How do I restrain my cavalry during reconnaisance?

[Gullwing91]

I've worked out that I can keep cavalry in check in battles by making them support other units, but when I send them to reconnoitre they have a tendency to charge superior forces rather than doing what I want them to, which is to stay back and report. I don't like seeing a single light cavalry regiment heading straight at infantry and artillery then routing with significant losses. I thought the key to this might be the doctrine editor but I can't see what to change. Any help experienced players can give me would be most welcome.

[Gunner24]

I thought the key to this might be the doctrine editor but I can't see what to change

I forget what the exact words are, but if you use this setting SMALL Cav Regts on recce duty, should refuse to engage larger numbers of enemy, but, they will often attack a battery if the enemy Inf / Cav are not close enough to defend it, as a battery moving, or deploying it's guns is unable to defend it's self.

[JMM]

Hi,

Initiative is a very important characteristic for an unit.
At level "0", the Artificial Intelligence doesn't send a new order to the unit.
You can choose the initiative at the beginning of the battle, in the big book.
During the battle, take a look at the Corps order. You can select the initiative for each units of a Corps.
Maybe a bit confused today. I think all will be clear in the next GUI.

JMM

[Gullwing91]

Thank you that's helpful. So as I understand it "initiative" is not so much an inherent quality of a unit, but rather the degree of latitude allowed by the commander. Certainly at low initiative my cavalry are now doing what I want and sitting tight watching the enemy. It would be good to be able to give staged orders (not time-based) i.e. perform task A and when you've finished it then do B.  Also for a future version of the game perhaps allow cavalry units to make small detachments for recon or as pickets-it looks a bit strange a whole regiment heading off together on a recon task, but perhaps that is historically accurate like so much else in the game.

[zu Pferd]

Hello,

you can design a small cavalry unit:  150 men  they will however continue to behave as
you have observed ; as it reads in the doctrine.
If you are dealing with a large 'regiment' oob  for both infantry and cavalry (boardgames ratio: 1000 x 1SP so 4 = four thousand)
there is a good chance that you might have a few units left to use as scouts, say 1 scout x each corps available.
There is a 'recon in force' term but I haven't run into any description of an instance of a day in time, perhaps
other distinguished members of this forum can elucidate further.