ORIGINAL: 06 Maestro
I was not aware of any cap on the total number other than 22 divisions on each side fighting at once. I thought that any additional amount could join as the others fell out.
These other divisions start in the routed column and have to make a morale check to join combat. So if you are getting the worst of things they are actually not likely to join combat and help and in the event you get defeated they are still eligible for capture and pursuit phase casualties. I think it is a flaw in the QC/IC system personally, but basically above a certain level more troops only seem to make your defeats super big.
I avoid more than 20-30 divisions in one territory because of it. Instant combat is just QC without the animation and no part played by where the player puts his units. My experience in watching QC (which I have been doing almost exclusively for some time to aid in figuring out PBEM combat) is that you nearly always win or lose with the units you can deploy under the limit (22 plus or minus due to various factors, oftentimes can be into the mid 20s) with a small chance of extra units (other than those that have been routed from the charge attack defend columns in the normal ebb and flow of battle) being morale checked in from the route area before the battle is over.
Another thing I have concluded is that allies should never jointly participate in battles together. You both take the same moral hit for a loss or a win and so does your enemy who is probably by himself. Allied totals determine the size of the battle and so if you both fight a major battle you both take a massive morale hit and your enemy gets a major boost.
