Archer Tactics

Galadrin

Vassal
I've been thinking about how archers (or any missile troop) are best deployed in WFB3. The options seem to be either a long line (takes a lot of room on the battle line but provides maximum firepower), archer wedges (best compromise between firepower and conserving space) or ranked up (two or three ranks thick). The ranked option doesn't seem to be popular, yet there is a lingering ethos in WFB3 that, for example, an orc warrior with a bow is still an orc warrior. Is there an inherent disadvantage to a long line (single rank) unit that gets charged in melee other than it misses any +1 combat result bonus for ranks? Can a ranked block of archers have any hope of standing its ground against a charging enemy?
 
I'd rule that a charge on the flank of a single line was treated as a charge on a single file unit - i.e. it would immediately rout. Also, the unit might not be able to concentrate enough firepower on a single enemy unit to do meaningful damage, which is something to consider. Stand and fire can work, but it depends on the situation.
 
I agree on treating the flank as single file. It seems strange to me that a block of orcs might charge a wider single line of archers and casualties are still removed from the flanks as well. To me they should "punch through" the line and automatically rout it if they cause enough casualties...
 
Oh, I just thought of a good way to handle this, so that a single line of archers is more at risk from melee charges than ranked troops:

When a unit with a single rank is charged in melee, they unit is said to be unformed for the duration of the first round of combat. If pushed-back in the first round of the ensuing combat engagement the unit is automatically routed. Any Ld, Int, Cl or WP based tests taken before the end of the charging player's movement phase suffer a -1 modifier. This does not apply if the unit is more than 10' tall.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the wordiness, I am trying to ape the verbose style of writing in the WFB3 rulebook : ) The rule is meant to capture the effect of a fully ranked up block of infantry crashing into a thin picket line of defenders—they would hardly stand a chance add stemming the sheer momentum of the attackers (unless, of course, they were themselves gargantuan minotaurs or ogres).
 
I like that, although I still think a unit of 1-man depth receiving a charge on it's flank should just crumble.

If the 1-rank unit is charged face on, perhaps it should be out-numbered in some way before effects kick in. Two single ranks entering combat shouldn't have any special conditions applied.
 
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