Originally Posted by
QuintusSertorius
Not only that they rout earlier, but there's more dynamism to battles. They rout early, but if left unattended, will reform and return to the fight. With enough numbers to matter.
On Huge unit scale, an infantry unit that routs with 120/160 men is much more of a threat if it rallies than one that routs with 30/160 men. In all likelihood, the latter unit won't rally anyway, because it's so shattered and exhausted. When they do so early, you're often too pressed with other units to chase them up and harry, so have to let them go while focusing your cavalry on those units who haven't broken.
Routing early is the key to rallying, which means battles aren't just a grinding slog until one side is worn down. That's the difference the morale and stamina boosts the AI gets on VH make, between shorter, but more mobile battles, or else grinds.