Here's how the interface could look like. Could be a bit smaller and more transparent.
You got 4 options:
Regroup: brings the mercs to you. They will come around you and stay in a distance you set them to stay in the dialogue (close, medium, snipe). After this command is given, they will follow you without delay.
Stop: Mercs simply plainly stop. They won't do anything until further instructed.
Retreat: Mercs will escape to worldmap on foot, normal combat timer applies unless it's an encounter.
Hostile: Mercs are in readyness for violent encounter. They will shoot back if shot, attack anyone who attacks their master or his friends and attack whoever their master is attacking.
These commands could be given even when mercs are out of FoV.
In addition note how the player can see the hexes the mercs are standing outlined with green. This helps to keep track where the mercs are.
Those are really good ideas. And eliminates problem of insta-kill traps. I would add some things:
- some merc leader stat (it could be speech) should affect orders
for example: 150% speech, makes your mercs ignore stop order, or delay it for 2-3 seconds. this factor could be somehow random, but the point is, that control of your mercs shouldnt be 100% sure. 300% speech gives you 95% chance, to control mercs perfectly. Its like chance to hit.
- giving orders should cost APs. your mercs, are your combat skill, so when you force your mercs to shoot, that will cost you attack amount of APs. and that is logical, because yelling need focus/time/energy, so it should be normal action, which consume your 'mana'.
- Some of merc leader stat should affect enabled commands. High skill allow you to give orders such as 'shoot snipers' , shoot 'wounded' etc, on the other hand, low speech allows u only for commands like AVV said. Same for 'outpost' commands like: 'guard this place' etc.
If mercs will be ever balanced, i think they sholud replace ALL combat skills of merc leader. That char should be completely uneffective in shooting, and his duty is to control mercs. If build is great, he can almost act like point&click.