Light Infantry

[SpartanRuler]

Just curious on how many people use light infantry bacause I dont use them unless its my only option. Keep in mind that I usually play a Greek style of warfare such as using Hoplites, archers, and a couple of cavalry units. To me the light infantry take to many casualties and it is a waste. So I would like to hear some of your ways on using light infantry.
Thanks in advance.

[mastershake16]

Personally, I just amass legions...so yeah I dont use em much unless im playing as a Republican Legion

[Footos]

^^^ same (usually play rome or seleucid), but sometimes ill use em to sweep around the flanks since they're light infantry than wrap around the enemy, or garrison duty of course.

[rory o'kane]

they're useful if you're using republican units and you have to go up against phalanxes - you can send your velites around behind the phalanx when it has engaged your legionnaires, and pepper them with javelins from behind - usually the phalanx units are formed up deep enough that the risk of friendly fire is negligible.

[Dark_horse_spirit]

Light Infantry are for harrasing the heavy ground soldier, tieing them up while you sneak around there flank and smash them hard with your horses. The lights are designed to take heavy losses, this is why they are cheap.

DHS

[Optimus Marcus Ulpius Traianus]

i suppose they are good for Parthia as you hold down there forces while you send the cavarly round the back still in history they often were very usuful for harrassing supply colums and foragers for food.

[stanley86]

I was nicely surprised, when the unit of Roman Light Infantry stood their ground against the seleucids (sword hoplites or argyraspids, don't remember). I put them on the left wing and they did a good job there, protecting my lines from being outflanked and thus enabling my general's bodyguards to flank the enemy and charge them from behind, however they lost 120 soldiers (half of the unit). Also in the same battle 4 units of Thracian mercenaries stood firmly in the middle of the battle line, not letting it to broke, although suffering huge losses against phalanx pikemen. So as you see, light infantry can be used not only to flank the enemy or harras skirmishers. They are capable of holding the line against stronger enemy.

[cnaeus]

light infantry are for flank protection and for lightning fast assaults on accidently uncovered enemy units who are not capable of holding in melee. also i use them allot because i dont like winning every battle just because i only have the best of the best units, i therefore like some light inf/cav in my force as well.

cnaeus,

[Redolegna]

I have never used them (I haven't really played Hellene factions for the moment) but I found that the Greek Hamippos could withstand a cavalry charge and inflict heavy damage. I was actually surprised. I thought I would trample them over and I found myself having lost 40 horsemen to roughly the same numbers of Greeks. Not a good rate.

[apple]

Light infantry will be even better in RS II.

[mastershake16]

yea, I hope light infantry will be a bit better, because I want to use them more but
I cannot wait for RSII!

[Leeham991]

Light infantr'ay' keeps the armies at bay

I use light infantry to run down and flank the enemy in most cases. The Legionaries are far too valuable to risk in squeezing through a small gap. Best let the faster, more agile light infantry to get between the enemy and cut out their spines