I'll probably sound like a massive noob but how do you guys use them? I never had any in KA1 because i tended to pick my fights out in the open away from woodland so heavy infantry always seemed the better option and playing through the prologue i just ended up doing the same. Do they have some awesome use that i'm completely missing?
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
I actually tend to use them in one of two roles. One being their intended historical role, which is is a missile screen to absorb arrow-fire while advancing and thereby reduce casualties amongst the more expensive heavy units and then flank around to harass and support the infantry line. Secondly, I have taken to using them as counter-chargers in support of the archery lines. I'll hide them in dense terrain on either side of my missile battery and then spring them out in ambush as soon as the inevitable light cav assault on my archers begins. They're a bit more useful now than in KA1 in my opinion, due to the addition of abilities such as Lifestealer and Poison.
As the Tutorial says: “Light infantry is best deployed on rugged terrain, such as forests and in harsh weather. They don’t rely on tight formations, and their simple equipment means they don’t suffer heavy penalties under difficult circumstances. They are vulnerable to archers and they can’t go toe-to-toe against better equipped opponents on open ground.”
The best use for light infantry was against spear-wielding units in KA1.
Because spearmen/pikemen have armor penetration heavy inf. is more vulnerable. Therefore use light inf. to dispatch them.
Also, @clegane76, try protecting your archers with spear units.
Because spearmen/pikemen have armor penetration heavy inf. is more vulnerable. Therefore use light inf. to dispatch them.
Also, @clegane76, try protecting your archers with spear units.
I just didnt use them in the prologue.
For one Spears are more useful since they protect from cavalery and monster units like giants. I had 2 units of spears and everything else heavy infantry. Heavy infantry also seem to give you better result if you auto resolve battles, which is another reason to avoid light infantry.
By the way, I hate fighting in forest and having units blink in and out of visibility. For this reason the first thing i do when a battle start is to run to a wide, open plain terrain. (I wish there was a unit like in Shogun that can serve as a scout and reveal hidden units from a reasonable distance.)
People who like fighting in forests should do the inverse, get rid of heavy infantry and use a lot of light infantry, and by the same occasion get rid of your archers too since they have a penatry for shooting FROM forests and AT forests. This is another reason why i dislike this style of play, I like using archers.
For one Spears are more useful since they protect from cavalery and monster units like giants. I had 2 units of spears and everything else heavy infantry. Heavy infantry also seem to give you better result if you auto resolve battles, which is another reason to avoid light infantry.
By the way, I hate fighting in forest and having units blink in and out of visibility. For this reason the first thing i do when a battle start is to run to a wide, open plain terrain. (I wish there was a unit like in Shogun that can serve as a scout and reveal hidden units from a reasonable distance.)
People who like fighting in forests should do the inverse, get rid of heavy infantry and use a lot of light infantry, and by the same occasion get rid of your archers too since they have a penatry for shooting FROM forests and AT forests. This is another reason why i dislike this style of play, I like using archers.
@DrakenLord
You know that in the Strategic Battle Settings (top middle on the battle screen marked with an eye) you can set to collapse the trees of the forest when your units go in there? - to make them more visible in the battle.
It's called: Transparent Forest - set it to ON
You know that in the Strategic Battle Settings (top middle on the battle screen marked with an eye) you can set to collapse the trees of the forest when your units go in there? - to make them more visible in the battle.
It's called: Transparent Forest - set it to ON