Light tactics.....

[Malabar]

Greetings all,

A question in particular to the more experienced lights in the world, or even to those heavies that may be interested. Any ideas on where to look for light fighter tactics for wars? Anything you've seen in the past that'd beed effective?

Malabar

[Kvigr]

My god... a Light Fighting string... cool

As far as Light Tactics in the eyes of heavy I would like to see, well from my side of Archer, is Group shots or a Volley I guess the crorrect term is. I know from personal experience that even though the crossbows are impressive most heavies can block one shot fairly easily so multiple shots in a more concentrated area might be more effective then just scatter firing at the opposing shield wall. One tactic that might be easily said and harder to do, is staying alive long enough to shoot more than one arrow/bolt. This is something that both lights and heavies should work on.

Kvigr Ivarsson

[Malabar]

Volley is indeed the correct term. I've noticed during battles with lights that they tend to scatter behind the ranks a bit. this makes it difficult to get instructions accross the line for lights such as "ready...aim...loose". Shooting from behind the shield wall is also difficult for crossbows since they shoot very flat. Hand bows are more suited to this since they tend to an arc-like flight.

Most crossbowmen can only get one shot out because of lack of practice with a crossbow and need to look down at the weapon to reload, and an innefficient bag that they carry bolts in.

My guess is that since most scenarios are over so fast, any volley fire must happen as soon as "LAY ON" is called, and a commander can issue orders then as needed.

Any more ideas will be helpful.

Keep in mind also I've only been in a couple of battles, so by no means is this word the be all and end all,

[Angar]

Valaria is a stone cold killer with her crossbow. Some of the tactics she has used include:A) Shooting pikers first. I think gunther can attest to this. B) Working in 2 or 3 man teams to concentrate an attack on leaders or polearmers. Using one of the team as a decoy and having the other fire from a different angle. C) Hiding behind big guys with big shields and shooting guys that don't know she is there. Just being sneeky!
D) working directly with a heavy and supporting each other.


The Avacal Crossbows are all about Accuracy. Volly shooting would be a waste of ammo. I've seen Dycien and Valaria make crazy shots and kill guys who thought they were safe behind their shields. I've also seen these same Crossbowmen able to fire 2-3 times a minute because they practiced it.

I'm a big fan of the lights especially when they are on my side

[Malabar]

Valaria is a stone cold killer with her crossbow. Some of the tactics she has used include:A) Shooting pikers first. I think gunther can attest to this. B) Working in 2 or 3 man teams to concentrate an attack on leaders or polearmers. Using one of the team as a decoy and having the other fire from a different angle. C) Hiding behind big guys with big shields and shooting guys that don't know she is there. Just being sneeky!
D) working directly with a heavy and supporting each other.

Great!! Now I have a place to start from!

The Avacal Crossbows are all about Accuracy. Volly shooting would be a waste of ammo. I've seen Dycien and Valaria make crazy shots and kill guys who thought they were safe behind their shields. I've also seen these same Crossbowmen able to fire 2-3 times a minute because they practiced it.

The most common thing I see a light do is looking at the crossbow while reloading. It not only takes your attention from the battle, but takes a lot of time due to how much you have to move. I think it isn't about moving fast so much as moving efficient. It would be a good thing to see more IKCAC rounds at events not only for lights to practice but to promote light combat to the populace in general.

Malabar

[Angar]

Valeria doesn't look at the crossbow when she reloads. She says doing that puts you at risk of attack from other archers and heavies.

[Wilfrid]

Speaking from my (single) experience with lights in war as a heavy, lights are great. I believe it was HE Wilma the Still that pulled out a crossbow during Whipping Winds this past year and used the shield wall to good effect. We heavies were standing still, shoulder to shoulder at the beginning of a bridge battle. HE Wilma used us as protection when she reloaded, and peeked over shoulders or between shields with an "excuse me." Her sudden appearance was often too quick for the enemy to react to, and she bounced bolts off the faceplates of several pikemen, and I believe at least one knight. It seems to me that if a light can draw a bead quickly, volleys wouldn't be as useful a tactic as picking targets- at least from behind an unmoving shield wall.