[tinkthank]

If that is the case (which sounds very reasonable to me small defender bonus), then there is absolutely nothing wrong with having guarding commanders be able to shoot or throw stuff, even if the commanders just hang out in the back. The replays of two armies doing exactly the same thing with all of their commanders will be very boring, but who cares.

(On a side note: Ever watch a Star Child try to assassinate a non-summoning mage? It is much of the same thing. Both units sort of hang back and throw stuff at each other, usually ineffectually, until they fall unconscious, wake up, rinse, repeat. Boring, long. Sometimes one dies, sometimes the other routs.)

Back to the main point: I believe that people would use their "firing" guards in a creative way. I would FINALLY see a raison d'etre to those mounted bowmen in Tien Chi: Set my Noble on hold hold hold hold hold attack rear (as I frequently do), but this time with some mounted bowmen (which I otherwise NEVER get), who could fire a wee bit or otherwise do some guarding, then charge with him -- exactly as their description reads!

My plea: Nothing to lose, lots to gain. Variability is what makes this game great, let's cultivate the full potential of all the aspects of this excellent game!