"Skirmisher fire values - 3 rank vs 2 rank armies" Topic

It recently occurred to me that the two rank vs. three rank fire tables don't make sense when applied to skirmishers. In skirmish order each individual is clear to fire. In particular it makes no sense for skirmishers from a 3 rank army such as France to issue skirmish fire at a rate less than a two rank army – once they're in skirmish/open order the distinction between them disappears. In actuality they should probably all issue fire at a slighly hire volume than the two rank since every man can fire at will. Am I missing something? Has anyone else thought about this and devised a solution?
I'm thinking that the simplest thing would be to have all skirmishers issue fire using the 2 rank values. Thoughts?

I didn't know that. I recall something about semi-skirmishers and skirmishers.

I don't play Empire but I agree – equal number of skirmishers should fire equally. So it's about how many you send out, not how many ranks they started in.

I think all skirmishes firing at two ranks is good idea, myself.

John

Concur, Mr. Crispy.

G' Day Theron,

Yes we did away with this as well, since all countries by the Napoleonic period had skirmishers executing fire by two ranks, and we did away with "semi-skirmisker" since this has already been determined years ago that it doesn't exist.

We also did away with 2 rank and 3 rank fire for formed body of troops. All countries by the Napoleonic period fire by two ranks (even countries formed in 3 ranks). Empire has different widths for 2 ranks and 3 ranks stands which is good, so we use the width of a line to determine the fire factor now.

Best Regards
Art

G'Day Gents

Since we also did away with 2 rank and 3 rank fire for formed body of troops…the execution of late and early fire makes up for the difference and gives the British the edge.

As for French skirmishers in the early 1790's they have no fire power…since the scale is 1:60

Best Regards
Art