AI use of split units

[Ironclad]

I have been impressed with the much greater staying power of the AI following the beta change allowing it to split most of its units (those possible) in outnumbered situations in detailed battle. The extra units also give greater scope to its enhanced aggression on the battlefield as well as making more difficult outflanking. Since I am playing CSA at present - there are fewer opportunities for this to happen for the Union AI (ie being outnumbered) but when it has it looks good. It seems to be equally effective when used by the CSA AI.

I still tend to make little use of splits myself, until the pursuit stage, so the AI multi-splits in my games are gaining from the frontage penalties introduced in the patch. Has any one tried using multi-splits for their own forces and if so how effective are the AI splits there? I must try it out myself at some stage.

One interesting issue is whether it makes large surrenders easier, harder, or makes no difference. It certainly forces one to split more to effect captures but there are more to encircle and for every half unit that escapes, I assume the parent brigade survives.

[sadja]

I did split my troops the very first battle including the art battery. My problem is how to recombine durring battle. I have looked in the manual and the keypad but still don't know how. The fire power is weak but it kept the union from out flanking me.

[Ironclad]

You can't recombine so you are committed to the end of the battle. Helpful if you could, maybe worth adding to the wish list. Splitting does seem worth considering to hold the line when significantly outnumbered especially if defending. If splitting maybe only choosing some units, to retain a number intact (including artillery) for heavy firepower and counter-attacks where possible.

[moose1999]

One thing I've noticed, though, that is a little irritating, is that my own units have a tendency to split the minute they have an opportunity - i.e. when they go out of command and I am not able to bring them back right away.
It has disturbed my tactics a couple of times, now.
In my last battle three units suddenly split almost at the same time and completely disrupted my attack.
Seems the enemy AI is not the only one who likes splitting now.
Still, it did make that particular battle rather more frantic and unpredictale, which wasn't a bad thing (I ended up losing narrowly, killed more men than him and had him at 4 morale when my units started to break... Great battle, actually [:)])
So, not sure it's a bad thing, but the new splitting code does interfere somewhat with the players control of his units, intentional or not.

[Ironclad]

That shouldn't be happening, if you have a save I'm sure Eric would like to see it. The change was to affect AI behaviour on splitting leaving the human player with continued free choice of whether to split any of his units. In contrast the frontage penalties do apply to all applicable units - AI and human.

[ericbabe]

I noticed this myself just yesterday: when the AI takes over an OOC unit it can split it for you.  It shouldn't be able to do this (alas!), so I'll have to get a new build up to fix this.

[Ironclad]

Even worse, I have just had a battle where one of my divisions converted to split brigades (except for the artillery) long before enemy contact. It was definitely intact at the start. I have saves for the start of the battle and after the event (maybe a turn or so later). Apparently AI inspired as I never split any units during the action. My CSA army was outnumbered and defending.

[ericbabe]

I think it can also happen if you're using the auto-move thing too!  Fortunately easily fixed.  Ironclad if you could e-mail your save file to me (ericbabe@west-civ.com) I'd be much obliged.