by DA_Maz
thanks for clarifying all those things and I start to get an idea why I have so much difficulties in understanding the rout/retreat mechanics: I own the game in german and the rules don't use a different word for rout and retreat they are all just one word (that is closest to flee). Routed units are not always retreating would be translated by the rulebook with the phrase "fleeing units are not always fleeing", making no to little sense that way. I guess this whole thing gets more clear if "routed" unit is being changed to and understood as "suppressed", "surrendering" or "capitulating" unit. That way it would make much more sense thematically as well.So just to clarify the whole situation of retreating and fighting against suppressed/capitulating units:
-)Every unit that retreats, i.e. leaves the tile where the battle happened is layed down (suppressed). It doesn't matter if the winner retreats excessive-units or the loser has to leave the area and it doesn't matter if the unit is suppressed before leaving or not. The panic that arises by the need to leave an area immidiatly (be it because of the overwhelming odds of enemy units, or the impending doom of their allies claustrophobia;)/the perspective of death because of starvation), makes every retreating unit suppressed.
-) Suppressed units are not retreating automatically. If there is no enemy present in their area anymore, retreating is not the only way to cope with whatever lead them to psyche out and cease to fight in combat, especially if the fear inducing threat is gone. The mental condition prevails though.
-) Panic for food. Before starving to death (more than 8 units in a field) fighting units have enough power left to leave the area if they managed to eat the fallen enemy units/snatch their battle rations before dying of starvation. This however puts a heavy burden on their psyche making them suppressed.
-) Attacking suppressed units. If the unit is suppressed from the beginning and there is noone left to hold the attackers off, those poor deranged beings are an easy prey and will be killed even without sophisticated combat-actions. If the attackers are confronted with overwhelming odds however, they won't have the time to finish off the already suppressed.
thanks for all your help. I'm looking forward to expirience how the game works with the right rules.