How to get a unit into an army?

[pancakeonions]

So I've got a hero and one unit sitting on my capital. I've also got another unit garrisoned in my capital. I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to get that garrisoned unit to join the army. I have the option (when the garrisoned unit is "selected" - I think) to "select all" and to "disband". The options for "new army" and "retr" are greyed out.

How do I get that garrisoned dude into my army? Thanks for any advice you might offer...

[Sirrus]

If there is unit on city hex and there is no free space, you can't create new army. Also you can't do that if garrisoned units have no moves left. To "join" units you just have to send one element into another; if total size allows merging, they will be merged. Otherwise, you'll have to reduce number of units about to joined.

[pancakeonions]

Hmm. OK. I'm outta my league here... Is there a tutorial or write up that explains this? What is "free space" and how do I check this? What's "total size" and how do I check this? I am pretty sure the unit had moves left, he hadn't moved and I think the icon next to move was showing 6/6 or something like that.

Thanks for your reply, btw - even if it does sound like I've got some serious reading up to do. I tried the in-game tutorial, and it got stuck on some un-finishable quest or something, so I couldn't finish it. I'm not *totally* lazy! ;)

I do wish this game was just a bit more transparent... After I get over this learning curve, it sure looks cool.

[қhgω.Halogen_Fluid]

Yes when doing the tutorial I thought I ran across a bugged quest or something in it, but what it was that it was wanting me to hit "Next Turn". So when in doubt during the tutorial just hit "Next Turn". Hope that helps.

[Sirrus]

Free space is free space, you can't form new army, if existing army (armies) already occupying city hex(es). To be able to "spawn" an army you have to have free, i.e. unoccupied city hex, at least single one. Since early in the game cities comprised of single hex, this may prevents spawning process. If you have an army staying in city (not as garrison, just occupying city hex) move that army away from city hex.
Total size, is maximum capacity of element. Early in game you cannot form elements (armies) consisting of more than four units. In midgame you'll be able to research a tech that would increase number of units in element to six. In late game you'll be able to research another tech, that would increase number of units in element to eight. That's maximum allowed number of units.
If you have two early armies, with capacity of four, and each army has only two units in, then you can merge them. If one army has three units and another have two, then you cannot merge them, you have to split one of them, so total sum of units would equal maximum allowed capacity.

[pancakeonions]

Originally posted by Sirrus:

If you have an army staying in city (not as garrison, just occupying city hex) move that army away from city hex.

Holy. F*cking. Crap.

I spent 30 minutes with my army SITTING ON THE CITY trying to get my freshly built settler INTO THAT ARMY. Trying this and that, reloading the game when I did something I couldn't revserse. What could be more intuitive? Move your army there, onto the city, and pick up the Settler, right? Ha.

Hilarious.

Thanks, Sirrus!

[Sirrus]

Not onto city, but close to.
If you have city that's spread out (city with borough(s)), then it's possible to spawn multiple armies, no more than number of boroughs. Keep that in mind when you'll be teleporting reinforcements to besieged Vaulters' city.