Matchlock Ashigaru, to use Fire by rank or no?

**Kev006** · March 21, 2011, 01:57 AM

Is there any reason not to use Fire by rank? I would think that having three ranks being able to fire rather than just the front one would be superior, yet this needs to be toggled every battle. Or am I missing something?

**Sinan** · March 21, 2011, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by Kev006

Is there any reason not to use Fire by rank? I would think that having three ranks being able to fire rather than just the front one would be superior, yet this needs to be toggled every battle. Or am I missing something?

Fire by rank is superior.

**Zoring** · March 21, 2011, 04:55 AM

There is one situation where i use single rank, (when there is no archer units nearby blasting you) you can intermingle a unit of melee troops with the matchlock troops and leave the first rank of Matchlock men firing until the enemy gets close where they can much more easily retreat safely. It can work but is a bit fiddly.

**Stil** · March 21, 2011, 05:27 AM

I always toggle it on - but I don't think it works well (at all) in siege battles when sheltering against the walls.

The tooltip says it makes the unit take longer to form up etc with it turned on, thats the downside.

**Birk** · March 21, 2011, 06:15 AM

I always toggle it on after the first fire. If i don't do that, not everyone from the first rank will shoot.

**Slaists** · March 21, 2011, 06:55 AM

!?? Fire by rank in XVI century!?...

**Solar** · March 21, 2011, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by Slaists

!?? Fire by rank in XVI century!?...

yes.

**kentuckybandit** · March 21, 2011, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Slaists

!?? Fire by rank in XVI century!?...

Yes, though there is now growing debate that Oda Nobunaga had a system where his front row of firing men were supplied by re loaders, using 3 guns each (versus a true fire by rank drill). Though I honestly attribute some of this to academia's Eurocentrisim when it comes to military history and innovation.