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From AGEWiki

Introduction

Posture is a stack setting to indicate how "on the offensive" the stack is and decides how the stack will react to enemies it encounters as well as affect cohesion recovery and other things.

Switching postures

Any stack can switch to defensive or passive posture. A stack lead by a general can only switch to assault and offensive postures if the stack leader is activated that turn, while a stack without a leader can switch to any posture.

A stack lead by a general, previously in assault or offensive posture, but whose leader now is inactive, will be switched to defensive posture.

Replacement prioritization

If there aren't enough replacements to cover the needs of all elements within a given unit family during a turn, stacks in passive posture will receive/use replacements first ranging up to stacks in assault posture being served last.

The postures

Assault posture

• The stack will attack any detected opponent it comes across.
• During a siege, the force will attempt to storm the fort/city.
• The stack receives no defensive bonus from the terrain it is in.

Offensive posture

Units entering a region with less than 6% military control will automatically be switched to offensive posture, unless the stack consists entirely of irregulars, or if the unit starts in Passive posture.

For the game engine, offensive and assault posture are identical, except that stacks in assault posture will attempt to storm structures.

Defensive posture

• Stack will not attempt to engage enemy stacks, even if they are in the same region and detected.
• The stack does receive any defensive bonus afforded by the terrain it is in.
• When inside a structure, a stack in defensive posture is considered to be in passive posture when it comes to cohesion recovery^[1]

Passive posture

Basically the same as defensive posture above, except that it:

• will receive penalties in combat.
• is more likely to retreat from combat.
• recovers cohesion faster.
• does not affect military control of the region it is in.
• will not march to the sound of the guns^[2]
• will not participate in stopping enemy stacks from crossing the river that the passive stack is on^[3].
• will not switch to offensive posture when entering a region with less than 6% Military Control

A stack retreating from combat will normally assume this posture.

If attacked while inside a structure, a stack in passive posture will be considered to be in defensive posture for combat purposes.^[1]

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Post by Pocus in thread "Replacements" at the forums
2. ↑ Post by Pocus in thread "Missing Words - Assault Posture Button" at the forums
3. ↑ Post by Primasprit in thread "Opposed river crossings" at the forums