Hi,
Just wondered, as I put together my first force for Lasalle, why anyone would ever take a supporting brigade other than pursuit cavalry (light cav or dragoons), especially if a guard formation. Specific historical scenarios aside, aren't you pretty much dooming yourself to a marginal victory at best?
More important than being pursuit (in my humble opinion) is whether the brigade is organic (i.e. starts the game on table) or reserve (i.e. begins the off-table, and on average will only come on to the table by turn 7 or 8).
The French Light Cavalry Brigade is a no-brainer as a support option (it is ORGANIC, and it has four units, two of which are valiant, and a horse BTY - plus they are all support).
The Austrian Hussar brigade is also a no-brainer if you are Austrian - organic and four valiant pursuit cavalry.
The Dragoon or Lancer Brigades are the second-best option, because while they have four powerful cavalry units and are pursuit, they are in Reserve.
I'd never take an Infantry brigade in Reserve - even if they DO turn up on the table, they move so slow that they'll probably never see any fighting.
Cheers
Paul
Indeed. And is also where armies like the British are disadvantaged due to the "paper" organisation of the forces as opposed to how they operated in real life, etc.
However when you operate outside the standard tournament game format (i.e. no turn limit, or extended turns, and/or larger forces) and are fighting historical refights, scenarios, or what-ifs the distinction between Reserve & Organic is a bit less critical (especially if using historical OOBs rather than the generic AB ones).
Paul -
" More important than being pursuit (in my humble opinion) is whether the brigade is organic (i.e. starts the game on table) or reserve (i.e. begins the off-table, and on average will only come on to the table by turn 7 or 8). "
+1...... to that !
Pursuit generally only matters if the type of win is of concern - I guess only in competitions.
Armies using the Send in the Guard rule certainly find life tough without Pursuit cavalry. (But 1815 French Guard can't get Pursuit cavalry, so guess it is pretty irrelevant to them).
I am certainly in the group thinking Organic cavalry support is way overpowered. If in doubt, always take Organic cavalry support. Pursuit is less important.
But I quite like large Reserve Cuirassier units - while they are not on the table for long, they can do a lot of damage quickly, scare enemy cavalry, and absorb lots of hits. I think 2 large Cuirassiers is worth the same as 4 small Dragoons/Lancers/Hussars. I find Reserve small cavalry units tend come on late, take a couple of hits and then don't have time to rally them off and get into the action again. Large cuirassiers just keep going and going accumulating DISR but knocking things over.
Cam
But I quite like large Reserve Cuirassier units - while they are not on the table for long, they can do a lot of damage quickly, scare enemy cavalry, and absorb lots of hits. I think 2 large Cuirassiers is worth the same as 4 small Dragoons/Lancers/Hussars. I find Reserve small cavalry units tend come on late, take a couple of hits and then don't have time to rally them off and get into the action again. Large cuirassiers just keep going and going accumulating DISR but knocking things over.
Yeah I can vouch for that - as the recipient on several occasions...! :-(
There is absolutely no way the British (for example) Light Cav Brigade of 4 (Small) Rel/Exp/Pur units is worth the same as a French Heavy Brigade of 2 (large) Valiant & Shock units! If the Light Cav are Valiant or perhaps Lancers then 4 Small units probably = 2 Large Heavy Cav Valiant/Shock - but not when they are just bland undistinguished run of the mill types with no extra combat 'bonus'...
Mycenius -
" Yeah I can vouch for that - as the recipient on several occasions...! :-( "
Yep me to...thats for sure....... but any cav no matter how crap they are still have to be delt with..........( even flea bitten cossacks ).
This is a big part of their strength also......tying up valuable resources that could be somewhere else.
I can't understand why British hussars are Reliable instead of Valiant. The British hussars in the Peninsula did exemplary work (I would probably rate the KGL hussars as the best light cavalry in the theatre next to the Vistula Legion lancers) as the engageemnt at Sahagun amply demonstrates. Hussars from any of the big Napoleonic players have to be Valiant in my book. To say that British hussars weren't as good as the Brunswick hussars just beggars belief.
-- George Krashos
Let's not forget that many people play with more than one supporting brigade. There are several clubs that play Lasalle as a sort of "doubles-game" with two players on each side, because their space doesn't permit more than one or two tables, so they need to get more troops onto the field.
You must log in to post.