My issue may be more related to Medieval II than EBII, but since I am not interested in any other TW game besides EBII for now, I'll ask here. Are there any others who find that the central square mechanic ruins the enjoyment of settlement battles? I mean when the defending army routs, such as during a sally, they all make it to the central marketplace and regain morale and become superior to the winning party's exhausted troops? To me that is a major source of grief.
I just started a new Sweboz campaign and carelessly ended up getting sallied by a superior force. I played the battle really meticulously and ended up causing a rout at a time when my in-battle casualties were only 15%. Once I had pursued the enemy to the center, I started losing troops in a final battle that would take ages. The losses were 15-76% initially. Then 16-76%, 17-76%, etc. In previous campaigns, I have learned that one way to prevent that outcome is to try to smuggle units such as cavalry to the defending army's flank within the city and finish them along their escape route. But that is not possible all the time, and it's kind of gamey and artificial. I use huge unit size like most (I believe), so maneuvering within the settlements is quite difficult.
Is there any way to negate that effect technically or any other way to play the battle in a way that would make more sense? Or do I have to start auto-resolving settlement battles although they are some of the most gratifying moments in a tough campaign? I do understand that there is a real-life morale effect for "last stand" defenders, which is why military leaders have advocated allowing the enemy an escape route since the classical antiquity. But what we see in the game is not really believable.
I welcome all discussion; both rants about the game mechanic without a solution and opinions defending the mechanic. If you have any input, please comment.