Archers, just a chance of getting disordered opponents?

After my first game of BI I wondered if I have a better idea of how to use T Archers. So far I am screening infantry with them and try to get a lucky shot with them on a nearby opponent. In General, there is usually only one round when the opponent is within range. After that, a charge is usually made by one of the sides.

So I get the point, that Archers can try to make a defence fire when they are charged. Shooting on fresh opponents with 2-3 dice rarely results in more than a disorder, especially if you have the chance only once. There is no indirect fire besides from large units with FP and T only allowed in some lists.

Placing T in e.g. broken terrain is for sure an interesting option, too - if availabe.

So do you guys have any other idea to use T efficiently?

In Basic Impetus S seems far more valuable since they can move very quick, get a -2 if shot at etc. In our game feudal french vs. feudal imperial one of the S units had VBU 3. The S units were more efficient since they could more easily create opportunities through movement. Did I just not get the point how to use T or are T and S of a very similar Battle value in BI?

T can fire at longer distance than an S, of course not all Ts are good the same

I think part of the reason S & T archers seem less effective in BI is that there are just fewer of them so no chances of a 2nd & 3rd shooter causing more hits on a disordered unit causing automatic losses due to CT checks.

Hi just a point but T shooter units VB 4 can do quite well in combat. I know in a recent Samurai game the T Teppo shooters were screening the Samurai FP - but The shooters kept on holding on in combat and the FP could not get into combat. I am leaning towards deploying T as alongside FP units.

Cheers Jez

Thanks gents for your thoughts. VBU 4 Shooters are really good, although my chosen armies don´t have them. I am usually referring to VBU 3 t, which is close to S having VBU 2 when it comes to dicing.

I like to use T's on the flanks sometimes, with cavalry in support. Reasonably effective at evening up the odds if facing an opponent with more (or better) cavalry than you.

Tarty wrote:I like to use T's on the flanks sometimes, with cavalry in support. Reasonably effective at evening up the odds if facing an opponent with more (or better) cavalry than you.

Yes with my Meroitic Kushite I tend to pad out my somewhat average cavalry with my archers, of which I've got an awful lot.

That is a really nice idea, especially with BI, where CP1 and T have the same moving distances (excluding charge distance). Thanks for sharing!