Need some help with battles in Rome: TW

[12ea56]

I'm new to the series and I'm having very hard time with battles.

Often times units just won't do what they're told.
For example I sent my infantry to attack enemy infantry and while enemy was busy with my infantry I wanted to send cavalry behind them, but when I double right click behind the enemy, cavalry simply ran around in circles like an idiot and ruined everything, in addition to that, I find archers to be extremely unresponsive - it takes like 5 minutes for them to attack an enemy after my order, even when they have distance.

How do I overcome these problems?

I really like this game, but the battles are just frustrating.

E: Also one more problem. My units seem to cover a lot and run away. There was this one battle I was about to win, but suddenly my units started fleeing. What's up with that? I tried to rally them with my general but with no effect.

 

[flyingchicken]

With orders, try moving before attacking. Avoid blocked paths and use alt-right click, alt-right-click drag, and the right-click-drag thing. Turn off skirmish mode with archers (turn it on when you need to or manual order a retreat) and make sure their targets are within range. Also, try defensive mode for everything except for cavalry. Personally, I don't order any melee attacks and just clump around my foes as if they were a Katamari.

With the morale, make sure that your units' flanks and rears are protected (i.e. there are no enemies walking there), you're not taking many casualties, you're not fighting scary units, and your units aren't exhausted. It might be tempting to have your units run around all the time, but the exhaustion kicks in. After all: What can a soldier do who charges when out of breath?

Rallying usually works when scary elements aren't around and you're not losing the battle. Heck, sometimes you don't even need to rally, as long as there aren't any scary elements around anymore.

 

[King of Town]

Archers have to be within a certain range too. I will usually tell them to attack someone far away, they will get in range and then i will have them fronted by some infantry who are also attacking. then bring that calvary from the side. If I ever have my units charge, then i lose them. They usually run off and get themselves killed because i forget about them.