Dragoons are a cavalry unit which is available once you hit the Fortress Age. IMO, dragoons rule, and are my favourite unit. Heres a guide to managing your dragoons.
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After reaching fortress age, you should have around 3 stables. Dragoons are a counter cavalry unit, but imo have many purposes. First of all... they're fast - 7.25 speed, one of the fastest in game. This enables them to scout very effectively, and perform hit and run attacks, though its advised you fight infantry with your hussars/lancers instead :P. And naturally, they destroy all other cavalry because of their strength, though watch out for a dutch player trying to mass ruyters <_<.

Versus Cannon
Three shots from a falconet and your dead... considering its an unupgraded dragoon with full health. If you switch their fighting mode into melee, you can run up to the cannons, and slash at them with swords. This does more damage than range would, and the cannons do much less (no?) damage if your next to them.
Remember to shoot down opposition first, and use another division of dragoons to flank the enemy and take care of the cannons, while your enemy chases your front dragoons.

Versus Cavalry
Versus cavalry, the dragoons have no problem... its what they're trained to do! There is one cavalry unit you should beware... the dutch ruyter. Although they're weaker, they are also cheaper, train quicker, and take up less population points(!) This is why you need many stables - in order to outproduce them.

Versus Infantry
The only real problem you may face will be ranged infantry, and pikemen. Versus ranged infantry, you will do very little damage, and will have to do a ratio of around 1:5 to make a real impact. Pikemen are one of my most frequently used units, and maybe I'll write a guide for them someday. They will catch up with you while your shooting, so beware.

Thats that brief guide done... I'll probably improve later, bit tired right now, haven't gotten too much sleep.
:sleep:

21/2/06
vs. cavalry:-
Heh, I didn't post too much there. There are two types of cavalry: Melee and Ranged. Melee is anti-infantry and ranged is anti-cavalry.
There is a way of minimizing your losses vs. melee: when they come charging at you, put a quarter of your dragoons in melee, and hack at the enemy. The other three quarters should back away a little, and commence firing. The melee dragoons should do a lot of damage, and with the backup (which won't get dmged, especially if your fighting the cuirassieurs) sniping.

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dude you really help my tactics your essays rule

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Essay version 1.2 completed: added a way of fighting vs. melee cavalry.
B)

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aww man im sorry but my imperial war wagons would smash dragoons although when i play portugease i like to use them :tip: wagons :****: dragoons

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WOW... i reccomend him for aoe3 mod

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dragoons are ok but i have t say my war wagons would run them over. and im pretty sure that curassiers would run them over(but i dont know).

other than that very in depth. i like it

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yep war wagons they rock and they are a cavalry i think halbs hardly effect them becase 1 thing they cant get close enough to have a full army to attack with and second if they did get there they wud b weak and have low life so war wagons own dragoons

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