What I find really funny about this thread is that there are mods trying to do these very things, and yet we get limited support. I personally have been trying to add special abilities to units in just these ways, but again no support. If you guys want to see this stuff soon, support the modders as they have the time and energy to make this game great.

That and the morale should be more important in combat, but i think the 1DN system is ok, if the units have enough HP that they cant be killed with one lucky attack.

Going to steal a piece of your post:

"All of it together"

Basically all of those things you presented (except maps being too big, maybe). Actually, I think what's too big are the squares. If the map was the same size but the grids were smaller, then movement would be even more of an ability (and could allow for more variation in movement abilities) as well as units/stacks of different sizes which might open positional weaknesses in exchange for more power and occupying more space to hide casters and such behind.

If I had to narrow it down to one thing, I'd say it's the "I go, you go" system where I can pick who and in what order acts. No consideration for speed, weight, enchantments (unless they cause a lost turn like Stab of Ice) - just I can pick who I want to go regardless.

If this has to stay, at least let each side move a "piece" per turn. For example, if I move my swordsman one square and attack, then my opponent gets to move one of his units and use up it's AP. Then it's my turn again, etc.

This is just plain untrue.  Our mod adds special abilities to every weapon and the AI utilizes them sensibly.  Try it out!  We'll be releasing .70 of the Unique Weapon Mods soon, which will give every unit three attacks: default attack, an alternate attack that is situationally useful, and a more powerful once-per-combat ability.  The current version adds in once-per-combat abilities, which add quite a bit of depth to the battles in their own right.

1. Agreed, the "I go, you go" system makes combat too simple. In chess you decide which unit to move, then the opponent moves a unit, then you. Elemental really needs an initiative system that takes into account a random factor + experience + encumbrance

2. The units in Elemental are too similar on the tactical map. A unit on horseback moves the same distance as a unit on foot. A unit in plate moves as fast and as far as a unit wearing no armor and attacks from the flank or rear offer no apparant advantage over a frontal attack and the game does not recognize the advantages of specific weapons against specific types of armor.

3. No line of sight restrictions. No chance to surprise the enemy or seek shelter by hiding behind a hill or a city wall.

I am not suggesting that it is boring, as I have a lot of fun with the combat.

However, I would like to express the need for an 'auto' button that doesn't instantly end the battle.  in MoM and HoMM you could set it to automatically move for you at a quicker pace.  You could stop the auto-combat if you needed to make important commands or take back over if the battle is not going in your favor.

Biggest problem is slow animation and no way to skip it. When you have full squad of archers, making your turn takes ages. Especially for mounted champions.

Second - lack of any 'tactics' in 'tactical combat'.

It's unfinished and only has 3 dimensions.  Magic, archers, escape.  Hand to hand vs. monsters is pure suicide.  Obstacles and cover don't work well.  The hit/miss vs. damage/no damage isn't working right.

Nack210 said "1 on 1 fights between 2 squads of troops (as in, when 2 parties/legions attack each other on the battlefield, 1 guy from each do some sort of duel). This is motly visual, so I'm guessing they are gonna change it eventually."

this is my biggest gripe with tactical combat. sid meier's pirates and civilization revolution does tactical battles better and those games are years old now. I know Stardock can rectify this situation...

Age of Wonders has much better combat

Hexes are the way to go as well

Right now it seems like there's no point in differentiating troops, you just get the best armor and weapon you can make.  No point in building mixed forces of light, agile "skirmishers" and slower, heavy "tanks", back-row archers and casters.

Definitely there are not enough interesting spells. 

How about situational affects that randomly effect the whole battle?  E.g.: night battle (no ranged units or ranged units have really short range), stormy weather, etc.  I know this would require a whole bunch more graphical effects, but still it would add some level of interest.

Also right now the battle system seems to discourage making Sovs or heroes who engage in actual combat.  It seems to me it's easier to build an powerful caster who sits in the back.  (I don't know maybe that's by design?)

I know I'm totally pointing out problems not solutions, but that's why I'm a player not a designer...

For tactical combat, you need an attack / defence system that gives more variety and flavor. This is mainly because the tactical combat must be interesting in itself, or you might as well not have it. Some ways to do this has allready been suggested.

1: Special abilities. Considering how the game is designed, having those granted by one or more of a combination of race, weapon, and armor seems most likely. Shield? Then you can shield bash or form shield walls (large squads in particular). Mounted troops charging several squares, e.g. Empires should have spiked armor as an option, and so on.

2: Terrain with more variety than +25/+50% defence. Cover, concealment, etc.

3: The combat system itself is borrowed from GalCiv II, and I don't think it's all that suitable. It's easy to balance, though, and at least there is some intricacies in weapon / armor interaction, but it gives little variety in combat.... it gets the job done, but it's not all that exciting; it was from a game without tactical combat, after all.

I'm not advocating ripping out the combat system and replacing it entirely, but I think it should be considered. It would be better with a system that leaves more room for animations and sound appropriate to what's going on, as well as more variety in equipment. (It's easier to make varied weapons and armor if you have more than 1.5 stats to work with.).

Possibly it would be a good thing with less dramatic differences from starting to end game gear, or starting to first tier equipment, for that matter.

This isn't set in stone but this is what we're thinking about: