hold orders

[Titus]

Let me clarify a point on 'Hold' orders -

'Hold' means the unit looses all action points and will prevent it from a typical response to events around the unit. For example - if your unit with the 'Hold' order is a heavy cavalry unit and some enemy medium cavalry come within charge range, your unit will not automatically charge them. However, if you did not place any order on your heavy cavalry they would use their own initiative and charge the enemy cavalry unit. Cavalry are particularly susceptable to this problem. Irregular units also show such initiative and charge without orders. Regular units less so.
'Hold' also prevents missile units from firing as this takes action points and all action points are removed by a 'Hold' order.
'Hold' does not stop your unit from hand to hand combat and will kill enemy if in contact to their front.
'Hold' orders are good to prevent units charging off in an uncontrolled manner and maintaining your battle line but no good for skirmishing light units - you need to use the 'Skirmish' order for such units.