Slitherine

Quite a few lists allow dragoon BG's of 3 or 4 bases with a min-max of 0-6, which means you can have 1 BG of 4 or 2 B of 3. I noticed that a few players prefer BG of 4 over 3, but would they prefer just one BG of 4 over 2 of 3?

My existing dragoon BG's, from another set of rules, have 3 bases. I'm trying to decide if I should increase them by one base or leave as is.

From comments 3 base units are a little more vulnerable when things start to go wrong.

Although the same number of base losses will auto-break the unit, I can see the loss to firepower being more of an issue with 3 base units.

I guess only playing and seeing the real impact and personal taste will tell.

Every hit on a 3 base Dragoon BG causes a CT. 3 bases of Dragoons even at close range are unlikely to dish out the hits required to force most 17th century BGs to take a CT. With 4 base BGs it takes 2 hits to require a CT, and the chance of inflicting 2 hits is much greater.

timmy1 wrote:Every hit on a 3 base Dragoon BG causes a CT. 3 bases of Dragoons even at close range are unlikely to dish out the hits required to force most 17th century BGs to take a CT. With 4 base BGs it takes 2 hits to require a CT, and the chance of inflicting 2 hits is much greater.

That's the way I'm leaning - increase my dragoon regiments to 4 bases. If a second unit is needed, such as on the other flank, it would probably be better to have a unit of commmanded out / detached musketeers than to have 2 BG of 3.

It also depends how you plan to use the Dragoons I would think.

If you never plan to have them to the front of a foe then 3 is ok. But if you think you might need them there in a pinch, then 4s.

Dan, Musket armed Dragoons will be your most devistating troops if used wisely. Hidden they are a waste.

I would only take Dragoons as 4s its hard enough game without the CT every time they are hit.

4paks are awfully wide...and the enemy can bring a fair bit of fire power onto them. Cover is nice. I think I will stick with the 4pak though, to minimize CTs. I just need to remember to always evade!!

timmy1 wrote:Dan, Musket armed Dragoons will be your most devistating troops if used wisely. Hidden they are a waste.

Hidden is different from on the flank.

If you plan to have them the outside wing so providing extra shooting dice is what i meant, rather than havethem in front of an emeny pike an shot.

In our second game (set-up but not started yet), my 4pak Dragoons are facing one of Dead.'s pike/shot BGs. I have enclosed fields to sneak into and I figure at long range I'll have an advantage: 3 dice to his 2. Hopefully I will pass my CMTs and be able to turn-move back-turn and still shoot at him but keep him out of charge range. Will let you know how it works.

Dragoon ability to turn-move-turn back is quite nice.

I agree that Dragoons that intend to manoeuvre to avoid a firefight but harass enemy with fire are good as a nimble 3, and those that intend to shoot it out (including against opposing Dragoons) as 4 with the CT benefit. Otherwise, in FOGR I see them as more about accumulating hits over time (and inflicting death roll losses) than trying to force CTs. CTs are a bonus. Both should as a rule avoid close combat.

However, many western lists are "chunky" in terms of blocks of points that need to be used, and whether 3 or 4 Dragoons are fielded in a BG is often a matter of fitting within a points limit.

So, if you had the choice between a four base dragoon bg with arquebuses and a four base bg of light horse. Which is the most effective for slowing down the enemy?

MatthewP wrote:So, if you had the choice between a four base dragoon bg with arquebuses and a four base bg of light horse. Which is the most effective for slowing down the enemy?

They both would slow the enemy?

3s or 4s, bah hunbug !!

We real men use 2s as in the Dutch list, and they performed admirably enough yesterday against Tilly & co.

Dan's plan is exactly right. Dragoons on the outer flank are a real pain.

Matthew - LH, ALWAYS. So few lists have them and most have few (unless you find yourself against Transylvanian) that they are a real boon. Arquebus Dragoon are not really very useful.

MikeK wrote:I agree that Dragoons that intend to manoeuvre to avoid a firefight but harass enemy with fire are good as a nimble 3, and those that intend to shoot it out (including against opposing Dragoons) as 4 with the CT benefit. Otherwise, in FOGR I see them as more about accumulating hits over time (and inflicting death roll losses) than trying to force CTs. CTs are a bonus. Both should as a rule avoid close combat.

However, many western lists are "chunky" in terms of blocks of points that need to be used, and whether 3 or 4 Dragoons are fielded in a BG is often a matter of fitting within a points limit.

Good points, Mike.

Anyway, it would seem that as 2, 3 or 4 paks, dragonses loves dragoonses - for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

So far, after 2 games, I'll still stick w 4paks. More than once I've ignored one hit with no CT.

And in 2 games they have ended up losing a base to hits so they end up at 3 bases in the end, although this time they buggered off and I have not managed to catch them, pikes are soooo slow in enclosed fields

deadtorius wrote:And in 2 games they have ended up losing a base to hits so they end up at 3 bases in the end, although this time they buggered off and I have not managed to catch them, pikes are soooo slow in enclosed fields

Unless they are Cornish (or Swiss)