Formations
 

What is the advantage to using formations other than one would have to plot fewer AI movement paths?

If I had a set of surface units grouped as a formation and wanted a sub to screen for them would it be better to put the sub in the formation and out in front of it or to make the sub a stand alone unit.

Are formations just a convenience or an actual AI thing and if so what is different?

Well there are blind spots in a fleet so having a formation you can put other ships in the main ships blind area's and so you have full 360 view using other ships to relay information.

Its a bit like having a submarine, without the towed aray you cant see behind with the sphere you can only see 180 degrees side to side and the hull only on each side, put them all together and you got a full 360 view.

In real life yes...

But what about in DW. So far it seems the only advantage to a formation is plotting fewer AI movement paths.

One big disadvantage is when plotting a formation move along a coast for example the AI can't seem to keep some of the ships from running aground. If for example one plots the formation move up a north south coast line with the formation moving North and the coast to the west the ships on the west side of the formation tend to run aground.

For avoiding colisions you can use de "avoid colision" and "find path" scripts.

Other reason for creating formations is that the rest of the ships protect de formation leader automatically, without need of giving them specific orders, if they are under attack, they will protect the leader.
At least in theory.... :hmm: no, it really happens. Make a mission with a carrier formation a a sub attacking the carrier...

Having a formation keeps the ships where they belong; they may split up during evasion but they will regroup.

Unfortunately, the AI isn't smart enough to go around land if the land cuts through the formation. You have to make sure to give yourself enough space so that the whole formation can get by.