Orders states

Deploy is the transitional order and can change to any other. Reserve (resting, not within 1 mile of enemy), Manoeuvre (march column) and Attack (engaging enemy) each restrict the next order: Reserve and Manoeuvre to D/R/M, Attack only to D/A. The order sets movement rate, combat effectiveness, and whether the division may reorganise.

Deploy Changing between other orders Any ... Reserve Resting, not possible within 1 mile of enemy D,R,M ... Attack Engaging enemy DA ... Manoeuvre March Column D,R,M

Each unit or division starts with an order counter: Advance to combat distance, Hold current location, or Retreat from all enemy. Orders change only when a general or messenger arrives, when a general rolls 5-6 plus rating to change his own orders, or randomly (1-2 advance, 3-4 halt, 5-6 retreat) if the general is killed.

These basic orders have to be adhered to and can only be changed in the following circumstances: (i) automatically, when a general or his messenger reach a unit or a brigade

Attack allows Assault, Engage or Bombard (leader may only move straight ahead in a direction fixed on receipt). Move allows Maneuver (free direction) or March (road movement at triple speed, always in command). Defend allows Hold Ground or Withdraw/Counter Attack; Reserve allows Stand or Reform (90-degree arc away from enemy, may recover disorder without a superior general).

Army commanders can order corps commanders to Attack, Move, Defend, or Reserve.

Signals are Muster, March, Halt, Begin Approach, Charge, Forward Psiloi, Recall Psiloi, General Withdrawal (optionally Release/Recall Ekdromoi), plus one pre-designated unit-specific signal. Only one signal per turn, placed secretly under the Salpinx marker and revealed in Arete sequence; if the first player signals a charge the other may also switch to charge. Core units (usually the phalanx) execute set procedures (e.g. Begin Approach forces Close Files and the paean), while lights keep stations relative to the core and interpret signals by battle plan.

Only one Salpinx signal may be made a turn; the signal itself is placed on the board, under the Salpinx marker.

In the Posture Determination Phase players alternately mark multi-stand movement groups, then single-stand groups, as movement or fire/move; unmarked stands are in firing posture. Only movement or fire/move stands may move; fire/move stands move at half MP and take +3 to fire cohesion rolls. Personnel ('P') stands halve their defence when not in firing posture, and only firing-posture stands can give covering fire. The posture holds whether or not the stand actually moves.

There are three possible “postures.” A stand may be in the “firing” posture, “movement” posture, or “fire/move” posture.

Before the first fleet move each fleet commander writes and submits to the umpire his 'general instructions' summarising the plan of action and how captains act in contingencies without signals; unrealistic instructions are disallowed. Fire is distributed per these instructions or by signal. In the Strategic Game commanders in chief write plans of campaign and detached commanders receive written orders.

each fleet commander will write out and submit to the umpire his "general instructions"

Hold (no move, may shoot), Advance (normal move with Forward, Retire, Back or Sidestep, may shoot), March (double move in open terrain, no shooting), Charge, Rally (recover hits, one per brigade commander per turn) and Reform (change formation and facing). Each unit makes a single manoeuvre per turn and an orders die is placed behind it showing the order. Units engaged in melee are automatically on Hold.

Each unit in a brigade must be given one of the following orders during brigade activation.

Brigades are issued general orders in writing at the start (attack the enemy left, hold a line). Units must be ordered in general compliance unless the C-in-C issues new written orders in person or by courier.

Each brigade should be issued general orders in writing at the beginning of the game (attack the enemy left, hold a defensive position along a specified line, etc).