Matrix Games Forums

Manual states light infantry is more flexible type of infantry. What are they good for (in game)? If more flexible means just bit faster but with less firepower are they worth building if I can use cavalry for speed and regular infantry for firepower?

ORIGINAL: arras

Manual states light infantry is more flexible type of infantry. What are they good for (in game)? If more flexible means just bit faster but with less firepower are they worth building if I can use cavalry for speed and regular infantry for firepower?

Light Infantry (and Jagers, which are very similar) are excellent troops. They can deploy into Skirmish mode 100% of the time, which makes them much more effective in defense against enemy fire, expecially Artillery, and they are more effective in attacking Artillery as well. Light Infantry in Line, in Skirmish formation, in Woods, with the "Woodsman" Upgrade, are deadly [:)]

Being able to skirmish is a big advantage in the game.

Thanks R.G.

So they don't actually deal more damage to enemy troops? Just get a defensive bonus due to skirmishing?

Light Infantry get a bunch of bonuses.  From the appendix in bullet point format, I think there might even be a couple other bonuses discussed elsewhere:







Require only half as many MP to change formation as regular infantry
Can deploy skirmishers more easily, with 2 MP, usually without failure
Deal more casualties with skirmishers deployed than regular infantry
Movement costs fewer MP compared to regular infantry with skirmishers deployed
Have a chance to sidestep enemy infantry charges[font="myriad pro,myriad pro"][font="myriad pro,myriad pro"][/font][/font]
Fire out of Villages, Forests, and Orchards without terrain penalties[font="myriad pro,myriad pro"][font="myriad pro,myriad pro"][/font][/font]
Scout one hex further than regular infantry

Light Infantry are far superior to regular infantry in detailed combat. In quick or instant combat the difference isnt as pronounced, but still worthwhile IMO, particularly if playing a power with a very limited mob limit.

Thanks Mus

Light Inf, Jagers are a poor mans Riflemen, and they can really ruin your day, if they catch one of your guns when it is not ready

give them Sharpshooter and woodsmen, and they can be even more deadly in close battlefield

If it were possible to have all your infantry as light infantry would you do it? Realize there are unit limits, but what if these were removed?

for me ? no, I would rather have Inf, RG I think would take them, I don't really go the light route, plus, the AI does better with them then I do

They still cost like 50 extra textiles a unit, so I like to build a few, but replacing all your infantry with them would be cost prohibitive.
 
Plus, as far as detailed combat goes, their special abilities are best in certain terrain types that they get a bonus for skirmishing out of.

Difference between Light Infantry and Jager?

HiHi

Oooops, Sorry P, wrong thread [8|]

All the Best
Peter

What if they costed exactly the same? I'm trying to figure out whether light infantry in line, in open terrain, does any better than regular infantry.

ORIGINAL: ptan54

If it were possible to have all your infantry as light infantry would you do it? Realize there are unit limits, but what if these were removed?

The game allows a maximum of 8 Lt Infantry per Nation, as they were not historically that easy to train and field. so you couldn't have all Lt Inf even if you wanted to.

Jagers currently are capped at 20 units per Nation that can build them (not all can). And yeah, if I could afford it I'd have 20 Jagers. But they cost more than Inf and take twice as long to build, so I usually have less than that.

edit: oops, see you already knew about the limits.

ORIGINAL: ptan54

What if they costed exactly the same? I'm trying to figure out whether light infantry in line, in open terrain, does any better than regular infantry.

In the circumstance you state, no they do not. Infantry would be just as good. Lt Infantry or Jagers perform better in Skirmish mode, and in non-open terrain, than Infantry.

Thanks.

Difference between Light Infantry and Jager? ...once more