Digging in

[Cross]

You can't actually 'dig in' during a battle, because the game only simulates battles an hour or two in length, so you don't have time to dig fox holes, fill sand bags and gather logs for roofs etc.

But you can dig in units at their start point, during the deploy phase, if you are the defender in an assault/defend battle. There's an 'entrench all' button, 'E' shortcut key.

You can also place defenses on a map, like trenches, fortifications, rough ground, stone buildings, which you can occupy during a battle, and get good protection from.

When you first enter defensive terrain, you get only minimal protection, because you are moving. The next turn you will get additional protection, as you are settling in, and after (I think) two full move turns of not moving, your unit will get the full defensive value of the terrain.

So staying stationary for over two full turns is a sort of 'digging in'.

Hope this helps,
Cross