I've had this both before and after it was tweaked downwards, it wasn't really changed that much, probably not nearly as much as you think. HOWEVER, I have observed that terrain plays a huge factor in how well it works (i.e read the helpfile on it and it mentions the elves getting massacred because there hallowed technique didn't work in a battle). So, I would grant that surrounding probably didn't help you in many of the situations an imperial would find himself in.