Slitherine

I don't understand how one uses light infantry as a screen.

If the lights are charged and evade, the charging bg continues and can end up charging the bg that the lights were screening, right?

So what do you do? Try to make the lights stand and take the charge and sacrifice themselves?

Is that what is meant by screening? Or am I missing something? Thanks.

Light Infantry screens the main battleline from being shot at by the enemy's skirmishers or other missile troops. They also serve to slow the advance of the opposing troops. Light Infantry can also be used to soften up the enemy's main battle line if he does not cover them with his own lights.

berthier wrote:Light Infantry screens the main battleline from being shot at by the enemy's skirmishers or other missile troops. They also serve to slow the advance of the opposing troops. Light Infantry can also be used to soften up the enemy's main battle line if he does not cover them with his own lights.

And to draw them out of line if they are shock troops.

Hi!!

I think having a few BG's of lights is a good idea as it allows me to...

1-Stops the enemy from shooting my own battleline.
2-Stops the enemy double moving across the board.
3-If you position your battle line out of the enemies and your charge range and then move right up to the enemy battleline with the lights they will be forced to test not to charge forward if shock troops and if they do charge their line could break up with individual units charging your line, so you get overlaps in melee for a turn or two.

Just remeber that Light Cav dont force impact foot to charge after them

They can also be used alongside a BG of knights or chariots when facing enemy missile troops. The enemy have to split their shooting (frequently making it ineffective), yet you can still charge at full effect.

I think LF in particular are something that you really start to enjoy their value as you get more experience.

They serve a good but historical role. They don't beat people, but they harass well.

KenPortner wrote:I don't understand how one uses light infantry as a screen.

If the lights are charged and evade, the charging bg continues and can end up charging the bg that the lights were screening, right?

So what do you do? Try to make the lights stand and take the charge and sacrifice themselves?

Is that what is meant by screening? Or am I missing something? Thanks.

First your screen protects your main line from shooting.
Second when you screen evades, if you main line is in the correct place (just outside charge range of the enemy main line) then some of the enemy will roll up on the VMD and you then get two rounds of melee with overlaps on both ends before the remainder of the enemy line gets in.
It also works very well if your line is defensive spearmen as you want to be charged, not to charge - and the skirkmish screen will encourage him to charge.

Lights are important but you need to avoid wasting to many points on them. I think the best value at 2pts is the poor Javmen, they do the same job as 5 pt light foot.

madmike111 wrote:Lights are important but you need to avoid wasting to many points on them. I think the best value at 2pts is the poor Javmen, they do the same job as 5 pt light foot.

Not in my book.....
Poor slingers are the same cost but have longer shooting range.

Spike

Just be careful though as a 12 point unit of poor javmen/slingers is worth just as much as a 78 point unit of spartans as far as victory points are concerned.

Shock troops do not have to charge through their own skirmishers to try and get enemy skirmishers though.

how many bgs of light foot do people generally btake?

For 600pts of LRRoman: 1 BG 4 Cretans, 1 BG 8 javelins, two BG each 6 slingers

stefoid wrote:how many bgs of light foot do people generally btake?

2-4 is about right. Depends on the army of course.

rbodleyscott wrote:And to draw them out of line if they are shock troops.

Yes, whenever THAT works... look for my upcoming AAR.

Ian

Scrumpy wrote:Shock troops do not have to charge through their own skirmishers to try and get enemy skirmishers though.

Well spotted , I missed that point on page 58.

Not in my book.....
Poor slingers are the same cost but have longer shooting range.

I prefer the javelin for the +1 POA on impact, they are great for engaging scythe chariots. Also the +1 means they should on average beat average slinger/archers at impact.

While LF have their use, namely covering your quality troops they don't usually kill their own weight in points if the other side also has LF. Better to save the points and invest in better armour or quality for your fighting troops.

madmike111 wrote:

Not in my book.....
Poor slingers are the same cost but have longer shooting range.

I prefer the javelin for the +1 POA on impact, they are great for engaging scythe chariots. Also the +1 means they should on average beat average slinger/archers at impact.

While LF have their use, namely covering your quality troops they don't usually kill their own weight in points if the other side also has LF. Better to save the points and invest in better armour or quality for your fighting troops.

I prefer not to have any poor LF in melee, that is what the troops behind them are for.

Polkovnik wrote:They can also be used alongside a BG of knights or chariots when facing enemy missile troops. The enemy have to split their shooting (frequently making it ineffective), yet you can still charge at full effect.

thats actually a bloody good idea.

stefoid wrote:

Polkovnik wrote:They can also be used alongside a BG of knights or chariots when facing enemy missile troops. The enemy have to split their shooting (frequently making it ineffective), yet you can still charge at full effect.

thats actually a bloody good idea.

Fire-splitting is a vital FoG technique, IMO.