So - how many ranks are you using?

[GM1940]

How deep are you making your line infantry formations, before and after different techs?

[Beskar]

Default, it isn't much concern in any of the situations I have been in.

Only time I changed if when I had to, so situational.

[AussieGiant]

2 or 3 ranks deeps as a rule. You need to get as many guns on target as possible. It makes a large difference AND it widens your arc of fire. That means you can spread the joy around just a little bit more.

[Sheogorath]

The difference between two and three ranks seems marginal. Possibly because the AI seems more inclined to charge against a two-rank formation (in my experience), since it's weaker in a melee, thus letting you get fewer volleys in.

For melee units, I tend to vary a lot. At long range, against artillery and such, I put them in three ranks just like everybody else, so they take fewer casualties from artillery shots. Up close I give them a deep formation (sometimes with more file than rank) in order to give them more weight in the charge. Right now I'm just kind of experimenting.

Cavalry, historically, generally used three ranks, so I've been fooling around with them to see if that works well.

[geala]

I like it to be historical more or less. I am playing Prussia and they used 3 ranks for infantry, so do I. Most other armies used 4 or even 5 until after the Seven Years War. For cavalry I use 2 ranks. Prussian reglements ordered 3 ranks for cavalry throughout the 18th c., but in the real battles Prussian cavalry used only 2 ranks.

[Dead Guy]

Three for shooting, if I have a second line on elevation behind units in cover, two. Box or column before the charge. Haven't got fire by rank or fire and advance yet, but I reckon it will still be about the same. I put squares on the ends of my line and another square one musket range behind my line (on the ends again) if the enemy has an unbalanced amount of cavalry.

[AussieGiant]

Hi Sheogorath, yeah there is no difference between 2 or 3, I just don't leave them at 4 or more deep unless they are militia. I'm talking mainly about Line Infantry as well.

If there is cav around I'll keep them in 3 or perhaps 4 deep if there are heavy cav in the area.

As for cav, I've also kept them in 4 or 5 deep...they'll punch right through on occasion and that's a kill shot against most infantry units.

[ZIM!!]

Shouldnt the front 2 or 3 ranks be shooting first row kneeling 2nd squating 3rd standing Im early in the game so Im not sure if thats a tecnological development but if only the front row shoots and your only up against another infantry unit why not just do a single rank so everyone is shooting?

[Dead Guy]

A. If you're charged, you're probably at a great disadvantage.

B. When men die in your unit, the amount of men firing on the enemy will go down quickly if in one long line. If you have two units firing on the enemy instead, with 2+ ranks, the dead will be replaced and you can keep firing at the same rate for longer. There's only a certain length of line that can fire on the enemy regiment so a long line of a single rank is at least not always better.

The kneeling etc is a technological advance.

[Belid Hagen]

once I have rank fire researched i use 3½ ranks. 3 ranks will fire, the remaining men are there to fill the casualty gaps, keeping the potential melee strenght up, preventing a half strenght unit from being one thin line, open to cavalry charges.

[AussieGiant]

once I have rank fire researched i use 3½ ranks. 3 ranks will fire, the remaining men are there to fill the casualty gaps, keeping the potential melee strenght up, preventing a half strenght unit from being one thin line, open to cavalry charges.

Once you have the technology this is the best all round formation for Line Regiments.

[Hooahguy]

i use 3 ranks. you get almost a continuous rate of fire and a quite decent length of the line.

[Callahan9119]

three

[Graphic]

Usually 4, especially with rank fire. This way as people in the front die, there will be reinforcements for a while to keep it 3 ranks deep for those volleys.

[Dayve]

Not knowing a single thing about tactics from this time period i started the game using only 2 ranks, but after facing indian and native American melee units i began using 3. If you use two and get charged, you're screwed, even if it's elite units being charged by militia you are still at a massive disadvantage. You may not lose the fight, but your unit will take much more damage than if they were 3 ranks deep.

[Beskar]

Just for the record, the default is 3.

[Sir Beane]

Three ranks after 'Fire by rank' it allows for a more compressed line and also resists charges better than two ranks.