Tactica Americana

[[GG] Lord Ashram]

S! all,

I thought I would keep an ongoing record of the tactics I am currently using with the American forces, so that people can give it a look and consider the tactics themselves.

First, I am about to try a mixed skirmish force of GMBs of average valour and Light Infantry of no valour, but maybe one armor. I had only been using GMBs until this point. I will try to have enemy lights engage MY lights, who will absorb the casualties of enemy fire and still be rather cheap. This will also enable my more expensive GMBs to sit back just out of enemy range, unfired upon but able to still fire.

I always make sure to have friendly cav (preferably French) nearby to cover my quick retreat. Remember, if your GMBs are being fired upon you are TOO CLOSE; back off and resume fire. Remember, on flat ground GMBs have range on EVERYONE.

British Lights are the biggest pain in the rear, especially when they are killing your expensive GMBs. Try to use another cheap unit to absorb casualties... maybe even some minutemen in loose order?

Watch for British Cav, too; American cavalry cant fight it. If enemy cav is near, get in close formation and give them a few volleys.

I will post more as I play more and develop my tactics further!

S!

[GG]Ashram

[[GG]Olaf_Rassmussen]

I planned a counterplan to this

Now I just need to have some practise with it.

Ashram I challenge thee *Slap* (From somesort glove)

[[GG]Lord von Döbeln]

When attacking with the British you need to keep moving and get into melee; the sooner the better IMO. I usually buy 3 lights (sometimes 4) to screen my slow main force's advance from the skirmish-prone Americans. I usually also have a unit of light dragoons always ready to flank any enemy units in loose formation. Warparties are also good for this since they are fast. If you manage to catch the Americans off guard and charge warparty and/or cav into a loose formation lights or even GMB you will do some major damage.

At the same time my lights will keep contact with the skirmishing American troops, constantly firing, moving into range firing moving etc. The main force should stay just behind the lights until they can engage the main American line. I tend to use British line to fire and my elite squad (usually 2 highlanders and 2 grenadiers) for flanking if possible. I deploy the Scots in front of the grens to absorb any fire, give a few volleys and then charge the Scots. I let the grenadiers keep their distance and keep them firing as long as possible and as a guard against flanking manouvers against the fighting Scotsmen, and then charge the grens too if the Scots need help.
Remember the Grenadiers fire quickly and accurately and are best used for firefights, even if they are strong in melee too. I have even used my grens as makeshift skirmishing units in loose formation on occasion to good effect.
If I have the money I add 2 Hessian line inf to my line infantry group, and beef them up with valour and/or armour, and after exchanging some volleys in which the English line in front absorb the bullets, I charge the Hessians into the American line. As with the elite group above the English line stays back and fires + guard against flanking directed at the Hessians.

Basically if you can reach the American lines without too heavy casualties, the British will stand a good chance in the ensuing melee (rest a bit before the charge if possible) even if the GMB are tough in melee. A warparty or two and/or cav charged into the flanks of the enemy will of course be very helpful. Especially the fear-inducing warparties can often generate a domino-effect rout down the American line (maybe not of the GMB but continentals and especially militia do NOT like being charged in the rear by warparties).

I usually buy at least a 4pdr to give the British something with range. It can be very useful to wear down retreating GMB units and rifles together with your lights. I prefer the 4pdr because of it's moveability when attacking.

If I defend with British I just find a good defensive spot, preferrably among the trees, and send my 3-4 lights out to skirmish like the Americans would. When the enemy draws nearer I position my lights just in front of the main line (still in loose formation) to let them absorb the GMB and rifle fire. If you position your troops so that the enemy must pass through woods and emerge from them not too far from your line, you will negate the American's greater range (they have difficulties firing through the woods), and so you can fire at them too when they get close enough to fire at you.

As when attacking, take every opportunity to harass skirmishers in loose formation with cav and warparties. This will force them to move (no more firing at you) or get into close formation (better target for your muskets), and it also tires them.

When defending I again tend to buy arty to have something with which to counter the greater range of the Americans. The 4pdrs are great for moving out under the watchful eye of your cav to get a few shots off down the lines of the opponent. Aim primarily for GMB's since they are the most precious to the opponent. The arty don't always generate huge casualties, but it tends to force your opponent to move his units out of the fire, thus hopefully disrupting his lines/plans. And cannister used correctly can be MEAN on the AWI maps with the many narrow fields and good hiding posibilities.

Keep in mind though that all arty if subject to rifle fire will die more rapidly in AWI than in NTW. Arty must be kept away from muskets and rifles.


[GG]vD

[flippyxtrem]

Heres Flippys equation

Americans- Shoot and run like hell (fire and manuever)

French- Shoot and pray theres not to many Highlanders, Grenadiers, and Hessian Line.

British- Just Charge forward like a tank..dont stop just move forward...


That is the basic idea of the three factions written in 3 minutes...how you do these ideas...is your own art and strategy...very simple game

Cheers

[[GG]Lord von Döbeln]

Well actually the French are basically as strong as the Brits in melee (and as slow). The Grens and Marines are wicked. I don't have the stats in my head, but they are very similar.

The American tactic I like to call shoot and scoot! ;D

[GG]vD

[flippyxtrem]

Von you misread what I said

I said: Shoot and pray theres not to many Highlanders, Grenadiers, and Hessian Line.

Not that I meant the French Marines and French Grenadiers are inferior but are usually outnumbered in there valour for various reasons

The French have good dragoons thus the French Player carries the weight of the teams cavalry...usually 2 French Dragoons with valours of 2...that can be really expensive...and if the French Player has artillery that to can take substantial weight on valour for troops...so it all really depends on money, troop selection, and your opponent...however it can easily go both ways for the British player as well..however the British do not have to worry as much about there allies for they do not have Minutemen backing up there flanks with American Light horse...kinda see my point? A fair argument if I may say is that the French have to keep the brawn of the American lines and sometimes that can be quite a challenge.

Well...very good

hope you understand where I was coming from now

Cheers

[[GG]Lord von Döbeln]

Gotcha!

[GG]vD

[flippyxtrem]

Cheers!!