Suggestion: How to beef up light inf

[Keir Maxwell]

Originally posted by Arralen:
SI:figth in closed formation, move in step(?), attack in trott
[/QB]

Either somehting is coming through odd in the translation from german Stefan or you have an incredibly old WRG set of rules. I've played since 6th which came out in my teens, ~20 years ago, and I've never heard of the abbreviations you use.

Troop types:
LI - light infantry
MI/LMI - medium and light medium infantry
HI/LHI - heavy and light heavy infantry.
etc
and for weapons types:
HTW - heavy throwing weapons (legionaries)
JLS - Javelin and sometimes short spear
LTS - Long thrusting Spear
etc

Now day it mainly DBM and the old abbrevations are no more.

Cheers

Keir

[Keir Maxwell]

I'd just like to add that if this change worked it could go along way towards coping with the HI complex. If you can screen your not so heavily armoured close fighters from archery with skirmishers, who take lighter casualties despite their low protection, then more troop types become useful in a greater variety of roles.

Cheers

Keir

[ November 23, 2003, 09:49: Message edited by: Keir Maxwell ]

[Arralen]

I'd just like to add that if this change worked it could go along way towards coping with the HI complex.
If you can screen your not so heavily armoured troops close fighters from archery with skirmishers who take lighter casualties despite their low protection then a more troop types become useful in a greater variety of roles and deployments.

.. that's what I hope for ...

Originally posted by Keir Maxwell: Either somehting is coming through odd in the translation from german Stefan or you have an incredibly old WRG set of rules.

Both:

2nd german edition, 1990 .. and my dictionary isn't really up to the task
So I didn't bother translating the abbr.

At least you get the picture ..

A.

[ November 23, 2003, 09:51: Message edited by: Arralen ]

[Keir Maxwell]

Originally posted by Arralen:
[2nd german edition, 1990 [/QB]

1990 - I guess that would be the same as english language 7th ed.

I didn't know they were published in german but it makes perfect sense what with germany being the first place wargaming took off in europe.

Time for some therauputic Savaging and then sleep.

Machts gut

Keir

[Kristoffer O]

Originally posted by Arralen:
I though about not moving into the same square with units of the same squad,
so differents squads from one commander or troops from different commanders could interpenetrate each other...

Could the game enigne handle this?

A.

Not currently, but it is a good solution. Part of the strength of the Roman legionary army was its manipular structure and a depth that enabled broken units to retreat behind the second or third rank to regroup. This way the enemies were constantly attacked by fresh soldiers. I am very fond of the manipular army, but the Dominions engine is not formation friendly.

The suggested system would work well with human sized units, but giants would not be able to pass through their own ranks. Currently Giants (size 4 beings) are the only unit that allows other units to pass through as they do not fill up a square. I like this fact, but giants are not LI and thus it is a bit backwards. Still LI and wolf riders can retreat through the giant ranks.

[Jasper]

Originally posted by Keir Maxwell:
I'd just like to add that if this change worked it could go along way towards coping with the HI complex. If you can screen your not so heavily armoured close fighters from archery with skirmishers, who take lighter casualties despite their low protection, then more troop types become useful in a greater variety of roles.

Such a change allowing LI to skirmish would be great! Perhaps as an order, which spread them out to one unit per square, and allowed them to fire a few turns before falling back to regroup behind HI.

I realize interpenetration might be difficult in the tactical engine, but even without it the skirmish order would be a dramatic improvement. One could also fudge interpenetration by having units flee around troops in their way, rather than blindly fleeing straight back.

It would also help if those retreating from winning battles didn't scatter.

[PDF]

Well, in order to make LI something else than just CI (crappy Infantry ), it should have the advantages that it had historically :
- Loose formation, using more space, less affected by area fire and arrow volleys
- Bonuses when attacking from flank/rear - this should apply to all troops, but LI would benefit from their formation and speed to flank HI
- ABILITY TO REFUSE CLOSE COMBAT against heavier troops - this one is very important IMHO. For examples the role of Roman Velites was to fight enemy skirmishers, fire javelins on the enemy front ranks, and then retreat, not to engage Hannibal phalanx or elephants frontally !

I'm not sure all this can be done without a serious overhaul of the combat/battle system, but as it stands now LI is quite hopeless ...