Skirmishers, their role and tactics

They way we kept setting up this Saturday with our skirmish line left me in doubt as if that was the best way. If we form in 3 battles, as I mentioned in another topic. I believe it is okay to have your skirmishers start as the third line and then move in and out through the gaps as neccessary for their mission.

The mission of the skirmisher is A: Harassment of the opposing line, B: Distracting of the opposing line to get it to move or disrupt, C: flanking, encircling, hero dying to break up a shield wall and D: to run down fleeing enemy from a ruptured enemy line.

When we form in one continuous line, one shieldwall. I don't think its beneficial to have the skirmish line (and in this case they should be two, a left flank and a right flank) behind the main line. I think the skirmish line should be set a few feet or more in front of the wing of the main line. (See Diagram below A being behind the line, B being in front of it)



This allows 2 things to happen. 1. The skirmishers are in a position to threaten the flank of the oncoming line as well as harass it with missiles. and 2. This means the opposing Skirmishers can not flank your line as they have to deal with your skirmisher ahead of your own formation. When your skirmishers are depoloyed on your flank or behind it. You are giving the opportunity to an aggressive enemy skirmish line to move in to your flank and pin your skirmishers into a 'refuse the line' formation. (This would be A in the diagram below)



These leads to a nasty situation where your main line can not advance but must deal with the threat to their flank and, as in the diagram below, if your main line has to divide in order to support the flank that is when the opposing main line would attack.



That is the situation you want to be in control of. You want your skirmishers to be in front of the main line, to press back their skirmishers (A), to push into their flank (B) and force them to move their front line to support the flank (C)so that your main line can then attack (D) at an advantage in focus and even numbers.

If you have archers they can support either the main line or move onto the flanks and support the skirmishers. Ideal skirmishers in my opinion are Shieldsmen with small, light shields, florentine, rogue reds, flails (more room to swing that thang) single blues and lots of javelins and rocks.

The Super Skirmisher is also a good addition and tactic. This is a guy with lots of experience, hard to kill, may intimidate the opposition. The super skirmisher can basicly move at will to any flank and beyond and threaten the opposing line into opening up and freezing. They can also, on their own kill many of the enemy or even all his flanking skirmishers, this is when the main line should attack when the opposing line is thus distracted. The super skirmisher could also play Valhalla's Hero and attack the main opposing shield wall to break it up, but this should be done in unison with a general attack from the main line. COMMUNICATION. When the Super Skirmisher says "I'm off to Valhalla" the main line should cheer "We're right behind you!" and the attack is on, Shieldwall Buster, then breakthrough group. Chop, chop, hack and Slash.

Something to think about when you are a line commander, a flank commander or a skirmisher.

Konradr

Konradr you are a brilliant man, I can't wait to learn a few things from you, Taco, and the rest of the group when I get down.


Do you think two shieldmen and a spearman could be a flank/encircling tool? =) Nothing breaks up a group like a spearman.

I can put it into print, but my field leadership is very weak. This all comes from how we were fighting yesterday with such a large group on the field. Not to good IMO.

Konradr

this is really good stuff konrad. and it will help us work on future tactics.