is there actually a point to withdrawing?

[Nuggs]

Almost every time i withdraw, with out fail, my units will take the worst possible paths off the map, typically by retreating into enemy lines, not to mention half the time i order troops to withdraw they auto cancel the with draw order if a single enemy moddle touches my retreating unit and they will stop running away and begin fighting.

Is it just better to completely let your army get owned and re build it later, over retreating then?I'm unsure why when you order units to withdraw your guys will just stop doing so. I feel like if im ordering units to retreat they should continue to do so. I think i lose more men trying to retreat with intent on preserving my army than i actually wind up getting out safely.

[XTAKK]

To tactically withdraw you need additional forces to cover the retreat, essentially playing leap frog where you withdraw one unit, while using another to pin the enemy in place until the 1st unit has made some distance and then the 1st unit will be used as the new holding position. you shouldnt hit the actual withdraw button until you are out of danger, and instead simply quick march the desired units to their new position as you make your way to safety. One thing to keep in mind is if you are retreating slow, heavy troops against light, fast enemy troops you will take massive casualties as the enemy will be able to keep up with you are make many more attacks on your units while they are attempting to run away.

If you just hit the withdraw button and provide no cover unit then yes, you will take lots of casualties. usually withdrawing isn't a sign the battle is going in your favor anyway, so if you can withdraw enough of your forces to keep your general and army alive until the next turn, its usually better than outright defeat. Total defeat comes with not only a military and strategic loss, but usually heavy political consequences as well, which may trigger large revolts and successions.

The only times I have used this is as a delaying action to enemy army or a group of armies that I can't defeat with the current available forces, but could inflict enough casualties to delay their assault on an important city or town. That delaying action can sometimes buy you overall victory in a campaign as the AI tends to over commit their forces and leave themselves vulnerable at home.

[Ronin]

Manually draw units back and once they are clear then hit withdraw and they'll go to the closest edge of 'your' side of the map

[Salty Nobody]

Originally posted by Ronin:

Manually draw units back and once they are clear then hit withdraw and they'll go to the closest edge of 'your' side of the map

This. I have mine manually flee almost to the edge of the map before hitting the withdraw button.

If you are defending and you are so screwed that you are trying to withdraw your whole army, odds are very high that the enemy will be able to catch it again. It doesn't run very far. Also note that if you already retreated once your whole army will disband if you lose the battle initiated on the second attack. Even if you withdraw everyone safely from the battlefield your whole army will be wiped out on the campaign map.