How do you guys use light infantry?

[Pfundner]

Im struggling to see the point in light infantry. In what way are they superior to line infantry?
How do you guys use them effectively?

[OberonDark]

Simply put, they can shoot farther. Use the 125 range ones you can get in the Late era (in multiplayer or custom battles). Put them ahead of your line, and use them to snipe at the enemy. They have a much farther range than line infantry. Some have 80, though, but those are the ones you'll avoid, except for stakes maybe.

[blank]

Simply put, they can shoot farther. Use the 125 range ones you can get in the Late era (in multiplayer or custom battles). Put them ahead of your line, and use them to snipe at the enemy. They have a much farther range than line infantry. Some have 80, though, but those are the ones you'll avoid, except for stakes maybe.

I don't find them all that good. My opponents always pick Austria or USA in MP so they can use the riflemen (early era). However, the way i play, they only get off one volley before having to retreat behind the main line. I prefer taking along extra units of cavalry myself. In fact, the more light infantry units the enemy takes, the easier the fight is for me usually

[Pontifex Maximus]

Moved to strategy discussions.

[Silius Saurus]

I love my light infantry! I have had a lot of success with them - as noted above, I also use them to screen my main battle line and harrass the bad guys; once the serious shooting starts, I shift them to the outside and use them to harrass their flanks. On more than one occasion, I have caught the bad guys moving their arty into a better firing position and my skirmishers were able to take out the gunners; that extra few yards range certainly helps.

My favorites are the late period skirmishers, who can lay stakes and The Green Jackets are superb, if you play the Brits.

[fluffstalker]

Head over the multiplayer forum, and see the replays. Light Infantry are almost always present in most armies, and most players will swear by them. Their firepower, ability to lay down stakes and hide, range all give them distinct advantages over line infantry. Not a total replacement for them, but often capable of outshooting them with light infantry formation on to reduce incoming fire's efficiacy. Dont get me started on riflemen and grenzers. They're lethal, but their ammunition can drop rapidly, so take care not to leave on fire at will but rather pick and choose your targets carefully. Micromanagement is necessary though, as their skirmirshing ability sometimes fails to move them out of the way in time.

[Pfundner]

Dont get me started on riflemen and grenzers. They're lethal

grenzers= party in my pants

Micromanagement is necessary though, as their skirmirshing ability sometimes fails to move them out of the way in time.

dont i know it, generally weak in mellee too so micro management is a necesary pain in the arse

[Varaaki]

Cavalry and light infantry have an interesting interplay. Light infantry, particularly with better drills and experience, are absolutely lethal to cavalry. Their range, accuracy and stakes means that cavalry are at a severe disadvantage - if they come at them from the front. Conversely, if cavalry can charge light infantry fron the flank or rear, the infantry is toast.

I use light infantry to guard fixed artillery, and later to hide and hit the enemy with enfilade fire.

[Abdul'Allah]

Light Infantry are especially useful when fighting natives. I use them as the front line. Then, when(if) the native warriors get there I retreat them behind my main line infantry and they get a volley off, that usually finishes the indians off.

[kokonut666]

- to laid down a protective stakes screen in front or front corners for my puckle guns emplacements (deadly when placed and protected up front with line infantry on either side)
- to protect my rear or flanks with stakes
- as reserves (they seem to move faster)
- as rangers (several times send them around attacking enemies artillery positions)
- as bait (several time send them up to lure the enemies within range of my artillery
- as second line firing base (very effective with deployed in light infantry behavior behind your main line infantry line. more lethal with platoon firing; it really solidify your main line and they are good in skirmish too)

i usually have to 4 units in my stacks

[BigB]

I never bothered using Light Infantry. Dont seem to need them.

[Slaists]

Im struggling to see the point in light infantry. In what way are they superior to line infantry?
How do you guys use them effectively?

To be honest: I don't know... By the time I get the usable ones (like jaegers for Prussia, for example), I have usually won the campaign requirements already. Given the general passiveness of the campaign map AI, I don't feel like 'defending the empire' (from what!?) until 1799 so I start another campaign...

[HawkDreams]

To be honest: I don't know... By the time I get the usable ones (like jaegers for Prussia, for example), I have usually won the campaign requirements already. Given the general passiveness of the campaign map AI, I don't feel like 'defending the empire' (from what!?) until 1799 so I start another campaign...

Even taking over the whole map is boring!

On subject though, I dont use light infantry though I use pikemen. Will try to see what I can use them for in my next campaign.

[Matsky]

I use my line infantry to lock the enemy into battle, and if the situation allows it, I get my light infantry into a flanking position and watch the enemy flee. I must admit though that as I move deeper into the campaign some specialist units tend to replace my light infantry units.

[Arej]

Killing machines!

[Arej]

Only of the enemy doesn't know how to use them. Light infantry is never useless if you are decent with them.

[Stonewall Whit]

light infantry are a main part of my army i always bring 5-7 units of them they are good harrasing forces to help pull enemy out of there defensive ground seeing as they have superiour range. I also use them as a blocking force i had one game where they held of the enemy army until my troops got in position they inficted heavy losses on my opponent and lowered there moral extremly. you just have know how to use them

[blank]

Light infantry is never useless if you are decent with them.

Oh you mean the part where they run back-and-forth trying to avoid my units? I like to take a LOT of cavalry along, so the running part doesn't really help them.

edit: what kind of a retard actually runs his cavalry into the spikes anyway?

[Gilmourish]

I try to use them as killing machines most of the time. I usually place them on the sides of my main force of line infantry and in between them, to get some sort of early fire upon the enemy. I turn off fire at will, let the enemy come into range, fire, then retreat them back a little, just behind the line infantry and turn on fire at will.
When they're not together with line infantry, I usually have them in pairs of two units, so one unit can fire as the other reloads or relocates. They can back each other up this way.
And ofcourse, the stakes are perfect to protect your forces from cavalry attacks. When I deploy stakes, I put the light guys back to where the stakes are 3/4 in range. I noticed the stakes aren't of much use if you don't let the enemy cavalry come close enough, because a lot of times the two units of light infantry often route them with the first volley.

[Arej]

You keep your Guard units close to the light infantry. If you charge the light infantry, the Guards shoot you and then they melee you. And then the light infantry shoots you. Cavalry really does nothing if you don't have your light inf too far ahead.