Light Infantry vs Line Infantry

[Thermal]

I don't even have the game but you get more of line infantry so I guess them ,though if its like the demo light inf do get stakes so maybe there versatility would make them more interesting.

[Meldarion]

I've found them to be quite useful personally. In my opinion you only need so many line infantry before your line is too long and they go to waste or you have to put them behind the line itself in which case they still go to waste.

With light infantry you can put them infront of the line and they don't get shot in the back. They are spread out enough so that they take minimal casualties, this is more useful than you might think. A couple of things I have used them for - picking off defenders in a fort, this worked surprisingly well and they didn't get shot to pieces but the guys on the wall did allowing my men to reach the walls mostly unharmed. Secondly - just put them in front of your line infantry the enemy has to waste bullets shooting at them or just take the hits. If they decide to shoot at the light infantry the way they are spread out makes for few deaths and protects your precious line infantry.

Neither of the above is really "skirmishing" and you do only need say 2 - 4 units, I usually turn skirmish mode off unless I'm facing melee infantry. They aren't a replacement for line infantry, use them together for the best results.

[Feanaro]

I've found them to be quite useful personally. In my opinion you only need so many line infantry before your line is too long and they go to waste or you have to put them behind the line itself in which case they still go to waste.

That's a good point. I usually have eight-ish units of Line Infantry. I supplement them with artillery, riflemen, cavalry, and skirmishers. Especially artillery and riflemen. Why risk getting blood on your uniform when you can kill the enemy from a ways off?

[andrewt]

What upgrades can light infantry get? I noticed my militias aren't getting square formation and rank fire.

[pevergreen]

What upgrades can light infantry get? I noticed my militias aren't getting square formation and rank fire.

Only line and proper infantry get those tactics.

Militia receive nothing.

[IlDuce]

I generally put them in front of my line hiding. When the enemy engages I take them out of the forest then use them to shoot the enemy in the back. Or sometimes on my flank if position allows so if the enemy tries to flank me out pops some skirmishers to shoot them. A lot of the time they'll die but they serve their purpose.

[A Very Super Market]

I actually use my light infantry (And variants) as a tactical reserve, a la Imperial Guard. They are a lot more lethal when the enemy is distracted, and their smaller size means that they are missed much less.

[Megas Methuselah]

Did any of you guys try out the Austrian air rifles? Those are insane. Shame they run out of ammo quickly.

[antisocialmunky]

Did any of you guys try out the Austrian air rifles? Those are insane. Shame they run out of ammo quickly.

I've always wondered why no one else fielded elite corps of those.

[geala]

The air rifles were actually to complicated and fragile for military use. The tech was in the region, so they tried it but it was more or less no great success. The rifles were on the other hand great weapons for poaching, a behaviour quite often seen and even admired by many people in the Alps in the 18th and 19th century. There were many complaints about air rifles used for this.

[dopp]

The CA developers did mention that they included a few units that were historically impractical for battlefield use just to increase the tactical possibilities, sort of a 'what if someone had managed to work out the kinks 50 years sooner'. Air rifles, Ferguson rifles, Puckle guns, rifled naval artillery and ocean-going steamships are all good examples.

[Oleander Ardens]

Wow - Air rifles are in? Thanks CA, I don't know if this thread, this thread or even this one some times (2006-2008) ago about them helped but I could not care less. Note that a good deal of the mentioned units made it in, although it is of course impossible to which extent it influenced CA.

How are the good old Riflemen with the Girandoni?

[dopp]

Try them. They have the killing power and range of riflemen. They also have the second highest RoF in the game after Puckle Guns. However, they are 25% smaller than other riflemen units, about as big as a cavalry regiment. Good support for Line Infantry.

Austria also has superior Riflemen and their basic light infantry use double-barreled muskets. Makes up for the terrible accuracy of their line units. Britain has Ferguson Riflemen but their RoF is half that of the air guns.

[crpcarrot]

infantry cannot fire while moving and that when i use light infantry get off a few shots before the enemy has a chance to settle his lines. once they reach the main lines i use them to ans the flankers to shoot them in sides and back.