Quote Originally Posted by Sir Beane View Post
A basic comparison of different unit types.

Line infantry are solid at shooting and melee, best all round unit.
Elire line infatry (guards) are obviously even better, but not available until later.
Early skirmishers are good at shooting, much weaker in melee.
Late skirmishers are fantastic at shooting and have huge range, still bad at melee.
Grenadiers are good if they can get a grenade barrage off, otherwise they perform like a half strength line unit.
Pikemen are flat out rubbish unless you are using them against cavalry.
There are some specialised melee infantry, these ar egood in seige situations.
I find that a good tactic is to pair up your melee infantry and line infantry (if you happen to be a faction that has both). For instance, Russia.

Russian cossacks are balls at melee, but the streltsy are pretty good at it. Hence, you line your streltsy up behind the cossacks, and, when it comes time for the charge, have your streltsy run THROUGH the Cossacks.

Not only do you get the melee bonus, but you preserve your melee unit and let them fight against a much weaker enemy.