Shooting
Generally, if the target we're trying to murder isn't completely obvious, the commanding officers will try their best to tell you where you should be shooting. If you get told to fire on an oblique, pick the juiciest target in that direction. Remember, muskets aren't accurate by any stretch of the imagination, so try and get as many bodies into your reticule as you can to maximize your chances of a hit. And please for the love of god don't shoot your buddies in the back of the head.
Volley fire
This is the basic way of shooting as a unit. We throw a whole shitload of lead at whatever is currently unfortunate enough to be in front of us. The command to take aim (level your musket) is 'present!' The command to fire is, surprisingly, 'fire!' If you were late to the fire command, or if you didn't know who to shoot at, don't just pop off randomly, you'll gently caress up your own reload timing and probably get caught moving around with an unloaded weapon. Just wait for the next volley. If you haven't been told otherwise, assume we are doing volley fire, and that you should immediately begin reloading after firing, but hold your fire when you finish loading.
Independent fire
AKA fire-at-will, pick your targets and fire at your pleasure. Stop doing so immediately when you are told to 'cease-fire,' resist the temptation to sneak in one more shot since when you get stopped in the middle of shooting it's usually because we need to get the hell out of here and you probably want to be ready for it when we do.
Fire-by-file
A rolling fire, which effectively turns the unit into a gigantic machine gun made out of meat. It can be initiated from either the left or the right, but typically will start on the right. On the command 'from the right/left, commence firing,' the starting file will present and fire, and then begin reloading. When they finish their reload, they should wait a couple of seconds and then present and fire again. If you aren't the starting file, you are watching to your left or right (depending on which side the fire started) for the person next to you to fire. When the person next to you fires (that is, the musket goes bang) present and fire. Don't even start levelling your musket until the guy next to you fires. If you do, you gently caress up the timing for the whole line. After you fire, reload and again wait for the guy next to you to fire. This whole sequence repeats until a 'cease-fire' is given, at which point you should immediately stop shooting.
Fire-by-rank
Any fire method can be given to a specific rank. For example, the front rank could be ordered to fire a volley, and then the rear rank could be ordered to volley separately. This allows a rolling fire similar to fire-by-file, but more dangerous at closer range. Different ranks can also be given different firing orders, although it is unlikely to occur outside of strange circumstances. This is most useful in 3 ranks.
An important note about multiple ranks
When we have multiple ranks, we run into the issue of having dudes in front of dudes who are trying to shoot. This can quickly lead to disaster. To avoid said disaster, follow these simple steps:
When you are in the rearmost rank, on the command 'present,' take a half-step to your right. You should be aiming between the two guys in front of you, which is distinctly different to aiming at the back of the head of the dude in front of you.
When you are in the front-most rank, and we are in THREE ranks, (and ONLY when we are in three ranks), on the command 'present' you will also crouch. Remain crouched until you are told to stand again.
Sometimes when we are in two ranks, the front rank will be instructed to kneel. This is not the same as above. In three ranks, there is literally no way for the front rank to avoid getting shot by the rear rank, so they have to crouch.
Melee
When you get told to charge, try to keep some sort of formation for as long as you can: it will give you a distinct advantage when you and 3 of your goon buddies run into 1 dirty Preußian who came running forward for glory. Other than that, just try as hard as you possibly can to not die, and try even harder than that to not kill your buddies. Keep fighting and killing until you are told otherwise. If you get told to disengage or stop chasing, do so as soon as possible.
Closing comments
Just use your damn head, when you get told to do something, do it to the best of your ability. Remember that no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, so be prepared to participate in some improvisation.
Generally, if the target we're trying to murder isn't completely obvious, the commanding officers will try their best to tell you where you should be shooting. If you get told to fire on an oblique, pick the juiciest target in that direction. Remember, muskets aren't accurate by any stretch of the imagination, so try and get as many bodies into your reticule as you can to maximize your chances of a hit. And please for the love of god don't shoot your buddies in the back of the head.
Volley fire
This is the basic way of shooting as a unit. We throw a whole shitload of lead at whatever is currently unfortunate enough to be in front of us. The command to take aim (level your musket) is 'present!' The command to fire is, surprisingly, 'fire!' If you were late to the fire command, or if you didn't know who to shoot at, don't just pop off randomly, you'll gently caress up your own reload timing and probably get caught moving around with an unloaded weapon. Just wait for the next volley. If you haven't been told otherwise, assume we are doing volley fire, and that you should immediately begin reloading after firing, but hold your fire when you finish loading.
Independent fire
AKA fire-at-will, pick your targets and fire at your pleasure. Stop doing so immediately when you are told to 'cease-fire,' resist the temptation to sneak in one more shot since when you get stopped in the middle of shooting it's usually because we need to get the hell out of here and you probably want to be ready for it when we do.
Fire-by-file
A rolling fire, which effectively turns the unit into a gigantic machine gun made out of meat. It can be initiated from either the left or the right, but typically will start on the right. On the command 'from the right/left, commence firing,' the starting file will present and fire, and then begin reloading. When they finish their reload, they should wait a couple of seconds and then present and fire again. If you aren't the starting file, you are watching to your left or right (depending on which side the fire started) for the person next to you to fire. When the person next to you fires (that is, the musket goes bang) present and fire. Don't even start levelling your musket until the guy next to you fires. If you do, you gently caress up the timing for the whole line. After you fire, reload and again wait for the guy next to you to fire. This whole sequence repeats until a 'cease-fire' is given, at which point you should immediately stop shooting.
Fire-by-rank
Any fire method can be given to a specific rank. For example, the front rank could be ordered to fire a volley, and then the rear rank could be ordered to volley separately. This allows a rolling fire similar to fire-by-file, but more dangerous at closer range. Different ranks can also be given different firing orders, although it is unlikely to occur outside of strange circumstances. This is most useful in 3 ranks.
An important note about multiple ranks
When we have multiple ranks, we run into the issue of having dudes in front of dudes who are trying to shoot. This can quickly lead to disaster. To avoid said disaster, follow these simple steps:
When you are in the rearmost rank, on the command 'present,' take a half-step to your right. You should be aiming between the two guys in front of you, which is distinctly different to aiming at the back of the head of the dude in front of you.
When you are in the front-most rank, and we are in THREE ranks, (and ONLY when we are in three ranks), on the command 'present' you will also crouch. Remain crouched until you are told to stand again.
Sometimes when we are in two ranks, the front rank will be instructed to kneel. This is not the same as above. In three ranks, there is literally no way for the front rank to avoid getting shot by the rear rank, so they have to crouch.
Melee
When you get told to charge, try to keep some sort of formation for as long as you can: it will give you a distinct advantage when you and 3 of your goon buddies run into 1 dirty Preußian who came running forward for glory. Other than that, just try as hard as you possibly can to not die, and try even harder than that to not kill your buddies. Keep fighting and killing until you are told otherwise. If you get told to disengage or stop chasing, do so as soon as possible.
Closing comments
Just use your damn head, when you get told to do something, do it to the best of your ability. Remember that no battle plan survives contact with the enemy, so be prepared to participate in some improvisation.