Morale is a gameplay mechanic in the Total War series. It represents the confidence that a unit has in victory. If a unit reaches "broken" morale, then it will rout. It is a mechanic present in all Total War games to date.
Morale ranges from eager, the highest level, to steady, to shaken and then finally to wavering, at which point the unit will most likely begin to rout.
Napoleon: Total War[]
In Napoleon: Total War, morale is represented by the bar underneath the flag representing each regiment of units. The longer and greener the bar is, the higher the morale; the shorter and redder a bar is, the lower. Units that are broken are represented with their flag flashing white; these units may return to the battlefield after their morale penalties diminish and/or if an inspiring presence is near them, such as a general. Units that are shattered have the flag above their head simply disappear; these units cannot be ordered to return to the battlefield and flee until they exit the map if they are able to.
Many factors influence units' morale. Positive factors include having their flanks secured by friendly units, being close to inspiring units, being close to the general, winning their current battle, having the high ground, being placed in defensive fortifications, and having a friendly army arrive as reinforcements. Negative values include having their flanks or rear threatened by enemies, being attacked from behind, having suffered casualties (the greater the number, the more severe the morale impact), losing the current battle, the general having died or fled, and the overall army being routed. In the case of the general dying, morale loss is the greatest right after he dies, but gradually improves; it is usually best to kill enemy generals at a crucial point in battle.
The technology National Propaganda boosts morale.
Total War: Three Kingdoms[]
- Main article: Morale (Total War: Three Kingdoms)
In Total War: Three Kingdoms, Morale is the measure of a unit’s willingness to fight. Each unit has a morale rating, which generally differs according to a unit’s quality. Inexpensive conscript units will begin the battle with a lower maximum morale than grizzled veterans, for example, making them more likely to flee the battle when faced with the horrors of war.[1]
Understanding how to reduce enemy morale within individual units, across retinues, and across entire armies, can transform your success in battle. The art of Total War lies in stacking negative morale modifiers and creating a force-multiplier for morale loss to swiftly break a unit’s spirit and force it to rout.
The icon that hovers above a unit indicates the weaponry it is armed with, how many men are left, and the unit’s morale. This icon acts as a gauge. As the unit loses troops, the gauge drops. When it begins flashing, this indicates that the unit’s morale is wavering. Shortly after this, a white flag will replace the unit’s weaponry symbol to indicate that the unit is routing, at which point it will turn tail and run from the fight.