The Doctrine Editor allows players to influence and edit the operation of the game's Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The screenshot comes from an earlier Alpha version of the game (and much of it in French) and does not represent how the final editor or graphics will appear.

Les Grognards allows you to lead massive Armies composed of tens of  thousands of soldiers, cavalry troopers and artillery batteries. Consequently, it is nearly impossible for the Commander in Chief (you, the player) to micro manage all units under your command at once, although direct control can be taken at key moments if you so desire.

Normally, you will command the Army Corps and lets the AI manage the lower hierarchical levels (Divisions, Brigades, Regiments and Battalions, Squadrons and guns). However, thanks to the Doctrine Editor, you are able to define very specific behavior and reactions of your AI controlled units so the various Regimental Colonels will act according to the doctrines your have defined.

By default, all units will follow historical doctrines and ensure a good adaptation and reaction of your units' tactics to the standard situations.

After you are familiar with the default settings and their effects in battle, you will be able to build an advantage over your opponents by creating specific doctrines for each of the nations composing your army. In this way some Army's Corps could be specialized for specific missions.

This is all achieved by accessing the Doctrine Editor and answering a series of questions related to very specific situations. You have a wide variety of answers to choose from and it is from those answers that the overall doctrine for your troops is fleshed out. For example, you are asked to specify your artilleries targeting preferences, how your various Infantry units (Guard, Elite, Line, Light and Conscript), will behave when faced with different types of enemy formations and troops.

You are even able to customize this for example so that your Guard infantry units will form into line and then charge when faced with inferior enemy infantry aligned in squares or columns but will halt and fire upon them if they are in battle lines. At the same time you could instruct your Line, Light and Conscript troops to behave totally different if presented with the same circumstances.

Various doctrines can be created and saved and then applied as you wish to suit different battle conditions. Indeed, a crafty player will create a inventory of specific doctrines to match and overcome the challenges they will face upon the field of battle.

Sample page from Doctrine Editor