In my opinion, the addition of the "click & drag" function for formations is a good tool that broadens the player's tactical options. I like it and I am happy with it.
That said, the "click & drag" function should have been built on top of the discarded spacing buttons that appeared in the 2016-2017 demos... that's how I understand it.
Here is the "old" command bar where the spacing button (which replaced the Warband spread out/stand closer commands) appears next to a " pacing" command (see F5 button) which the players never got to try out along with the former.
It's really a pity to see all these things being discarded one after another, I don't know if it's because of the already known and inevitable adaptation for the console port or with the perspective of a part of the devs which assumes that the player would be too overwhelmed "with so much micromanagement"...
I've said it over and over again... for players who don't want to get their heads wrapped up in giving orders they will always have the option of the classic F1-F3 + the new addition of the F6. On the other hand, for more experienced players or those who have enjoyed previous M&B, there is a lack of options or those are not enough satisfying (imho).
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Edit:
To take a closer look, these are the tactical options we had in the last Viking Conquest:
Surprising, isn't it?
?