That aren't skirmishers I mean.  Anyone have any tips?

They can be very useful as a magnet to draw the unwary into traps. People see them as pretty hapless, but well supported they can hold a spot in the line and pull the reckless into bad matchups.

The author has a view that historically they were bad. He has accurately captured that perspective in the rules.

Martin

They were not very useful in the open vs. mounted.
Previous rules has given them false press.
Even longbows needed hills, weather, stakes, ditches to feel safe.
So the rules reflect that reality, but the points make the basic ones rather inexpensive.

So they are very useful:
1. in rough terrain
2. vs enemy foot troops they can shoot on white dice and slow - they may not survive but they will badly weaken the enemy and help take down a much more expensive TuG - try a second line behind them.
3. vs mounted if in between long spears/pikes
4. if drilled as they can fall back easily and keep the range up

Otherwise they are best holding the rear and protecting camps - which is a lot of what they did.