Grenades!

Have you ever found any use for the Grenadiers grenade ability? Except for being extremely flashing, I don´t see any good use for this ability.

For being a short ranged attack, you kinda expect a little more "boom!" for the risk. By the time you had your grenadiers in range, they probably just lost a fourth of their unit for 10-15 kills (Large scale).

Originally Posted by Obvious Spycrab

Have you ever found any use for the Grenadiers grenade ability? Except for being extremely flashing, I don´t see any good use for this ability.

For being a short ranged attack, you kinda expect a little more "boom!" for the risk. By the time you had your grenadiers in range, they probably just lost a fourth of their unit for 10-15 kills (Large scale).

Yes best follow it up with the one thing the Grenadiers are useful at, the bayonet charge. Historically grenades had been pretty much abandoned by this period, they made a comeback in WW1.

I find the grenades useful, but it depends on how you are using them if you get it right you loose few men and kill many enemies.

The damage it does is more of a morale hit than an actual kill thing this as as has been mentioned followed by a charge will decimate and usually break a line infantry (timing is key to not get your men decimated trying to do it lol ...

I found great use of it when I had to flush out 4 enemy units from a building. Two grenate throw and the lowest moral unit routed stright away out from the building. The following charge was successful with a fairly equal force, only higher moral.

Okay according to the responses I got, I´m rubbish trying to use grenade ability.

Do not use them for frontal attack (lesser men+no fire for defense+long time to prepare before throwing=sure death of your grenadiers), use them to assault enemy flanks.

grenadier's throwing should be more effective

you'd probably get more off a point blank volley to the face and a bayonet charge while they're reeling.

How long does it take to throw, fire a volley and then charge? Your grenadiers is probably dead by that time but just wondering.

i agree i struggle with the grenadiers also and generally dont have too many in my army's, im probably not using them correctly

The best way to use grenades is to have a low value unit - such as militia - hold the enemy in place and then march your grenadiers to the enemy's flanks, throw grenades, and then charge in for melee. Due to the combination of the casualties from the grenades plus a charge on the flank, the enemy's morale should break fairly quickly.

Originally Posted by Jom

The best way to use grenades is to have a low value unit - such as militia - hold the enemy in place and then march your grenadiers to the enemy's flanks, throw grenades, and then charge in for melee. Due to the combination of the casualties from the grenades plus a charge on the flank, the enemy's morale should break fairly quickly.

Good general tactic for them i also find making use of terrain works well such as walls have them crouched firing behind walls and the AI will move men up when they get inside grenade distance(as close as possible is best they will often slowly move forward till melee is almost engaged do it then ) stand and throw then charge. The wall minimises loses during the throw its more costly than the flank idea but can turn a battle.

Equally stationed just behind the top of a hill out of fire the AI move up as the draw near to the top throw then charge meeting them at the top (least effective and it can get you caught on the downslope of tthe hill so needs perfect timing and selection of a hill suitable for such tactic).

Originally Posted by Jom

The best way to use grenades is to have a low value unit - such as militia - hold the enemy in place and then march your grenadiers to the enemy's flanks, throw grenades, and then charge in for melee. Due to the combination of the casualties from the grenades plus a charge on the flank, the enemy's morale should break fairly quickly.

QFT.

The only other times I would consider using the grenades is when trying to force the enemy out of buildings and the very, very rare event when a group of enemy soldiers decide to stop for a few moments (perhaps for a breather?) directly in front of your grenadiers.

Although, once in every lunar cycle they appear even a great deal more effective than the rifles of the infantry, as I've had a couple of times when grenades caused more than 40 casualties in a single throw. Despite this, it is still a very situational ability with comparatively few uses.

It does cause a great deal of explosions, however, which is always an interesting sight to behold.

Originally Posted by Jom

The best way to use grenades is to have a low value unit - such as militia - hold the enemy in place and then march your grenadiers to the enemy's flanks, throw grenades, and then charge in for melee. Due to the combination of the casualties from the grenades plus a charge on the flank, the enemy's morale should break fairly quickly.

This.

This video demonstrates how to use grenadiers. Its ETW but the same tactics apply and its actually easier in NTW since grenadiers have more men.

Jom is right I was actually going to say that.

I have found them to be a defensive measure ... switch to grenades as those peske militia and mobs try to close ranks for melee ...

Originally Posted by crackaces

I have found them to be a defensive measure ... switch to grenades as those peske militia and mobs try to close ranks for melee ...

won't the grenades overshoot charging units then? I had my young guard bayonet a group of grenadiers once as they set up to throw. the grenades all went over the heads of my guys and then I gave them the bayonet

Yep happens to me too, charging the grenade throwing grenadiers was a counter for them during ETW time.

Yeah.
Actually, when trying out grenades in ETW again, I found out that even the AI countercharges... I only closely won the fight grenadiers vs militia.

Anyway, another tip (got it from bushranger):
use fire and advance with grenades and select a target. This way, they throw the grenades and then charge in without you having to give separate orders.