First I need to make sure you understand there are two things at work here:
Each unit can actively attack once per game hour on any target within their range. (game hour is affected by speed factors)
Each unit will defend themselves from each attack using their defense stats. The easiest way to consider this is they return fire every single time they are fired upon using their defense stats. This can occur an unlimited amount of times per hour in addition to the active attack.
In many situations a passive defense is desirable as the defending stats may be stronger than the attacking stats for a particular engagement, or due to the number of groups involved. Regarding ground battles of this type the calculation of both the attack and return fire occurs first (based on current values) and then the damage is applied to both sides at the same time. (Notably different is standard air combat where air defenses are calculated first damaging or destroying the attacking plane before the attacking value of the plane is calculated)
The way it should work and usually works: When two groups reach the same endpoint with no further orders, they will merge. Exceptions to that occur when the moving group jumps the gun and attacks while it is still too far away from the other group to merge. ( Here is the simple rule: If you need a stack to merge, it probably will not. If you need a stack to stay separate, it will probably merge.Jacques Thomas wrote:
will those two groups merge when the second stack arrives
)I have seen reinforcements merge seamlessly with defending units and they continue to passively defend themselves. The more likely result is that the entire new stack will also attack the invading enemy. In that situation the enemy would attack once per game hour and your 16 stack would defend, and your 16 stack would attack once per game hour and the enemy would defend. In the scenario you described I expect the absolute worst result possible.Jacques Thomas wrote:
the stacks do combine, when this combination occurs, will the added units convert to additional defenders?
What you should do is start with this:
Then move your second stack through the battle to a point past the enemy. This will have your stacks with a different endpoint and they will not merge. Your original stack will remain passively defending and your second stack will actively attack the enemy separately.Jacques Thomas wrote:
If I separate the stack into two groups of 8 and allow combat to begin with the first stack and, after combat begins,
Alternately you could try something clever with splitting your groups at the fort with the second group preparing to move back but set a delay for a large amount of time, thus it will be a separate stack within the fort, but as the delay is set it is not actively moving or actively attacking.
