Skirmishers Formation

[pugsville]

Is Skirmishers formation a single base line (4 * 1 or 6 * 1) or same footprint as tactical (2 * 2 or 2 * 3)? Or can it be either?

[KendallB]

For infantry and irregular cavalry it can be both, however if the skirmishers are in a single line they lose a die when they take a Cohesion Test.

For regular light cavalry they must be in a single line.

[deadtorius]

Skirmish is a separate formation from tactical so you can be 2 deep in skirmish or in a single line. The special shooting at close range applies to a skirmishing troops in extended line.

[Amra]

Another thread spoke about it being easier for skirmishers to enter buildings but I can't see that . What am I missing please ?

[Philip]

The CMT table on page 45 has a Simple move listed for Skirmishers "crossing obstacle or entering buildings forwards or backwards" but this is inconsistent with the rules for buildings on page 76 where it says "To enter buildings all units must pass a CMT unless they are in March Column and moving along a road" and "Infantry in Extended Line or Skirmish formation will change to Tactical on entering the buildings."

The FAQs for Buildings restate that a CMT MUST be taken to enter buildings.

Philip

[pugsville]

...."The special shooting at close range applies to a skirmishing troops in extended line."

? Something I was not aware of?
I thought all skirmishers shot less well at close range.

I thought Skirmishers (those troops always in skirmish formation) could not be in extended line and never fired as half units. Or I am missing something?

Also I thought infantry skirmishers ALWAYS evaded when charged, so they cant defend buildings? (well they can go in and fire out but if charged will evade?) Is this Right?

[Amra]

From an earlier thread

Report this postReply with quoteRe: What does a skirmisher bases look like.
by terrys » 10 Feb 2013 13:04

Just to confirm:
A unit in skirmish formation MUST also be in tactical OR extended line formation.
They will always move, fight and fire as skirmishers. Being in tactical or extended line formations are mostly irrelevent apart from:
> The width that they take up
> The number of dice that they fire with at close range - They fire as 2 skirmisher units.

[Amra]

Also from Terry in the same thread

A skirmisher unit in extended line fires as 2 units AT CLOSE RANGE. They still only fire as skirmishers (3 dice for a small unit, 4 for large) .... and they still take the -POA for skirmishers firing at close range.
The obvious advantages of being in skirmish formation are:
> Movement through rough terrain
> Movement in general
> Easier to enter buildings
> Reduced casualties from shooting
> The ability to evade if charged

So "easier to enter buildings" ?

[deadtorius]

I thought all skirmishers shot less well at close range.

At close range skirmishers get a -POA for shooting so your hit number is increased.

I thought Skirmishers (those troops always in skirmish formation) could not be in extended line and never fired as half units. Or I am missing something?

Skirmishers are always skirmishing even if their footprint looks like tactical, 2 or 3 wide. Skirmishers can form extended line, which is useful for screening friends. Keep in mind that when you evade you are very wide and can burst through friends behind them.

The term "Skirmishers" refers to foot troops only. Light Cavalry in Extended line have to evade but do not count as skirmishers otherwise. Heavy Cavalry can not use extended line.

Hope that helps clear it up a bit