[Vicious Love]

Ambiorix, when he observed this, orders the command to be issued that they throw their weapons from a distance and do not approach too near, and in whatever direction the Romans should make an attack, there give way (from the lightness of their appointments and from their daily practice no damage could be done them); [but] pursue them when betaking themselves to their standards again. Which command having been most carefully obeyed, when any cohort had quitted the circle and made a charge, the enemy fled very precipitately. In the mean time, that part of the Roman army, of necessity, was left unprotected, and the weapons received on their open flank. Again, when they had begun to return to that place from which they had advanced, they were surrounded both by those who had retreated and by those who stood next them; but if, on the other hand, they wish to keep their place, neither was an opportunity left for valor, nor could they, being crowded together, escape the weapons cast by so large a body of men.

I've actually been meaning to suggest a "fire while keeping distance" option for LC/LI for quite some time now. I realize that's not the point you were getting at, but methinks it still stands.

In regards to which side gets to choose the venue for a battle, I've got a needlessly complex, nigh-impossible to implement, but sorta realistic solution: Add three new orders: "Remain in terrain X", as an alternative to "Defend", "Attack", and "Move and attack"(Hotkeyed to ctrl-left click).
The first order is self explanatory-The defenders will remain in the terrain type in question(If present in the province, obviously), and any assaults on them will take place in said terrain. "Attack" and "Move and attack" signify the attackers' will to indulge the defenders, and getting medieval ensues. Province defense functions normally, that is, like an army set on "defend".
Things get needlessly tricky when the attackers choose to occupy a province without stamping out the guerilla lizards holed up in the swamp. The province is now under joint ownership, an awkward condition for any occupied populace, with the following results:
1) Income, production and supplies are split between the occupying forces, and crudely, at that. If a region contains three terrain types(Say, swamp, mountain, and plains), each terrain is assumed to comprise 1/3rd of the province. Terrain modifiers(+food for plains, +resources for mountains, etc) are applied to each side's part of the province. This makes survival skills much, much more useful, as only a very small force could possibly hide out in a swamp for long without starving.
2) Unrest rises, and steeply at that. Maybe at a flat rate, maybe at a rate proportionate to the size of both armies, combined(Modified further by fear-causing units), maybe at a rate proportionate to the size of the army that controls the smaller part of the province.
3) Both sides can recruit units locally, though PD is still unavailable.
4) Either side can pillage with impunity, but do not pillage the portion of a province occupied by a hostile army. Naturally, if both sides pillage, combat ensues, on randomly selected terrain.
5) Castles... Well, they make this whole proposition even more complex. Not to mention preaching, "friendly province only" spells, and more.

Still with me so far? If you are, you've realized this goes far, far beyond the scope of a patch or mod, and doesn't really pay off that well. Still, I've never been one to let an idea go to waste just because it's manifestly unfeasible.
If we want to complicate things even further, we could always position each magic site in a province in one particular terrain type, and allow whichever God controls that part of that province to profit from it(Or suffer double the negative effects. Hiding armies near Inkblot End=bad). But this is all the very spirit of wishful thinking made flesh and gooey bits.
On the bright side, I suspect there's some small detail in that spiel that might still be useful outside the context of grandiose, game-reshaping suggestions. I'll get back to you when I have some idea of what it might be.

On a more modest note, I definitely agree with that "move and pillage" suggestion, it's fun AND educational!

Edit: Ack! Typo!
Edited edit: Double ack! Misedit! It's OK, folks, everything's under control!

[ April 16, 2004, 13:47: Message edited by: Vicious Love ]