"How to base my SYW Prussian Freikorps" Topic

I currently use Koenig Krieg for 7 Years War with 15mm figures. The frontages for formed and unformed troops is different, formed troops being based on a 3/8" per figure frontage and unformed being on a 1/2" per figure frontage. How should I base troops like Freikorps which used both formations depending on the situation? I don't want to go to the expense of building two units with different frontages. What do you other Koenig Krieg players out there do, any suggestions?
Also, one other topic regarding Grenz Hussars, Bosniak lancers, and Cossacks under these same rules. The new set (I have a copy of the 1st edition original rules) classes these troops as irregular, and the rules state that irregular troops must always be in skirmish formation and therefore cannot charge, or at least they are at a significant disadvantage if they do charge. REALLY!! Grenz Hussars, Bosniaks, and Cossacks never charged?! Why did they even bother to give Bosniaks and some Cossacks lances if they did not charge?

I currently use Koenig Krieg for 7 Years War with 15mm figures. The frontages for formed and unformed troops is different, formed troops being based on a 3/8" per figure frontage and unformed being on a 1/2" per figure frontage. How should I base troops like Freikorps which used both formations depending on the situation? I don't want to go to the expense of building two units with different frontages. What do you other Koenig Krieg players out there do, any suggestions?
Also, one other topic regarding Grenz Hussars, Bosniak lancers, and Cossacks under these same rules. The new set (I have a copy of the 1st edition original rules) classes these troops as irregular, and the rules state that irregular troops must always be in skirmish formation and therefore cannot charge, or at least they are at a significant disadvantage if they do charge. REALLY!! Grenz Hussars, Bosniaks, and Cossacks never charged?! Why did they even bother to give Bosniaks and some Cossacks lances if they did not charge?

The Bosniaken were regular formed troops, usually attached to the von Reusch (Black) Hussars.

Looting or running away. :)

Please treat this as advice only: Open order troops in the SYW were not as common as some would have you think. Skirmishers en masse in pitched battles were a later 'Napoleonic' development.

Being able to use both formations is also a bit of a red herring as most SYW infantry could do it – from memory the Prussians called it 'hedge fire tactics' or something similar – Regular Prussian infantry used it on the Lobosch (Lobositz 1756). However, it was very rarely used so most wargamers (including me) discount it. The rarity of open order troops is what makes them special, and useful, in the SYW.

The question you need to ask is, are the units to be used in a pitched battle or for 'small war'? If the former, go for close order basing, perhaps with one, or possibly two smaller units in open order as 'add ons' to be used like Austrian Grenz units. They should not be allowed to switch from one to the other like Napoleonic British light infantry in any event.

I don't do skirmish games so for 'small war' I can offer no advice.

P.S. I don't use your rule set.

Mildbill, I like that, a smart a$$ like me, kindred spirits!

Der Alte Ftitz, yes exactly what I thought, apparently when the game designers re-worked those rules several years ago they did not perform their due diligence.

olicana, yes I understand that skirmishers were not used as they were in later periods but freikorps and similar are useful in BUAs and other broken terrain. And I know that they did not switch back and forth. Being generally a whitecoat (Austrian) at heart I have lots of fun with my 2 regiments (4 battalions) of Grenz with grenadiers, sharpshooters, attached hussars, and artillery and want everyone else to be able to join in the fun! BTW what rules do you use?

I generally use an amended version of Piquet that handle big battles much better than the original set. Here's a link to some reports, they are a bit of a mix (of rules), but most are for Piquet.

link

Best Regards,

James