For other uses of the term, see Line Infantry.
Line Infantry are a type of line infantry in Napoleon: Total War.
Description[]
These musket-armed troops use massed volleys to break an enemy, relying on discipline to withstand counter attacks.
“Marching regiments” or “line battalions” make up the majority of units in most armies. They are so called because they form the line of battle, not because they always deploy in a line. In fact, when faced with a cavalry charge, it is wise to form square for protection. Their strength comes from their close formation which gives them firepower and strength in melee, but this also leaves them vulnerable to artillery and skirmishers.
Historically, these soldiers carried muzzle-loading, smoothbore muskets firing lead balls as wide as a man’s thumb. These were inaccurate weapons, effective only over 200 paces or so. They were usually fired in massed volleys to increase the chance of the target being hit! This also meant that the whole unit was busy reloading at the same time. To counter this, the British Army perfected a kind of continuous rolling barrage called platoon fire. A regiment would divide itself into two halves and fire alternately, so that while one “platoon” (the modern use of the word has a different meaning) was firing, the other was loading.
General Information[]
Along with musketeers (with which they are statistically identical), line infantry are the standard line infantry type for most minor factions. They form the line of battle, and their good defense, large numbers, and resistance to morale shocks make them suitable for absorbing enemy fire. They can use Square Formation to fend off enemy cavalry, but they are vulnerable to artillery and being attacked in the flanks or rear. They are statistically identical to generic musketeers, but are generally inferior to British Foot, Prussian musketeers, and French Fusiliers of Line.
While line infantry may be recruited by a number of minor factions, they may only be recruited by a playable faction in one instance: by the French player in the Egypt Campaign. They serve as an inferior substitute to Fusiliers of Line, with worse reloading skill and a poorer charge bonus.
Line Infantry's statistics are different between Spain and other factions; differences are listed below (traits that to not differ are not listed). In custom battles and The Peninsular Campaign, Spain trains fusiliers instead. For more information, see Line Infantry (Unit Type).
| Faction | Reloading | Defense | Morale | Cost | Upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 35 | 9 | 7 | 530 | 130 |
| General | 45 | 8 | 6 | 580 SP/710 MP | 140 |