On paper it doesn't sound like dragoons have much going for them but they can be very useful in a game:
1.A rapid advance to hold a position or feature until the infantry arrive.
2. Flanking fire on an enemy advance
3. `Forlorn hope' type activity either by holding an outpost or advanced position(in defence)
During scenario construction, a couple of minutes spent thinking about how such troops can make the game more interesting creates all sorts of possibilities. I rememeber in our Overjise game(see
WARCHEST/Published Articles/Size is everything) a small French Dragoon Brigade held a ruined abbey directly in front of the Allied line of attack. This `annoyance' had to be cleared and caused considerable disruption for several turns despite the dragoons being outnumbered about 30 to 1!
So, please don't give up on the Dragoons!!!!
B