Khan7,

I think the +2 on defense it will work as you expect and slow down the hth combat since the attack - defense calculation is just lowered by 2 for all combats. You could accomplish the same thing with -2 applied to the attack values or -1 to attack and +1 to defense.

It will also reduce the kills in the initial charge making that less of a factor in the outcome unless you boost the charge value. Ranged units will have more opportunity to use all their ammo if firing from behind the line which would remain stable much longer. I see ranged units becoming more important. Fatigue of fighting units will become a bigger factor, and might give the strategy of throwing in fresh units after a delay more of an impact. Definitely, you will have more time to exploit an open flank, and the timing of flank or rear attacks wouldn't be as critical.

I don't know about disengaging. It's pretty difficult to do that with any degree of success. I do try to disengage cav from YS because the cav is wasted anyway in that matchup.

Going too far with the combat slowdown could be counterproductive and lessen the advantage of a local superiority since the enemy will have plenty of time to respond. Cav could get eaten up by YS coming from a long distance to assist another unit for instance.

MizuYuuki ~~~