Well I have to say that although those are rather small changes (not like "ward save for halbs?!?") they still seem to balance the statetroop choices quite well. At least when I quickly thought about it.
But would the halberdiers lose the second rank attacks in charge like spears do?
Must do some math to see the differences...
edit: muahah, some maths done...
WARNING! Lots of mathematic stuff ahead! Reading further may cause headache and slight nausea.
Well, I've only covered four options that I see rather different. I may've done some mistakes, so just report if you find any. but onto the testing:
First I wanted to find out how well they would do against my nemesis, saurus warriors:
saurus warriors(w. hand weapons, 6 wide) charge swordsmen: ~~ 2.8 swordsmen die. Strikes back do ~~ 0.2 wounds
same saurus warriors charge halberdiers: ~~ 4.3 halberdiers die. Strikes back do ~~ 0.8 wounds
same saurus warrior charge spearmen: spearmen attack first due higher I. They do 0.91 wounds. The saurus strike back dealing ~~ 3.1 wounds
Round-up: against hitty but low-I foes, spearmen are now actually better than swordsmen. Halberdiers are still the worst choice, but the difference to swordsmen is now only about 1 combat resolution
while chargin the same saurus unit:
swordsmen: 0.44 kills, saurus strike down 2.6 swordsmen.
spearmen: 0.44 kills, saurus strike down 3.3 spearmen
halberdiers (with one rank): 0.75 kills, saurus kill 3.8 halberdiers
... but if they had the another rank attacking too: 1.37 saurus die. 3.41 halberdiers die
So, the swordsmen would be best if the halberdiers would get only one rank in charge, but if halbs got their other rank too, the situation would be even, if not tipping a bit for halberdiers favour.
Buut, the same stuff against n.gobbos (5 wide and w. HW and shield)..:
ngobbos charge:
swordsmen: 0.75 get killed, but they strike down 1.1 goblins in return.
spearmen: although counting as defended obstacle, night goblins attack first due higher I: 1 spearmen gets killed, but remaining strike 2.2 down
halberdiers: 1.25 are struck down, but remaining strike 3.6 down in return.
Now if the men of empire would get the charge off..
swordsmen: 1.3 kills, goblins kill 0.5 in return.
spearmen: 1.3 kills, goblins kill 0.7 in return
halbs(one rank): 2.2 kills, gobs kill 0.7 in return
halbs (w. second rank): 4 kills, goblin champion (the only alive) kills 0.4
So against weak stuff like night goblins, the halberdiers would rule, and if they had another rank while charging, one could even call them destructive (for empire, that is)
Now, if we would pit them against something very destructive, like, khorne chaos warriors with halberds..
warriors charge (6 wide)
swordsmen: 8.79 get killed. champ strikes back killing 0.16 warriors...
spearmen: warriors attack first due higher I: 10.5 spearmen get killed. champ kills 0.16 warriors
halberdiers: 10.5 halbs die, champ kills 0.3 in return.
state troopers charge:
swordsmen: 0.5 warriors die, remaining devastate 8.1 swordsmen
spearmen: 0.5 warriors die, 9.7 spearmen die in return
halbs(1 rank): 1 warrior dies, 8.8 halberdiers die
halbs (2 ranks): 1.8 warriors die, 7.5 halberdiers are killed in return.
So allthough the men of empire would get their butts handed at them no matter the situation, the swordsmen would survive bit better, but if halberdiers would get the charge off and had the other rank attacking too, They would be losing only with two or three in combat res.
last will be cavalry, let's say, empire inner circle knights w. lances (6 wide)
If they got the charge (duh-huh..)
swordsmen: knights kill 2.9, horses trample 0.75 more. 0.09 are killed in return
spearmen: tie in initiative, if knights get to attack first: 2.5 are killed(that much even without lance bonus?), steeds kill one more. 0.31 knights get killed.
but if spearmen get to attack firs: 0.45 knights die. knights kill 2 spearmen and steeds do 0.9 wounds more
halbs: 3.8 halbs die, steeds do 1.25 wounds. halberdiers kill 0.3 in return.
So, surprisingly with their defended obstacle special rule, spearmen did best against knights.
In light of these results, the options seem to be bit more even. And for halberdiers attacking in two ranks, I'd recommend letting them to do so while charging too. That would make the odds bit more even