One of the settings in the game is "protected mode", where you can't accidentally attack friendlies unless you ctrl-attack them. If the trolls weren't hostile yet, then you wouldn't get a targeting cursor unless you either ctrl-clicked or otherwise made them hostile.
If you can, post a separate thread for these so we can make sure they get addressed. I know I don't always look for changes in Tech Tips, so you might end up waiting a long time for an answer...
*edit* And I forgot to add... thanks for that tip and discovery! I'll have to try it out to see if it makes things behave better for me...