[jaif]

I think the biggest thing missing from the game that could change these things is terrain at the tactical level. Every battle starts with people forced to cross open ground in the face of ranged attacks.

I wonder how hard it would be to add "battlefield tactics" to the mix. Every stack has a designated commander (highest leadership rating? commands most troops?), and that commander makes a tactics roll against the opponent. The winner of the roll decides whether to start at close or far range, and in good or bad weather. These would be preset choices (defaulted to far range, clear), and the winner gets one or both, depending on how well he wins.

Sorry, I digress. But I'd really like to see an opportunity for me to use waves of pikemen for something other than showing off.

-Jeff