Line Infantry, how do you fight with them and why?

[Fisherking]

Ah, Line Infantry. Everyone's basic unit...

I have not made a thorough study of what works best and why but I am guessing that some one may have.

I have more gone on an intuitive bases and usually try to line up two deep if I am shooting and four deep is it will just be a charge, which I seldom do.

My reasons for two ranks are that they give a wider field of fire and they are less vulnerable to others fires.

With the average unit missing with 60% of their shots, going high, wide, or short, and 40% going into the target area, with a less dense formation there is less of a chance of an actual hit on a man. Also vs. artillery the thin line is less apt to multiple kills.

Its main draw back is that it is easier for the enemy to engage them with multiple units, though I do seem to get a higher kill rate than the enemy under normal conditions.

I don’t usually set them to fixed bayonets going into combat but fix them when melee is imminent, though I know they will continue to fire with them fixed, it would appear that it slows the rate of fire.

As I said, I have not done a careful study and any or all of these perceptions could be wrong.

How about the rest of you?

[Prussian to the Iron]

when i use line infantry, i have between 3-5 deep. 3 deep in early stages, because only the first rank fires, and then when i get platoon fire/fire by rank, i line up in 4-5. of course, by that time i usually have swiss guards anyway.

right now, im fighting a war in india with mainly company infantry, so i'm having a hard time with the elite armies im that are getting thrown at me constantly.

[Skott]

I set my LI up in a three row/rank formation. With Fire By Rank all three ranks will fire as needed. Three ranks also will perform well in melee when the enemy closes in for hand to hand combat. Less chance of a break through. Considering I usually run 13-15 LI units per stack having them in three ranks deep is more than sufficient to cover the battle map adequately from one flank to another. Another reason I prefer three rank formation to two rank formation is that since the three rank formation set up doesnt stretch the unit as wide as the two rank formation so it will condense and form a square faster than the wider spread two rank formation. Two rank formations will fire all their muskets faster but I'm willing to give up some load and fire time to a better defense. It works well for me so I use it.

[lancer63]

My main concern with 2 line formations is unit cohesion. Specially if charged by cavalry. 3 or 4 line units withstand horse charges much better and their morale penalties are much lower. Once I had an english 2 chevron LI unit break after the first charge of uhlans. Never before has happened to thicker formations, but of course there might be other factors contributing to that. Unit was at least at 85% strength, to the far left of the army formation and already engaged to a similar Prussian unit.
No real generals were present that I can recall.
Cheers

[Fisherking]

I have never noticed it being a problem, and they actually take fewer casualties than denser unit formations. And now that the square is a magician device that makes infantry invulnerable to cavalry just by hitting the button...why even before they are in the square they begin to kill cavalry and take no more casualties....

[Prussian to the Iron]

yeah, square is a bit overpowered (a bit meaning a ton). one time, my men were literaly already fighting cavalry, and losing. i form them up into a square, with about half the cavalry unit inside the square, and they rout the cavalry. its quite stupid really.

[Didz]

I fight my infantry in three ranks, simply because to do otherwise is to lose a third of its firepower along a given frontage when using 'fire by rank'.

As far as squares are concerned. I consider it entirely correct that infantry in square should be able to kill cavalry with virtual impunity. The problems that arise with squares are entirely the result of the badly programme 'BAI'.

Firstly cavalry should NOT charge into a formed square, and therefore, should not get themselves massacred by doing so.

Secondly, cavalry should impose a major morale hit on any unit it threatens that is disorganised, more so than if that infantry had remained in steady and in line.

This would force players to make a much earlier decision on whether or not to form square and recreate more accurately the dilemma faced by real life commanders when threatened by cavalry. As things stand you can actually wait for the cavalry to charge, or even make contact before tapping the 'square' button which in practice ought to be effective suicide for your infantry.

Hitting 'Form Square' when cavalry are already in contact ought to be the virtual equivalent of 'Run for the hills' and result in an almost instant and guarantee'd rout.