Quote Originally Posted by MulusMariae
How about "Bugged Retinue/Ancillaries"???

Check out http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/...2.html?page=27

I'm baffled...even before the release. Is there any rationale/reason why adding a "shieldbearer" to a general reduces morale for all troops on the battlefield???
Let me cure your bafflement, and refute your cry of "bug! bug!" simply and easily. Firstly, I'm pretty sure that the shieldbearer is one of the retainers that survived from the original game.

The logic of a shieldbearer is that the general is harder to kill, but his troops regard him (quietly, among themselves, when talking about the boss around the ancient equivalent of a water cooler) as hiding behind others rather than taking his chances like a real man. Hence the small morale impact. The +2 hitpoints for a general is very useful, though.

Quite straightforward really.

You'll find that a lot of retainers have mixed effects: a good bonus for something, and a lesser penalty in another area. I, along with others on the design team, like a bit of ambiguity rather than an absolute view of the universe.

I have the suspicion that you're going to be further baffled by some of the new retainers in BI. One or two have an 'interesting' mix of effects!