New Player : Help with troop commands

[DocDetroit]

I usually have an army of about 28 (3 other leaders. I assign 1 to command a group and the rest to follow me)

When I start the battle, no matter what I do, they all just stand there, unless I click either 1 and then tell them where "else" to stand (F1 and click for the placement) or I hit 0, and tell them all where to stand.

They just stand there and exchange ranged fire unless the enemy gets close enough to engage otherwise.

Every Video I watch shows another line of commands that "pop up" or show up evidently when you select a troop to give orders to (1-8). The other commands such as "fire at will", or "follow me" etc never pop up for me.

I've tried hitting about every key after I select a group so I can give more orders other than "move here (and pick your nose till the enemy gets here).

Any help is greatly appreciated for helping a newb to this game, thanks!

[Action Man]

Are you using Keyboard? The number keys - 1 through 8 - are assigned to each formation. If you have no units assigned to a formation, that key will default to selecting all. 0 also selects all.

Press the corresponding number key. Time should slow down, and you should see each of your formations on your screen, depicted by a small icon with the number of troops in it. Troops you are actively ordering will be a light grey. Units not being ordered will be dark grey. Over the troop head where you see the icon, a green circle should be around it for any actively selected troops. Once you have at least one formation, you should see a bunch of icons at the bottom of your screen, with an assigned hot key. Press those keys to get into what orders you want to give. If you just want a unit to move, select their formation and click anywhere on the map.

[BLACKcOPstRIPPa]

If you want them to do something on their own, hit their group number or "0" to select the entire army

Than hit F6

This activates delegate command.
So the ai takes over telling units to move etc.

Think of a companion leading an army as stat buff for their skills, not legit leading that unit.

The leading the unit is always you, until you hit that units command key, 1, 2 etc than hit F6

Than it will do what AI wants

[Chunk Norris ☯]

The F1,F2,F3, etc keys handles the movements and commands you can give them.
the number keys select the different groups.

You also need to direct with the mouth and either clicking a location or dragging the mouth to the kind of formation you want.

[DocDetroit]

Ok, thanks for the replies. I (think) I see at least part of the problem.

Turns out I'm a dolt, lol. I didn't have F-Lock on.. I do that sometimes always by accident. I still don't understand entirely, but I have allot more hope. Thanks for suggesting to look at the trooops and for different shades on the battlefield and hotkeys at the bottom as I was used to seeing them on Utube videos that popup after "seemingly" after you select what group to give orders to.

Wish me luck! Thanks guys!