Dragoons & Artillery

[bk917]

First, great game. Thanks to developers and those creating new scenarios for everyone.

My sense is that Dragoons take casualties at higher rates than other units. Is that correct? If so, why? Po have rationalized it as relating to the process of mounting/dismounting their horses.

Also, I am surprised how often my artillery fires at a tercio or pike and shot formation, but causes no casualties. sometimes this occurs with 2 or 3 artillery units at a time. It would seem (relatively) easy to hit a tercio of 2,000 men. Am I just overestimating the accuracy of artillery in this period?

[rbodleyscott]

My sense is that Dragoons take casualties at higher rates than other units. Is that correct?

Proportionately they do because they are in small units, and don't get the dispersed mitigation that applies to Light Foot and Light Horse.

Also, I am surprised how often my artillery fires at a tercio or pike and shot formation, but causes no casualties. sometimes this occurs with 2 or 3 artillery units at a time. It would seem (relatively) easy to hit a tercio of 2,000 men. Am I just overestimating the accuracy of artillery in this period?

I think so. There is a historically recorded case where a single enfilading cannon-ball took out 30 gendarmes, but there are other cases where artillery repeatedly missed large infantry units altogether (by shooting over their heads), even at close range.

The random factor for artillery allows for quite heavy hits at times, but is skewed towards the lower end of the possible casualty range.

The most important effect of artillery is on morale, not in causing massive casualties. If you use your artillery with that in mind, you will find that they are in fact extremely effective, especially when combined with small arms fire.

[bk917]

Got it. Thanks. Yeah, I have found artillery effective, particularly in a combined arms situation, as you mention. Makes sense.