What is 'screening'?

[TheFedExPope]

I see the word 'screening' thrown around a lot in unit descriptions for TW games and mods, for cavalry and skirmishers. I think I have a general idea of what it is: a 'screen' that covers the movements of the main core of the army so that the enemy cannot properly defend against it. But...since we have an aerial camera view, what good is it? And especially, what good is it against AI? Of course maybe I have the definition wrong. Anybody have an idea?

[TheFedExPope]

Appreciate the help. I've never even considered false-charges before. So doing this makes them more susceptible to damage from archer units?

[Shea O'Gorath]

Yes since to retreat means you turn your back to their archers and shots to the back are more lethal.

But screening with archers of your own or skirmishers allows you to engage at a distance early and waste some of their shots.

[Hazzard]

I don't understand screening with cavalry in Empire and Napoleon, surely it would be more efficent to do it with light infantry seeing as cavalry is a fair bit more expensive than your run of the mill line infantry so you are protecting a cheap unit with an expensive one.

[gaunty14]

Light Infantry cannot respond to threats as well, plus in ETW they take longer to appear on the campaign map than cavalry.

[AqD]

You are supposed to use restricted camera view



Against factions with foot archers, it's very useful to send cavalry forward, faking charge and force them to turn and run away while being shot by archers of your own side.

[Agamemnon]

Nobody uses restricted view.

[Aide-de-camp]

Screening has multiple meanings. It could mean you use your skirmishers and archers in front of your infantry, so that your precious infantry doesnt receive dmg, while skirmishers do dmg to their approaching infantry. Once they are close enough, your skirmishers or archers pull back. It in musket era, screening is also sometimes done with cavalry. In musket era, skirmishers are used to screen your main body, but in reality they would use some sort of natural cover, in games, arcade as usual. For example they would use some sort of tree, ditch, or anything like and try to sharpshoot the enemies, rather then standing like a living shield. If an army was defending a hill or ridge, thick line of skirmishers would be used which has an impact on enemy morale.

Also in some situation, an army body can screen the position of artillery, so that enemy artillery cannot counter fire them. But it all depends on situation.