Flank Composition and Tactics

[Sufferance]

Since release I've been trying to find an optimal tactic/troop deployment. After the French handed my Prussian arse back to me, I realized I wanted to pay more attention. What I noticed was that the 'Up The Guard' tactic was cutting through me like butter. It gives great bonuses during the phases, plus the Guard assaults that occur by chance during the battle cause rampant casualties.

Since then I've been building my flanks up primarily with Guard and with a few of the other types to take advantage of the phase bonuses, and Austria and Russia never had a chance. France, however, still crushed me. I notice that the frontage becomes an issue when you're fighting in the Alsace-Lorraine area. What is a good way to understand and adapt to frontage?

So, fellow wargamers, what does it take to win against France these days?

 

[unmerged(281782)]

Playing as Austria, I actually overrun French having one flank with lots of line infantry and Entrenched defence, another with some guards and Guards up and third Delaying full of Light infantry. My troops consisted more than half of Light infantry (bad first-day choice, and I simply couldn't force myself to disband them), and still winning against numerically superiour and having way too much guards French forces even on the offence. I have no idea why or how, just an observation. The losses for light infantry were tremendous, usually their flank was nearly wiped out every time, but when I've tried to mix things abit and added some guards here to have two flanks with guards up, I've actually started losing. And after two conquests of Turkey and grabbing bits of other German states, and with Austrian OP ideas for MP, I could easily afford bleeding MP and sending light infantry to death as long as it brought me victories.

 

[nalivayko]

Up the Guard on all flanks with more or less equal distribution, some infantry and cavalry in reserve. Then it's all about strategic offensive, tactical defense, March to the Sound of the Guns and God is on the side of the big battalions.

(Played as Austria, crushed the French at the battle of Dresden, overran Northern Italy. My superiority in numbers was never above 20%. However, the manpower problems brought my offensive to a screeching halt. So, it's not the tactics that win the wars, but the manpower).

 

[deadmeat1471]

Up the Guard on all flanks with more or less equal distribution, some infantry and cavalry in reserve.

Sounds like waterloo, didn't end too well did it

I tend to favor the centre with lots of artillery and some guards and line infantry, the flanks i tend to keep mostly line infantry, sometimes with some supporting cavalry and arty. But mainly I have the centre strong with firepower.


*One idea, wouldn't it be more realistic that if a commander uses 'up the guard' and the guard get defeated; that the army routs automatically? or at least takes a big moral hit. This would be realistic, and stop the use of guards ALL the time.

 

[unmerged(346511)]

*One idea, wouldn't it be more realistic that if a commander uses 'up the guard' and the guard get defeated; that the army routs automatically? or at least takes a big moral hit. This would be realistic, and stop the use of guards ALL the time.

Wouldn't it also be realistic if the general commands the tactic and the unit composition dictates the effectiveness of a tactic? Why for gods sake can't 20000 line infantry do "Entrenched Defense" without light infantry in between? Do those carry the shovels?