Confused on game mechanics

[agmoss99]

Well you attacked at 1:2 odds but with a modifyer of 2 I think for a flank/rear melee. Poor odds. And attacking in line makes it worse, always melee in column. I think you lose a third the number for a line attack so it may have actually been 1:3 odds.

It doesn't matter what state a defender is in, they defend at full strength. Only a disordered attacker suffers penalties.