Why combine forces?

[godfather]

I notice that a stack, for example, with 4 legions, 2 aux, cav and 4 supply wagons has no command penalties when led by a 3 star general. What benefit is there for me to pick a general and select units to combine with him? In fact I can only ever combine one general and 1 legion which is pretty meager. Am I missing something?

[James D Burns]

The leader of a stack (the guy all the way to the left) cannot benefit a unit he is merged with due to his duties of leading the entire army (his stats are affecting everyone in the stack). Any other leader in the stack combined with units adds their attack and defense ratings to the unit’s abilities as a percentage modifier, plus any possible personal traits that may help or hinder the unit he’s merged with. I don’t think there is a penalty for having the stack leader merged though, so it doesn’t matter unless you’ve got excess leaders that need a unit to merge with.

Jim

[Narwhal]

The leader of the stack will be "unmerged" for battle result purpose at the beginning of a battle, so no penalty.

[godfather]

So to clarify if I merge a general, other than the leading general, with a unit that unit will receive the benefits and or penalties of any traits the leader has. If I don't, then the stack will only benefit from the Leaders trait(s). That right?

[James D Burns]

Yep, but only if the traits of the merged leader can affect individual units. Most traits will have no effect, but a few might help or hinder.

Jim

[James D Burns]

miss-post