Is there a point to Range Cavalry?

[Ascarona]

I use them sometimes, to try them out, but in all my games they just plain suck. I mean, the enemy infantry just turns around to shoot them and because they're so big, they die all the time, they also have less range then most infantry. It seems more like a waist of time and money. Is there some secret way to using them?

[Prototype2001]

No, i was disappointed when i found out none of the range cavalry could shoot while moving. The only time they get to do any shooting, given im playing some faction where they are hybrid and can melee/charge. The only time they shoot is inside the city walls as the retarded ai marches to the square while being massacred.

[Lappasman]

I believe the camal gunmen do fire further than line infantry. I usually put them behind my linemen, so they fire just a bit sooner and kill some enemies already.

[blank]

I believe the camal gunmen do fire further than line infantry. I usually put them behind my linemen, so they fire just a bit sooner and kill some enemies already.

The camel gunners have a range of 90, while most infantry gets 70.

I only use light dragoons, fire once and then charge. It is supremely annoying to wait half an hour for them to line up perfectly before firing though...

[Prototype2001]

Well i suppose if you want to add a extra 10-40 minutes to every battle you can recruit some range cavalry, i like to keep mine under 5-10 mins, vh/vh gc, played through 3 factions.

[Ascarona]

Well... there is one use, I sometimes send them behind the enemy's artillery lines to shoot them, but then again a minor unit of provincial cavalry can do the same thing only then its melee...

[MyKingforahorse]

They can fire over your lines without much FF, that in and of itself is a decent reason to use them at times.

[LogisticEarth]

They're excellent for flanking. Regular dragoons have to dismount, but range cavalry can pop in, fire off a volley or two, and pop out. It provides a pretty bad morale hit to the enemy to get shot at from two sides. I usually use them in conjunction with regular cavalry as a kind of mobile combined-arms unit. Line infantry fire from front, range cavalry (or regular dragoons) harass from behind, heavy/light cavalry acts as a screening force for the dragoons. Or if there's no enemy forces in the rear/flank, they charge in from the rear for the kill while the dragoons move onto the next target.

[Arej]

I use them sometimes, to try them out, but in all my games they just plain suck. I mean, the enemy infantry just turns around to shoot them and because they're so big, they die all the time, they also have less range then most infantry. It seems more like a waist of time and money. Is there some secret way to using them?

I've started using two Light Dragoon units in my army. I usually melee with them - but the reason I choose LD's over, say, Life Guards is because a) they can hide and b) versatility. b) is the bigger factor here. They can shoot while mounted, they can unmount and they have good melee stats. So no matter what the situation is, I can always find a good use for them.

And the thing you're doing wrong, me thinks, is that you're not supporting them. If the enemy infantry just turns around.. don't go in! Go after another infantry unit. If they turn, don't go in. Et cetera. Now your infantry is a) shooting them in the back or b) has massive advantage over the rest of his army as he can't turn around his infantry.

And in the meanwhile.. your LD's are free to do whatever they please and the enemy must keep a lot of his infantry units looking your way unless they want to get charged in the back.

[LogisticEarth]

Nobody should ever be charging with dragoons unless you're in a bind. They're mounted infantry, not cavalry.

[Mahatma Gandhi]

Nobody should ever be charging with dragoons unless you're in a bind. They're mounted infantry, not cavalry.

I do, but then again, I have alotta disposable income from all my trade routes.


But, back OT, I do like the hybrids, I dont care for dragoons. Hybrids are great for breaking formations, harrassing the flanks and for quick strikes on artillery pieces. Generally speaking they've got respectable range so they're like skirmishers w/greater speed. I think if you tinker around w/the hybrid types, you'll learn to like them more, especially in battles where you dont have to micro-manage the rest of your lines.

[blank]

Nobody should ever be charging with dragoons unless you're in a bind. They're mounted infantry, not cavalry.

Not necessarily. Let's take a look at Prussia's cav as an example.

Regiment of Horse: morale 9, melee 12, defence 6, charge 8.
Hussars: morale 8, melee 11, defence 6, charge 7
Light Dragoons: morale 10, melee 11, defence 6, charge 7
Plus, LD get 20 more men on Ultra unit size.

[Arej]

Nobody should ever be charging with dragoons unless you're in a bind. They're mounted infantry, not cavalry.

They have a good melee attack and a decent charge plus they break morale very effectively. And as pointed out above, their melee is almost identical with regiment of horse and the same as Hussars - but the LD has more morale.

[Bobo]

Nobody should ever be charging with dragoons unless you're in a bind. They're mounted infantry, not cavalry.

They can still help you to win a fight if they charge in the back of an unit.

To come back to the topic, mounted range cavalery is very usefull in the back or on the flank of the ennemy. shooting in the back is very effective, moreover they can follow easily a rooting target or charge to support your troops in a fight.

But do not rely on them alone, they cannot match a cavalery unit in close combat nor an infantry unit in shooting.

[Zeboim]

They're kind of nice early on, but once you get Cuirassers or household Cav there is really no reason to bring them along.

And another factor is that Carbine tech is pretty much useless if you don't plan on using them, and you can completely get around not having it. It unlocks cavalry formations which are largely useless and in some cases even hinder your cav's performance.

My last couple games I didn't even research Carbines until after I had several barracks upgraded enough to produce higher level cavalry.

And also, comparing them to Hussars is a laugh because Hussars are a complete joke.

[Arej]

They're kind of nice early on, but once you get Cuirassers or household Cav there is really no reason to bring them along.

And another factor is that Carbine tech is pretty much useless if you don't plan on using them, and you can completely get around not having it. It unlocks cavalry formations which are largely useless and in some cases even hinder your cav's performance.

My last couple games I didn't even research Carbines until after I had several barracks upgraded enough to produce higher level cavalry.

And also, comparing them to Hussars is a laugh because Hussars are a complete joke.

Household cav can't hide and as far as I remember, neither can Cuirassiers. Dragoons are also versatile.

[Gabriel Anton]

Nobody should ever be charging with dragoons unless you're in a bind. They're mounted infantry, not cavalry.

Rubbish

I recruit them for the awesome helmets and use them as Light Cav.

Someone said Fire once and Charge, and this is what I do. Trying to use Dragoner or Karabinier as new age horse archers is a waste , fire and charge!

[eatme]

I find dragoons or just plain cavalry is far better for most purposes ranged cav can be used.

[l33tl4m3r]

Shift-click to run them around a wide enough arc to catch the enemy when he is engaging my line. Often causes the computer to bunch up, and with improved range it's easy to chew an army to bit with a proper semi-circle. Usually only need two units of light dragoons to accomplish it.

And when they are that far back, they are in a perfect spot to pick off the fleeing troops.

And they are the best at taking out artillery. Especially entrenched artillery.

[Ascarona]

I do research Carbines, and use dragoons. But they aren't really ranged cavarly (Im talking camel gunners people, not dismountable or mountable). And I only use them as a garrison force, they give a nice bonus...