Defending behind streams....

[AEWHistory]

Okay, this one sorta befuddles me. Do streams give a defensive bonus? If so, where do you need to be? Do you need to be sitting on the stream like with roads lined with hedges? Or do you want to be of the far side and let the attacker sit on the stream hex?

Also, why are some units disordered (seems like mostly mine) crossing streams while others seem unfazed (my opponents never seem troubled crossing those damn streams ).

Thanks!

[rbodleyscott]

There are three grades of Stream
1) Stream - this does not cause any disorder, but prevents any combat counting as "In Open Terrain". Thus, for example, it will negate the impact effect of lancers.
2) Large Stream - this counts as Rough Terrain. It won't disorder light or medium foot or dragoons, but it will disorder most other troops. (Mixed foot only slightly, as only the pikemen are affected).
3) Deep Stream - this counts as Difficult Terrain. It will disorder Medium Foot, and severely disorder mounted troops or heavy foot.

Streams do not give a defensive bonus as such, but a unit that is in the stream square (or attacking into a stream square) is affected by the terrain rating of the Stream.

Thus, if the Stream is Large or Deep, different troops types will suffer varying degrees of disorder while in the stream, depending on the size of the stream.

So to defend a stream a unit should stand just behind the stream in an adjacent square. Any unit attacking them from the stream square will be affected by whatever disorder the stream may cause it. Disorder will give it a -26% combat modifier, and severe disorder a -45% combat modifier.