Keeping formation

[.VM8RA]

How am i supposed to keep my team in formation, especially in the open when enemies attack from different areas, I will want my fighter to engage first so how am I supposed to keep the rank and file of the group? also my fighters picture starts turning red, really, really fast and gets knocked out (well has been)

I need some serious combat 101 for this game, I don't see the point in the formation thing when you need to issue orders to everyone seperate anyway. it's getting late now anyway so I need to leave it alone for tonight. hopefully I can work it out tomorrow or find an up to date youtube video that actually has what i want

[.VM8RA]

I'm watching some youtube stuff. so it's pretty essential to use the stealth mode to set up on enemies, also I wasn't pausing enough, using my knock downs and stuff. guess I just need practice. Is there a way to get the other party members to fall into rank behind my main tank when he is attacking though? My main concern is once my warrior has engaged and then I send my druid to help with the mele, getting the wizard, priest andf chanter to where they are supposed to be, as long as they're in range and not getting attacked in the face, is it all good? lol.

[ohener]

I stick to the custom formations, the main advantage tends to be ordering everyone so that the shorter range guys are in front and don't have to trip over the ranged guys while rushing forward. My go-to has been a tight square with two tanks and the ranger's companion in the front, two ranged damage dealers in the center and rear, and a hybrid soldier on either side that primarily does ranged damage dealing but has good armor to guard the flanks in case I get swarmed.

[Kehldael]

I use the custom formations:
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Formation A : Open Field
I usually use Eder and Pallegina in the front line, with a gap before the second line consisting of Kana (with a spear) and Durance.
I get Aloth in the back line.
Finaly, I get the watcher (ranger sword/shield + pet) on the left or right side, depending on the area's topology, to protect the flank healer/DPS, and reach the front line quickly if needed

This way, Durance's AoE hits the whole group.
When engaged from the front, the front-line will hold them and leave some time for Kana to reach behind them and poke ennemies with his pointy stick. The watcher and his pet will protect the flank if more ennemies would happen to come during the fight, and he can reach the front line easily, synergising his attacks with his pets for a lot more accuracy.
It's good for boss fight with minions. The watcher can move rapidely, since he's not engaged with the front-line, and can go with his pets on long-range ennemies to flank them and take them down quickly. He can also protect the group from incoming ennemies that would happen to doge the front-line engagement.


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Formation B : Dungeon
For this one, I opted for the "Arrow" formation. I got Pallegina on front. Behind her is Kana with his spear. I then use Eder, the Watcher and the pet on sides. Eder on one, Watcher/pet on the other, to protect Kana and Durance. They both have bows, for when I use a doorframe to keep fighting ennemies one by one.
Then Durance is behind Kana, and Aloth behind Durance.

This way, I can use corridors and narrow-fields to keep ennemies from swarming the group. Kana beeing just behind the head of the group, and the one with the highest "mechanics" talent, my group can stay in formation and detect traps easily.

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About giving orders to each separate character, you have to. But the formation is most important at the begining of a fight. It can give you a key initiative and an edge in battle.

Formation breaks in battle, and this is a normal thing. You can't possibly know what each ennemy will do at any time, and you will have to adapt. The formation is a headstart in the fight, and if you choosed a good one, placed your characters nicely, you will have an easier time moving them around or replacing them when the fight begins.

This is especially true in open fields, as you get swarmed easily. Sometimes, ennemy will try to flank your formation, and this is why you need a formation that allow movement from your priest or wizards or other squishies.
You will want to flank them too, sometimes, with a melee that could go behind them, or even go on their ranged.
If you are swarmed and didn't have a good starting formation, it could lead you to the end. I mean, imagine your priest beeing on the front, the tanks won't necessarly have the time to go in front of him to protect him, if the ennemi moves too quickly.


Now try to use the party member's strength, and reinforce them, instead of trying to always even the PROs and CONs of each class.

You will have to choose your classes, you can even create your own characters at any inn, and are not forced to use the ones given by the game.

Each class has strengths and weaknesses. Trying to increase the tankyness of a mage because he's too squishy isn't a good idea, for instance. A wizard is a great DPS, and you should use it as such. But you can use a good tank to protect him. The tank won't do much damage, but this will be compensated by the increased wizard's damage.
The key is to think as a group, and not as each individual's ability to widthand and deal high damage at the same time.
You are the one who control the whole group, you can make them synergise.

Those are only headstarts, and I tried to stay as less specific as possible. You would have to adapt your formation depending on the class you use, but really, any combinaison can be successful (afaik) if you have the right formations and knowledge of your class.

Discovering how to fight was a really rewarding experience for me, and I don't want to take that from you :)

If you happen to have more question about that, I'd be glad to answer. If anyone call ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ on what I said, you're welcome to advance arguments against, I'm open to any critic, and willing to learn more !

[.VM8RA]

thanks, can you tell me your layout for the first one again, I'm not sure what goes where with it!?

[.VM8RA]

what do you arm the everyone else with, especially durrance, keep him with the pole thing?

[Kehldael]

I use it in this order



----------------- Pallegina - Eder ----------------------
-------------------------------------------- Watcher ------
----------------- Durance - Kana ----------------------
----------------- Aloth ---------------- Watcher's pet


Pallegina has morning star + big shield. A gun as a secondary weapon set, and the heaviest armor I could find (much DR)

Eder has flail + big shield and a warbow (sometimes I give him an estoc instead of the warbow), with a mail or scale armor, less DR could be dangerous.

Durance has a scepter and his staff. Scepter can attack from range, and never use him at melee. Also uses a robe

Kana has a spear, that allows him to go frontline and chant for them, but not taking any damage due to reach. He has a gun as a secondary weapon, with leather~ish armor, sometimes hide is good too.

The watcher has sword + larder door (the shield with bash) and a hunting bow. I prefer leather armor, but mail could be good to have a better DR, no less than leather tho. I also sided with a faction that gave him +2 natural DR. His role is more to take damage while his pet deals a lot. But he also deals some pretty damages by himself

Aloth uses a scepter and a rapier. and his own starter armor for increased AoE effects :)

[.VM8RA]

also what do you set the AI's as? theres just so much to learn for me to able to play this without constantly stopping to check online guides. total 4th wall breaker!!

[.VM8RA]

thanks, didn't see ur new post there :)

[.VM8RA]

So I have 6, not inlcuding myself and the watcers pet as well? so 8 units to field within the group?

[Kehldael]

I don't really much use the AI. I pause a lot during fights.

I'm trying a Path of the dayum playthrough tho, and I try using the AI in this one. More when I'd have learned how it works ^^

[Kehldael]

Nah the watcher is you, and the watcher's pet is because I made a ranger. This is only an example, you're not forced to follow it !

If you play another class than ranger, you won't have the pet, except if you take a ranger in your group (Sagani is a good ranger)

[.VM8RA]

Lol, I still don't know how to make my other guys fall in behind, i send my attackers in first, how do I make the other guys fall in behind them into formation, thats the only thing I actually wanted to know

At the moment the two mele people are attacjking something, the other 3 just stad there doing nothing till I issue them orders, how am I supposed to keep formation when they want fall in line? the only way to fall in line breaks combat and I get a penalty for it.... there must be a way to make the rest of my party rank up behind my attackers, otherwise the mechic is pointless and it's just a free for all. my wizard is coming out round the front to cast his spells and all sorts, no sort of formation what so ever!!

[.VM8RA]

ah right, yeah I learned I was the watcher last night, was very late though.

I just wish I knew how to maqke this formation thing work. then I could get on with the game on my own.

[Kehldael]

Try watching the range of your spells when you cast them.

As I said, your formation will break during combat, and this is perfectly fine. The formation thing is only to give you an edge at the start

[.VM8RA]

is the formation thing more for situational stuff? I don't get it. I mean I can fight stuff perfectly well and issue orders and stuff, just once I start issuing commands to single units within the group, theres no chance at regaining formation again.... thats what I'm stuck on! I just want the guys that aren't locked in combat to fall in behind them in formation!