Best unit depth for missile troops on a plain?

[yesdachi]

I typically do only 2 ranks deep for foot and whatever space and time allow for mounted.

[The Darkhorn]

Two and Three for foot and horse was correct. But, I will tell you this: I play with huge units and that can make for one really really long battle line. Make sure you have enough infantry for frontage. Often I "stack" them when on defense ('cause I find a hill), two units behind two units behind the infantry wall. However, I recently read in another thread here somewhere that someone thought the penalty for not being able to see in a rank was slight. Maybe it's better to have them 3 or 4 ranks deep so more are shooting at any given time.

[antisocialmunky]

On a plain? 2 ranks for Arbs, 2-3 for foot.
On a hill? 2 for arbs, 3-4 for foot(very concentrated fire)

[Geezer57]

Regardless of foot/mounted, if you want all your missle troops to fire when on flat terrain, then set them to 2-ranks deep if in close formation or 3-ranks deep if in loose formation.

[Ludens]

Regardless of foot/mounted, if you want all your missle troops to fire when on flat terrain, then set them to 2-ranks deep if in close formation or 3-ranks deep if in loose formation.

You are right, but many archers will fire to if you put them in three ranks in close formation. It is just that those beyong the second rank get an accuracy penatly because they do not have line-of-sight.

Also gunpowder troops work a bit differently. If you put them in 3 or 4 ranks, they will form a rotating fire system that will keep up a continues barrage of fire and thus a continuous morale penalty. If you put them in two ranks, they fire one volley that can cause massive casualties and then spend a long time reloading.

[ichi]

For the best balance of max rate of fire and accuracy, use them 2 ranks deep.

A unit that is receiving missile fire gets a morale penalty so there are times where I like to maximize the length of time that a missile unit fires.

Since I also fight with my hybrids (Janissary Inf, LBs, Trebs, Genoese, Bulgs, etc) I usually use them 3-4 deep to help them take cav charges and make them more maneuverable in tight combat (hybrids make great flankers, and they can slip thru a gap in the line much better when 4 deep than 2 deep.

I only use missiles on loose form when they are greatly outnumbered by the enemy missiles or they are high valor/morale and I don't want to trade them for low valor AI troops in a missile war.

ichi

[Geezer57]

Also gunpowder troops work a bit differently. If you put them in 3 or 4 ranks, they will form a rotating fire system that will keep up a continues barrage of fire and thus a continuous morale penalty. If you put them in two ranks, they fire one volley that can cause massive casualties and then spend a long time reloading.

That's frequently referred to as "ripple fire", and you're right - due to the more constant impact on enemy morale, it's far easier to combine a ripple-firing gunpowder unit with a melee unit's charge, for a real shock to the enemy.

[antisocialmunky]

I personally like the Catholic Hand Gunner's pop and drop, that is barrage and charge.

[ajaxfetish]

Regardless of foot/mounted, if you want all your missle troops to fire when on flat terrain, then set them to 2-ranks deep if in close formation or 3-ranks deep if in loose formation.

You can also have some guys not shoot if your line is too long, so occasionally more ranks can actually mean more men firing.

Ajax