Come on CA - Gamedesign, programming or QA bug?

[Callatian]

Because the game was rushed to market before it was finished, just like RTW...

I don't think so - such a bug should have been spotted immediately and if they would have know they could have fix it in a day. I also consider it to be a production problem - their lack of dread infront of sales. They were probably testing the effects or the arrows impacting on different parts of the formation - that’s why only melee troops are passive/sheep’s. I do remember them saying attack from the right, no shield ...bla, bla. So when they finished with their testing they didn't spotted that bad things were left behind in the AI's aggressiveness. They just forgot about it and the QA never tested that part again because they did it before and they were never fully notified.

econ21 the only workaround for this is to avoid exploiting it - be merciful ... I'm not sure how since the bug is present in most of your offensive battles and felt especially if the enemy does not have range units. Personally I can no longer play the game - I cannot abstain not to exploit the AI.