How do YOU use Elite Infantry?

[Subasean]

I see soooooooooooooooooo many people complaining about the platoon fire ability in modding and general discussion I thought I'd share some experiences I've had with it and let anyone share their tactics for the Elite Inf. units. First of all, I recognize, whether historically accurate or not (I'd honestly not know. I just know the tactical tools the game gives me, not whether they're used correctly in a historical context), Elite Infantry are NOT Line Infantry and are not meant to be used as such. At the same time whenever anyone opens their yap to start running off at the mouth, OMGWTF RANK FIRE COMPLETE PWNZRS NOOBZ PLATOON FIRE GAME IS BROKEN YARRR!!! I get the impression they don't realize this is a game abou TACTICS.

I always set my Guards something like this with a group of Line infantry rearward to support:

Guards: GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
_______GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
______________Line inf: LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
_____________________LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
_____________________LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Set 2 ranks deep with a wider formation than Line Infantry in EVERY test I've so far conducted in custom battle 1 unit of zero experience Guards WITHOUT the support unit I've shown, will have a numerical advantage of at least 100 troops over 1 zero experience unit of Line Infantry by the time the battle degrades to a melee, because the Line will keep firing into the by now very thinned out center of the Guard unit while the healthy flanks of the Guard unit keeps pouring uninterrupted fire into the clumped together Line unit.

In an actual battle when I have my Line Infantry unit supporting my Guards (Fire at will turned off) by the time the enemy charges, I'll move my supporting Line unit to the center to bolster the hole in the Guard line and usually 1 full rank fire volley is enough to break the charge before they get into melee. It's even worked for me on VH with all the morale bonuses the AI gets at that stage. I always keep an arrangement like this somehwere in my line whether its center, left wing or right wing. The result is a very fast breach in the enemy line that I can quickly exploit with either two units of Line infantry flanking left and right or getting cavalry through the center to charge the backs of units. The AI doesn't always fall for this suckerpunch though which impressed me. One time as I was advancing through the breach the units on opposite ends of the one I'd destroyed formed squares and were taking pot shots at my flanking infantry. By the time they were ready to return fire they'd been seriously degraded and I had to back them up with cavalry.

I think a lot of complaints against platoon fire is people falling victim to the "Siege Tank" spam strategy in strategy games where you just pump out the most of the most expensive unit you can get and expect victory. This game requires a battle plan, not just end of tech tree spam. Between Platoon and Rank Fire, if used tactically, neither is better. Each is a separate tool for a seperate job and at least in my case, when used in conjunction have produced victory on many occasions.

Looking forward reading to your strategies

[bamjo]

I also find that each firing drill has its place. Rank fire is great for providing a morale shock prior to entering melee. When all 3 ranks have fired, you can be sure the receiving unit will be "worried about taking casualties."

Platoon fire is for a drawn out firefight. The sustained rate of fire is significantly hire than rank fire. But the damage takes more time to be felt. Like Subasean reported, a unit using platoon fire will cause more casualties by the time melee is engaged. If you are not sure, test it yourself. Pick a single soldier and watch him fire, reload, and fire again. Time it, and you will see that platoon fire is faster.

Really an elite unit should be able to use both. That we can't choose is a poor design decision.

[zoleman]

The exact same with carcass and quicklime for artillery.... Elite inf SHOULD know both drills (there's an empty space between FaA and Square formation ya know), they aer elite for crying out loud. Platoon is for... i dunno tbh, but FbR is especially useful for morale shocks, which are often far better suited than drawn out firefights.
In my case i usually just avoid elite inf and stick to vetran line inf bec it suits my shock tactic better. Elites are just... well... umm.... expensive and not that über out in the field.

[MyKingforahorse]

Elites have a small morale boost to nearby units as well, but IMHO they are not worth the cost when you can throw in a shock troop like grenadiers for instance.

[Lord Leonard]

Elites have a small morale boost to nearby units as well, but IMHO they are not worth the cost when you can throw in a shock troop like grenadiers for instance.

I like using grenadiers to clear out buildings. It helps to rank them up faster. On the field, the grenades option can give a real shock to the primary enemy target and start a cascade of morale shock to nearby enemy units. They can take some casualties and hold the line if needed.

I don't find the elites to be of value so much. I need to test them out more. It's fun to have them on field, I like to give mine the special missions to see how they handle themselves in battle situations.

[upsettingshorts]

I put them alone in an area I'd normally want two units? They often suffer fairly heavy casualties. But they do not break.

Like, something I need to hold and a unit I need to remain static that won't require babysitting - so I can concentrate on the rest of the battle..

[Mechstra]

The thing with the elites is that they die just as easily as militia or citizenry under a similar weight of fire. Got to get out of the M2/Rome mindset of 'invincible elites' to use them properly. They make an excellent reserve, as they can turn the course of a battle when committed due to their combat skills, as well as still inspiring nearby units when they know the elites are nearby. Works well, I find.

Just don't put them in the most vulnerable places of the line from the start. Elite infantry are best when dealing damage, not taking it, if you can help it.

[Arej]

Elites such as Guards and Bulkeley's are best when in melee.

[keith moons liver]

Elites such as Guards and Bulkeley's are best when in melee.

Agreed, the difference between the shooting ability of elite units and militia units is much smaller than the difference between the melee ability of the same respective units.

[MustardParty]

i've only had limited experience with elites - playing india right now which don't seem to have a high variety of unit types. on the american campaign i had though i tried the republican guard and i thought they were so-so. the only reason why i got them was because of my treasury glut - in a situation where funds are limited i would probably stick with line inf and grens.

is there a limit to how many elite units you can have recruited at one time? one strange thing i found was i could only recruit so many of them before they became a greyed out option.

[guerra]

Elite troops should never ever be used as frontline battle troops. Ever.

They should be used as reserve troops to boost morale. Like the French Infanterie Vieux.

Use them to protect your line infantry from flank attacks, use them to shoot down enemies that have forced a gap, use them to finish off the enemy. But keep them fresh and out of battle for the most part. They are really good for that final push at the end. So keep them alive! Not at the front!

[AustrianGeneral]

I cant agree to this, because Elite Infantery like Guards are not so much more expensive than Line infantery but they are way better, not all but many especially the guards. So can even few Guards easily defeat more line infantery, and in Melee the guards beat all.

Its like in Rome Total War. Like the the urban cohorts, its better to take fewer elite Infantery than a mass of line infantery, but with few i dont mean that your army is only the half of the enemys ones...

[Monglor]

The first time I sent an army of just French Republican guard into battle I had a nightmare. I'd sent them to reinforce a campaign army fighting the Polish and I saw a tempting target along the way and thought I'd have a go, what can go wrong, these guys are elite right?

So battle is on, I march my guys up tot he enemy and a firefight ensues. Or rather the enemy line infantry kick off and my guys start farting around getting into platoon firing mode. By the time they were set up and putting rounds down I'd eaten a whole unanswered volley.

When the lads finally did putting some fire down it was pretty clear that the early problems had meant that I would lose, or at least take massive losses. So I did what I always do when things look bad. I ordered the lads to fix bayonets and get their stab on. A few minutes of one sided madness in the moshpit later the enemy had bricked it.

That's not to say I would think that Elite troops are there just as shock melee troops, but I have learned they are best used sparingly and ideally with the enemy coming to them, so they are ready to hose them with bullets. The fact that they have to deploy to fire really hurts them when they march into a firefight.

[roy34543]

I use one elite infantry unit as a mainline support unit and I use the rest as small squads designed to attack enemies individually (like light infantry, but more with the idea of attacking a static enemiy from the side)

[muffinhead]

i dont know if this is just for the elite units but it seems they dont fire right when in a box formation. anyone else experiencing this? they just fire once after like 30 seconds of starring at them and then they dont fire again.

[S<>P<>Q<>R]

Not line infantry, still good choice for weak spots in a defensive line, better to have an elite unit in a hard fight, instead of having to take the post of another routing unit in the exact same position. Best used for withdraw, strong line while the rest of the army retreats.