Age of Empires III will also have a new combat system that takes into account all the rules of engagement of the day, as well as automatically accounts for several tactical considerations. For instance, musketeers march in two-line ranks, and when ordered to fire, the first row of soldiers automatically drops to one knee to let the rear ranks fire. While you'll still be attempting to counter some units against others, such as sending swift cavalry to break up infantry lines, you'll also see units taking intuitive formations around their targets. As we saw, ordering multiple companies of musketeers to attack an enemy cannoneer squadron will cause them to automatically encircle the enemy by stationing troops both in front of and on the flanks of the opposition. But as we saw, having unassisted infantry attack cannons is a bit like asking your opponent to send your troops on a free ride through the air. So you'll need cavalry to charge past the slow-firing cannons to kill off their operators.