Hierarchy

Hierarchy is my term for the AI assisted command structure and some special orders which can be assigned in the game.

There are several levels of hierarchy and each requires a leader of the proper level to run.

The stages are:
Squad
Century
Cohort
Legion
Host

Sizes, where each size can be parented from the next size up:
20 units for Squads
100 units for Centuries
800 units for Cohorts
4000 units for Legions
12000 units for Hosts

I would honestly expect no one to pass beyond a legion of 1000 units in normal play. Its probably the engine limit anyways. Each size can also hold any of the sizes below it.

Note that a legion could theoretically have 4000 individual units, but its more likely to see like a squad or two of mages, 10 squads of archers, 2 centuries of cavalry, a siege century and then the rest as infantry. Most players likely won't even need more than 1000 units in a legion in any case. I doubt most people have the hardware to support more units on screen.

Hierarchy supports various functions based on leadership. Each squad can have orders like focus fire for archers or mages, spread fire, and so forth. Healing units can be given rules by squad such as lowest first, mages first, self first, leader first and so on. Mage types, alternatively support ships mechs or artillery and such can be directed to various things like buffs or shields or single target or AOE spells or even summoning.

Leaders can have orders set such as sending squads to flank or cavalry charges.

Leaders can also issue formation commands, whose effects differ based on tier. For instance you can set a squad to line and then simply set the century to line by having the leaders line up and it will order squad members to follow. You can specify formation commands in XML or set up formations in game. Setting formations in game is somewhat slow but can be fast with some special commands.

Leaders with orders like escort or garrison can set other units like dignitaries or caravans as targets for escort and settlements to be garrisoned. Settlements must be defined by adding a group of buildings to the settlement.

For garrison orders you can define areas of operation like settlement border + 10 tiles or something. You can also assign patrols and sentries using leaders.

Off-duty

Units in the Mandate Engine can be passed into control of the AI in various ways, either by being assigned a squad or maybe with a toggle.

Odd duty mode describes both these. Assigned units in off duty mode will do things like go to their garrison and utilize any new superior gear in the weapons lockers, they may also buy their own new gear, or get free gear from markets or armories not in the barracks.

They may also buy or just pick up items like potions or pay for things like enchantment. Because the engine supports Majesty-likes they can basically do the things Majesty units did. Although inns are not part of any main games you could create a similar structure. Units can purchase all sorts of services or get them for free depending on the unit Xmls.