what is 'skirmish'?

[Cornelius Edgerton]

I'm in an army and I chose to command horse archers in a battle. The leader kept telling to 'skirmish the flanks'. What does that mean? Do I just charge into the flanks? Or Is there a battle command (like 'advance' or 'charge') that tells my troops specifically to 'skirmish'?

[[Wahr] Eogard]

Isn't skirmish attack and retract ?

[StormRangerX]

Skirmish is just a way of saying "shoot at them with your bows". Don't engage and fight, just skirmish with them for a while.

[TengriBless,]

It's basically the Advance (F4) command, for horse archers that means shooting arrows while stationary and keeping distance from enemy units.

[【Ｎｉｃｅ Ｈｉｓｓ】]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skirmisher

[Shazbot]

Gameplay wise I am not sure. But generally speaking I believe he wants you to hit and run with the horse archers to cause chaos on the flank. I would use the follow command coupled with fire at will and hit and run the sides of the opponent.

[⛧]

Skirmish

skir•mish skûr′mĭsh

n. A minor battle in war, as one between small forces or between large forces avoiding direct conflict.
n. A minor or preliminary conflict or dispute.
intransitive verb
To engage in a minor battle or dispute.

So, attack and retreat, or engage in long ranged attacks.

[Zoid]

Originally posted by Wahr Eogard:

Isn't skirmish attack and retract ?

yes
But there is no special command. You can only hope that f4 does the trick or order the retreat yourself.

[Darth Revan]

Originally posted by Zoid:

Originally posted by Wahr Eogard:

Isn't skirmish attack and retract ?

yes
But there is no special command. You can only hope that f4 does the trick or order the retreat yourself.

atually there is, if you command your ranged troops to "advance" they will stay at max range and fall back when enemies come closer. though i dont know if you still can call it skirmishing when you stay at max range. :)

[Zoid]

Originally posted by Legatus Lucanus:

Originally posted by Zoid:

yes
But there is no special command. You can only hope that f4 does the trick or order the retreat yourself.

atually there is, if you command your ranged troops to "advance" they will stay at max range and fall back when enemies come closer. though i dont know if you still can call it skirmishing when you stay at max range. :)

advance = f4

[RickJamesYies]

skirmishing is pretty much harrassing the enemies at a safe distance so they cannot do anything to counter your units. It could be anything from flanking infantry to damaging cavalry horses so they are dismounted and now foot units.

[Darth Revan]

Originally posted by Zoid:

Originally posted by Legatus Lucanus:

atually there is, if you command your ranged troops to "advance" they will stay at max range and fall back when enemies come closer. though i dont know if you still can call it skirmishing when you stay at max range. :)

advance = f4

oh, i did not see the "or" in your post and assumed you mean just f4 which is hold fire/fire, sorry

[Yoshai]

If you charge(F3) with Bucellarii for example they will circle around enemies and keep distance until they run out of arrows.