Rank fire, Fire and advance, Platoon firing

[Roy1991]

Rank firing is so effective in my campaign, is there any reason to actually research Fire and advance & Platoon firing?
From reading the texts of the technologies they seem to be more of a downgrade from Rank fire than anything else.

[knoddy]

incorrect platoon firing is def an upgrade. its constant firing by rank as far as i know.

ie the first rank fire the whole way down the line, then kneel and the second rank do the same, its constant shooting. i could be wrong in my interpretation tho :)

[Sir Beane]

Fire and advance is completely pointless. I cannot think of any possible use it could have.

Platoon fire is pretty good though.

[crazyviking03]

the platoon fire is more effective than fire by rank, but I honestly think Fire by rank looks alot cooler when they do it. Also, for some reason platoon fire always makes me think of the US Civil War, so I see British Highlanders using platoon fire, and my mind triggers civil war, and i have a small brain fart lol

[Fondor_Yards]

Speaking of them, does anyone know why the Ottomans can't use platoon firing? And before you ask, yes I have it researched.

[dopp]

Only certain elite units can use platoon fire, usually Guards or equivalent.

[peacemaker]

really? Dang...so that means my normal line infantry won't platoon fire? Well at least I know now not to research it...unless is does prussia have any elite units?

[A Very Super Market]

Prussia has Grenadiers, as well as one other one that I don't remember.

Actually, all factions have grenadiers.

[knoddy]

this worries me, since im playing as marthras any of their units able to use it?

[DisruptorX]

I always assumed that what is apparantly is rank fire was platoon firing. Now I am terribly confused. I have never used guards in battle, they just defend my Imperial capitol and I have never really payed close attention to grenadiers.

Is there a list of who can platoon fire?

As for Maratha, I believe Sihks are their most elite unit. At least, that was the strongest unit I had when I won.

[Fondor_Yards]

After a quick custom battle, it seems their elite janissary guard unit can't. But their grenadiers and hand mortar unit*what????* can.

[Sheogorath]

After a quick custom battle, it seems their elite janissary guard unit can't. But their grenadiers and hand mortar unit*what????* can.

Rank fire worked for me with the Janissary guard units in the campaign.

[DisruptorX]

It makes sense that the Janissaries wouldn't have access to the most advanced firing drills. Afterall, it was during this era that the lack of modern training began to show in Ottoman armies.

[Fondor_Yards]

Rank fire worked for me with the Janissary guard units in the campaign.

I'm talking about platoon firing.

[Monk]

Fire and advance is completely pointless. I cannot think of any possible use it could have. .

Yeah but it's so cool.

[yankeefan05]

Im confused about the pros of "Fire and Advance". What is it?

[Monk]

First rank fires and begins to reload, the last rank moves up to the front, fires and begins to the reload. The cycle then repeats itself. It basically ensures that your men are constantly in motion toward the enemy while sustaining a field of fire. It's very cool to se in action

[mini]

basically the same as platoonfiring, only difference being that F&A makes your troops creep up to the enemy.
Quite conventient in some cases.

[PBI]

Does it get confused as easily as coutermarching in M2 did, and result in your men endlessly marching back and forth without ever actually firing? If so I may give it a miss and stop at fire by rank.

[batemonkey]

Surley you should be able to choose which type of firing you use in battle?

[Miracle]

Yeah but it's so cool.

Indeed.

Here's a modified version of it done in live action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWuaSww3JnA

Perhaps we will be able to re-create this in the upcoming 19th century expansion pack...

[Melvish]

Fire and advance is completely pointless. I cannot think of any possible use it could have.

Platoon fire is pretty good though.

Not as useless as you think.
I use it quite alot to close in for mass change... devasting effect

[Melvish]

I use it quite alot to close in for mass change...:

GAAAAARRRRRRRR can't edit post....


mass charge


note to myself: check typo before posting.

[AussieGiant]

I'd say it would be very useful.

Getting closer means more hits and more slaughter...and as the gentlemen said...

At some point you can klick the melee button and charge the buggers!! Game over for that unit, especially if you have Grenadiers with a few stripes of experience.

[Eusebius86]

Before I research fire and advance, will it cause problems for my units if they are behind cover? I have rank fire researched and have no problem with units firing from cover right now. I'd rather that not change...

[Melvish]

Before I research fire and advance, will it cause problems for my units if they are behind cover? I have rank fire researched and have no problem with units firing from cover right now. I'd rather that not change...

No there a button on the interface to activate it like the one for melee.

[dopp]

Does it get confused as easily as countermarching in M2 did, and result in your men endlessly marching back and forth without ever actually firing? If so I may give it a miss and stop at fire by rank.

The formation changing in ETW is vastly better than M2TW but fire and advance does involve a lot of movement; the unit has to open ranks, move forward and so on, which wastes valuable time. The enemy will probably get the first shot in and maybe even a second volley before your unit is ready to open fire. As you know, that's not ideal when a single volley can kill almost 20% of a regiment.

Platoon fire also suffers from this lack of 'alpha strike' ability but makes up in overall rate of fire. It burns through ammo incredibly fast though.

Skirmishers like dragoon and light infantry (and native archers) have the greatest alpha strike ability because all ranks fire immediately.

[Melvish]

I'd say it would be very useful.

Getting closer means more hits and more slaughter...and as the gentlemen said...

At some point you can klick the melee button and charge the buggers!! Game over for that unit, especially if you have Grenadiers with a few stripes of experience.

To get even more slaughter, time it with an old style cavalry charge to the rear...

[Eusebius86]

The formation changing in ETW is vastly better than M2TW but fire and advance does involve a lot of movement; the unit has to open ranks, move forward and so on, which wastes valuable time. The enemy will probably get the first shot in and maybe even a second volley before your unit is ready to open fire. As you know, that's not ideal when a single volley can kill almost 20% of a regiment.

Platoon fire also suffers from this lack of 'alpha strike' ability but makes up in overall rate of fire. It burns through ammo incredibly fast though.

Skirmishers like dragoon and light infantry (and native archers) have the greatest alpha strike ability because all ranks fire immediately.

So are you saying that it is best to first engage the enemy and then use the button interface to select fire and advance?

[Melvish]

The formation changing in ETW is vastly better than M2TW but fire and advance does involve a lot of movement; the unit has to open ranks, move forward and so on, which wastes valuable time. The enemy will probably get the first shot in and maybe even a second volley before your unit is ready to open fire. As you know, that's not ideal when a single volley can kill almost 20% of a regiment.

Platoon fire also suffers from this lack of 'alpha strike' ability but makes up in overall rate of fire. It burns through ammo incredibly fast though.

Skirmishers like dragoon and light infantry (and native archers) have the greatest alpha strike ability because all ranks fire immediately.

Sure fire&advance mix up you nicely align regiments but so does charging, so it doesn't really matter.
I usably fire one volley of standard rank fire and then i'll start fire&advance after that first volley. Sure you get some casualties and it is not a tactic for the faint of heart. I used it with great success so far. Be sure to have researched latest model of bayonet for awesome charge bonus. The only time i don't move in for the kill is when i'm in a strong defensive position like a high slope (i place the regiments in 3 row and 2to3 row of regiments.. a real killer as they all fire without hitting each other) or behind a wall. Even when the enemy is behind a wall i use half of my army to fire&advance to keep them occupy and under fire (moral hit?) and the other half running in a charge around the flank.