What about interactive Tactical Combat ?

[Hullu]

I would be happy with some more advanced options for the current combat model.

For example, in my current game I play Kailasa. I like archers, but the archers kill more of my troops than the enemy would kill if the archers weren't present. Why can't I order my archers to 'shoot closest two turns, shoot rearmost two turns, stop shooting'. That would be enough options for them for me...

Or just "don't shoot at routing enemy".

I don't need the ability to control combat interactively, but I'd really really really want even a slightly more advanced commands.

[Hullu]

... addition to the previous post.

Enough for archers actually would be "shoot whatever as long as it's not within 5 squares of any of my troops".

[Nerfix]

I'm very happy with the current combat model. For example I can never get into the Total War series because I have to micro the combat or watch auto-resolve ruin it all.

Of course if some tactical control was allowed but not forced in the form of an option I'd be happy but I wouldn't use it.

[Twan]

If the combat is to be changed (my impression being IW doesn't want) I would prefer to be able to set the duration of the tactical/preparation phase (number of scripted orders for commander before the AI takes control, number of rounds before troops attack) over interactive combat. This option as a setting would probably be easier to implement, and will have an use for pbem as well as for solo games.
A probably harder to implement but other very interesting idea would be 2 list of orders for each commander/group and the possibility to determine the conditions of activation of the second script, according to the ennemy forces composition (consign will be like "if they are more than ... troops of type y", ie "activate script 2 if there are more than 50 missile troops in the ennemy army").

I often find the dominions combat a little too much out of control (especially as the tactical AI Ftaghn a lot) but I wouldn't like a total control either.