02-16-2008, 02:54 PM
No, It is not "regular line infantry", as I said they had an specific training, status and higher pay.
In ancient times the distinction was also clear, line infantry laboriously wheeled to deploy in battleline, then advanced slowly or risked to break the formation, open order allows faster movement over rough terrain, yet it helds a grade of cohesion, to perform that it was required an specific training. Then it is not just that "They can either fight as skirmishers, by throwing things or engaging in a disorganized squabble, or clash while spontaneously forming a battleline" their missile capability is irrelevant to categorize light infantry, while their ability to from a proper battleline, not "spontaneously" but under orders, is the relevant one.
"Mobility is limited by two things, arms and training" you say, and I completely disagree, mobility is limited by one thing overall, formation. In close formation you have to move slowly or risk breaking it, especially over rough terrain or while wheeling (besides that, the other main factor is frontage).
Everyone can fight to some degree in every way, yet the same way you would say that an hoplite is not an skirmisher just because he was able to throw a javelin, however well he did it, because the role of his unit in the army was as line infantry, light infantry has his own role even if it could be used as line infantry.
In ancient times the distinction was also clear, line infantry laboriously wheeled to deploy in battleline, then advanced slowly or risked to break the formation, open order allows faster movement over rough terrain, yet it helds a grade of cohesion, to perform that it was required an specific training. Then it is not just that "They can either fight as skirmishers, by throwing things or engaging in a disorganized squabble, or clash while spontaneously forming a battleline" their missile capability is irrelevant to categorize light infantry, while their ability to from a proper battleline, not "spontaneously" but under orders, is the relevant one.
"Mobility is limited by two things, arms and training" you say, and I completely disagree, mobility is limited by one thing overall, formation. In close formation you have to move slowly or risk breaking it, especially over rough terrain or while wheeling (besides that, the other main factor is frontage).
Everyone can fight to some degree in every way, yet the same way you would say that an hoplite is not an skirmisher just because he was able to throw a javelin, however well he did it, because the role of his unit in the army was as line infantry, light infantry has his own role even if it could be used as line infantry.
AKA Inaki
