Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I was under the impression that fighting with a unit with the +3 rank bonus was "good enough" - that's the highest you can get, so as long as I have a unit in the combat with a +3 rank bonus, I can be sure the enemy won't be steadfast.

But reading, it seems the steadfast rules just say "more ranks", so that while +3 is the most combat resolution you can have from ranks, my opponent will still be steadfast if I have 5 ranks and he has 7, despite us both getting the +3 rank bonus. Is this true?

Yes this is true.

If the enemy has 9 ranks and you ahve 5, the enemy is steadfast.