Dragoons in combat

[Schnockel]

why would dragoons not reduce the number of dice ( as would LF and LH) for impacts and melees?

Dragoons are 'light troops', and technically both 'foot' and 'light'. Because they are not listed in the impact or melee modifiers for dice, but only LH and LF are listed, it sounds like dragoons get full dice in impact and melee against ALL opponents, even battle troops. This seems to me to be wrong as they are, in essence, just skirmishers. I understand that they do not reduce the dice for fire. I don't see why the same must apply to impacts and melees.

Is this the intent of the rules or should dragoons be listed in the dice reductions same as the other light troops?

[ravenflight]

why would dragoons not reduce the number of dice ( as would LF and LH) for impacts and melees?

Dragoons are 'light troops', and technically both 'foot' and 'light'. Because they are not listed in the impact or melee modifiers for dice, but only LH and LF are listed, it sounds like dragoons get full dice in impact and melee against ALL opponents, even battle troops. This seems to me to be wrong as they are, in essence, just skirmishers. I understand that they do not reduce the dice for fire. I don't see why the same must apply to impacts and melees.

Is this the intent of the rules or should dragoons be listed in the dice reductions same as the other light troops?

This is just my opinion of course:

Historically: Dragoons seem to be squeezed in between battle troops and light troops. They're KINDA skirmishers but kinda not. In that sense, they are heavier than other light troops, but still skirmisher enough to run like cowardly currs when faced with something that can actually fight.

Game wise: I think you'll find that the writers wanted to give a slight edge to 'technologically' superior troops. In the same way that Highland Bowmen are not protected in an enclosed field, but Highland Musketeers are, or that generally European mounted are better than their eastern counterparts. This vibe has been discussed multiple times and I think you'll find if there's any doubt, the benefit of the doubt goes to the 'more european/more technological' troops.

Additionally, if you forget about points, a BG of Light Foot get the same number of dice per frontage as a BG of Dragoons (in standard formation).

4 Dragoons 4 wide get 4 dice in melee. 8 LF get 4 dice in melee. So, whilst it's more expensive, the 'dice per frontage' is the same.

[Vespasian28]

Oh and if you do go up against battle troops in melee you will die fairly quickly; at least that has been my experience even if the dragoons have been hiding in a wood!

[madaxeman]

- They are in units of 2, 3 or at most 4, so can only ever be rolling 4 dice.
- Usually they will be formed up one rank deep, so roll 1 dice per frontage.
- They are not close formation, so take cohesion modifiers when the lose to normal troops
- They usually have no melee or impact POA's

All of these things make them quite weak enough already!

The key thing here is that Dragoons are "NOT" skirmishers or light troops, which is hard to get your head round initially, as the easy thing is to think of them as super-LF, and try and use them accordingly. Once you realize that they are a different class entirely and have different functions and capabilities you will do better with them.

I really can't imagine ever wanting to get them into combat* - other than as a 'last resort' to drive off enemy LF or LH that you cant get rid of by shooting at them.

tim

(* although I often do)

[Schnockel]

Actually, they are "light troops", but they are neither LF nor LH...which is just causing confusion.

[RonanTheLibrarian]

Oh and if you do go up against battle troops in melee you will die fairly quickly; at least that has been my experience even if the dragoons have been hiding in a wood!

And then there's that annoying habit of failing a death roll of 1 on the opponent's very last shot of the game........