Scouts

Summary
Scouts are a basic cheap reconnaissance brigade available to all faction groups from the start of the game, useful for exploring the map and spotting enemy armies. They have a dynamic view range that can grow to up to 3 times its usual size when stationary, and advanced stance classes can also allow them to raid enemy resources and attack economic brigades.

"Cheap non-combat units that can provide recon in an area while staying hidden from enemies. Scouts are self-sufficient and do not need to be supplied with food like regular units. Using advanced stances scouts can also be used as light raiders."

- In-game Description

History
Scouting has existed since the dawn of warfare, and while the scouting of ancient armies was by no means perfect, sometimes failing to spot massive ambushes, this was often a result of temperamental and incautious individual generals rather than a lack of access to scouts.

Tactics
Scouts are a useful unit in the early game for exploring the map and spotting enemy armies. The Cavalry Scouts available slightly later on are more expensive and less stealthy, but generally faster at exploring large sections of the map and better at running away from enemies if need be.

They use the distinct Scout stance class which gives them access to several advanced stances, besides having the unique mechanic in which their view range slowly extends. One, the Scout Stealth stance, greatly increases the scouts' stealth while reducing their maximum view range, and can be useful for spying on enemy territories to find out their army compositions and other details. Another stance, the Saboteur stance, gives scouts the ability to raid enemy resource buildings and attack enemy brigades, but makes them require food to operate just like other combat brigades. Scouts in Saboteur stance are not strong enough to pose a real threat to military brigades, but can be used to attack economic brigades that can't fight back, such as workers or slaves.

Scouts also always have access to the Flooded Marsh Movement ability, meaning that all types of land regions are always accessible to them regardless of the season and sometimes giving them a route of escape from enemy brigades if the latter don't have the same ability.