Squeeze penalty

[Puzz3D]

What is the squeeze/crowding penalty? How does it affect you as I read in another post that the only place you aren’t affected by it is on bridges?

For example, does this mean when a unit of skirmishers retreats away from an advancing enemy unit, and passes through a unit of spearmen who are currently in hold position, will the spearmen be penalized?

Does this effect units passing through a destroyed gatehouse in a fort?

Each man needs 1 meter of space around him to fight at full effectiveness. If he doesn't have that, any enemy man who strikes at him gets a 5 point attack bonus which increases the chance to kill by a factor of 2.5.
You get that from the combat formula:
chance to kill = 1.9% * 1.2 ^ (attack - defend + bonus)

The penalty does apply to passing through a gatehouse, and over a bridge as well. It would also apply if skirmishers retreated into another unit's ranks, but the skirmisher probably wouldn't stay there if the enemy unit closed in to engage.

[Evil Eddie]

Thanks Puzz3d. If gatehouses give such a penality, wouldnt it be better then just to knock down a fortification wall?

Also with the squeeze penalty, does that only effect you if its your own troops or the enemys also?

[Ludens]

Thanks Puzz3d. If gatehouses give such a penality, wouldnt it be better then just to knock down a fortification wall?

That is usually better, but remember that squeeze is not just dependend on location. Your troops can gain a squeeze penalty on the open field if you bunch them too tightly.

Also with the squeeze penalty, does that only effect you if its your own troops or the enemys also?

Combat formula is the same for enemy troops as it is for yours.