The costs, pros and cons of Bourbon French mounted and dismounted dragoons

[Tony]

In playing with a Louis XIV French army, I noticed that the compulsory dragoons are both mounted and dismounted, players' choice. Further, the mounted dragoons can dismount. When they do so, they are equipped exactly the same as the dismounted dragoons except that they are not called "Skirmishers". However, the mounted dragoons, classed as "Horse", are much cheaper than the dismounted dragoons, classed as "Skirmishers".

1. What disadvantages do the dismounted dragoons classed as "Horse" have compared to the dismounted dragoons classed as "Skirmishers"?
2. Given that neither are classed as "Dragoons" and both are C/L, can either evade if charged? As they are neither OOTs or "Dragoons", I think that they can't.

Tony

[Administrator]

1. What disadvantages do the dismounted dragoons classed as "Horse" have compared to the dismounted dragoons classed as "Skirmishers"?

Mounted Dragoons (Horse) are 4 bases in size, if they have the dismountable characteristic they dismount as Dismounted Horse'(Formation - AP30.E) which are also 4 bases in size. P198 tells you how they dismount (some exemptions may apply in the army list.)
Dismounted Dragoons (Skirmishers) are 6 bases in size. This is where the horses have been sent to the rear earlier and are being treated as 2nd rate line infantry. They are rated Skirmishers just because they get a claim against in fighting against non-skirmishers

So the number of bases (4 vs 6) explains most the cost variance.

2. Given that neither are classed as "Dragoons" and both are C/L, can either evade if charged? As they are neither OOTs or "Dragoons", I think that they can't.

That is correct they are neither OOT nor have the Evade characteristic. No evading of any of these sorts