Action At Trostle Farm. It's stickied. It will give you a fairly good overview of the courier system. Also, you might want to download the Courier & Mini-Map mod in the Mods section. It fixes a few problems in the stock courier orders and adds other useful commands. Note, mods won't work with the stock scenarios, just bonus scenarios and sandbox play.

The courier system is one of the best parts of the game. Once you learn it's peculiarities you will find it hard to go back to the point and click method of play. If you have any other questions, just ask.

[RebBugler]

Checked out the 'Move to' commands again and they all worked as advertised, with the exception of:
Can only move the commander with destination moves and I find no options to move his troops with him...iow, no formation options.

MTG, am I missing something here, do the courier commands with 'move to destination' need 'Aform:...' additions?

[Marching Thru Georgia]

RebBugler wrote:

MTG, am I missing something here, do the courier commands with 'move to destination' need 'Aform:...' additions?

Yes. There are several errors in the stock courier.csv of that nature. The best solution, the one I used in my mod, is to just put an A in front of all the commands. They will work for individual regiments in addition to larger units. I think the only one that doesn't is 'forcepath' for making an individual regiment use the roads.

[ADukes]

There are several errors in the stock courier.csv of that nature.

I don't think so. A commands would mess up the movement orders since all units would move to the same spot.

[Marching Thru Georgia]

A commands would mess up the movement orders since all units would move to the same spot.

Nope, they work just fine.

[Martin James]

Many thanks to all for their replies. I followed MTG's formula but unfortunately still cannot get my subordinates to move their troops, although they will respond to orders to move somewhere themselves.

I have a screenshot of a sandbox game on the alpine map, with an order to General Cutler of the Union 1st Corps, as it was delivered. I think this follows the formula, but Cutler did nothing. If someone would have a look at this and tell me what I am doing wrong, I would be very grateful. I can email it. Tried to attach it here as jpeg,png and gif, but for some reason cannot.

In desperation, I deleted all my installed game, and downloads, and re-downloaded the game & 1.2 patch. I've just realised that I should have de-activated my game before deleting it...ughh. Still have my code, but of course I just get a message that it's still in use, when I input it. Can anything be done, or must I pay again?

Martin

[Martin James]

Ah, I see I was able to attach it after all, but quality is not good. Have a much clearer copy I can attach, if anyone would like to give me their email.

Hopefully

Martin