Stacking Points

[John S]

I think that I used to know the answer to this but I have forgotten and in reading the section on the manual I am still unclear.

Do the concerns re stacking points and over stacking only exist if, when I attack, I exceed the attack amount allowed?

Example - I am attacking from a single hex and am allowed to attack with 200Pts. Ok, I only attack with 180 points. Am I penalized if the hex that I am attacking from contains a bunch of stacking points, most of which are not attacking - example I have 400 points in the hex but only attack with 180.

In other words, is an overstacking penalty focused on (1) how many strength points are in the hex - irrespective of how few are actually attacking, or (2) is it focused only on the amount that are actually attacking from the hex?