skirmishers

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skirmishers

Postby Magpie Saegar » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:33 pm

does anyone have good advice for -or a good description of- a skirmishing group? say... what should their goals and methods for accomplishing those goals be? are there any good articles already written about this?

i'm just wondering what people think.
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Postby Syrus » Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:36 pm

A skirmisher is used to move quickly and flank the opposing shieldwall. Similarly, they move to flank and draw off opposing reenforcements.

Look at "Flankers." in this forum for some other thoughts on this.
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Postby Magpie Saegar » Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:54 pm

yes, i've read the flankers post.


but skirmishers, as i understand them, aren't (or at least shouldn't be) solely flankers.

flanking is one tactic they use, but they also can stop enemy flankers, fill gaps in the wall, etc.

and there is more in what i was asking... i was asking about a group of skirmishers. should they split up and work individually? should they work as one group? should they work as several small groups?

and, HOW should they work. this was covered (a little, and relating to flanking) in the flanking post. for example, gimp and go, creating confusion, drawing off attackers.... etc.
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Postby Sir Julian Lunnan » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:13 pm

You should keep your skirmishers, In a team. There better that way.
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Postby Twitch » Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:55 am

so what's the difference between and skrimisher and a backstabber?
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Postby Twitch » Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:58 am

so what's the difference between and skrimisher and a backstabber?
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Postby Magpie Saegar » Thu Nov 17, 2005 3:13 am

skirmish: To engage in a minor battle or dispute.

backstab: To attack (someone) unfairly, especially in an underhand, deceitful manner


skirmishers have many tasks, one of which may be backstabbing. a backstabber is one who is stabbing another in the back (or trying or wanting to). a skirmisher also runs to flank, runs to meet flankers, fills gaps in the wall, and engages in hit and run assaults.

as i see it, the job of a skirmisher is to be as annoying and disruptive to the enemy's plans as possible.
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Postby Kyrian » Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:03 am

Having an archer (or even better, more than two) who can hang with the skirmishers can be beneficial. However, they have to be mobile and accustomed to firing on the run...not an easily learned skill. Being able to fire at the backs or sides of fighters can really disrupt the line. Often the line fighters will turn and try to get the archer whereupon they ideally should get ganked by several people.

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Postby Digoza » Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:34 am

going with the having of an archer: though I may be in-experienced as a skirmisher, I've picked up a few things here and there; something I noticed at oktoberfest that seems to work very well is when an archer comes up behind someone in the front lines and rests the arrow on their should while hiding behind the fighting, and then shooting it from there so as to catch opposing forces off guard because they don't see the archer.
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Postby Oisin » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:19 am

In terms of real combat, skirmishers' job is to try to break up the enemy line and cause confusion and disorder before the two armies meet. They are usually lightly armed, definately to include some sort of missile weapon, and usually fall back through their army's line when the real battle starts.
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Postby Syrus » Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:36 pm

OK, OK... Here's my bit:

Send a team of flankers right, armed with rocks and javs. Hold one back, and send him left. Or left with one right. Or all left. Or throw rocks over the enemy line. Or hang out behind someone's shield to act like an extra sword. Or... (This means avoid predictability.)

Range is a keyword of your effectiveness.

Unload on anyone exposed you can find.

If you get in trouble and someone's chasing you, bolt straight through the threat zone of someone on your team.

Keep circling, and stay mobile. The more you move, the less likely it is that everyone will watch where you are.

If you're running in a pack, run down anyone who gets isolated. Surround them and tire them out.

And run like hell.
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Postby Black Cat » Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:36 pm

Sounds fun :)
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Postby graavish » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:38 am

i find it best to have a guy like me in a group of skirmishers i am big and carry larges shields and long weapons so i am very distract and while not good enough to kill most people i can defend and counter-shot most people enough that if i am runny with other skirmishers then they get more quick back stab kills and arm picks etc etc..but the key is the big guy has to be able to move i may be hefty but my big * can motor. i find a skirmiskers job is many fold you can backstab, you can fill gaps, you can pull off small groups and kill them, you can toilet bowl of doom them, anything
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Postby Mercer » Sun Jan 29, 2006 12:12 pm

Nothing like a big-ass "flanker" in full armor, toting a shield, to distract people.
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Postby Grim Warhawk AlRitte » Sun Jan 29, 2006 2:40 pm

And uruk-hai's always tryin to get my to play the line, skirmisher is where it's at! I'm like a hole-punch.
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Postby moondog » Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:54 am

skirmishers...hmm two words

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