Saka Bodyguard Cavalry - Need some advice

[heroic21]

Hello everybody!

I've got a question concerning Saka bodyguard cavalry (although the answer might be transfered on some other bow-equipped cav as well...):

Saka Bodyguard Cavalry has 3 weapons:
1st: Bow
2nd: Lance
3rd: Axe

Now my problem is, how to get them use their axes.

If I mouse over an enemy unit, I can launch a ranged attack with the bow, if I right-click on them.
If I use alt + right-click they're going to use their lances.

But so far, I've found no clue (in docu, keyboard settings or forum) on how to get them to use their axes. From fighting the AI, however, I know that they do have those axes and are able to employ them with devastating effect in a melee.
I think I'd probably have the same problem with Parthian Bodyguard as well since they also have 3 weapons (Bow, Lance, Mace or Sword).

I'd really appreciate if someone could help me out with this one! It's really a major drawback to my current Saka campaign when it comes to melee fights against armoured opponents...

[eggthief]

Dont think its possible for units to have more than 2 weapons.

[QuintusSertorius]

Don't they have to run out of ammo before they can use their third weapon?

[Moros]

A unit can have max. 2 weapons.

[Ludens]

The engine only allows for two weapons. I am not sure how you could see the A.I. units wield three weapons. Maybe you are confusing units? For troops who historically used more weapons (the most common being cataphract types that used bow, lance and a side-arm), the EB team chose either to drop the bow (as is the case with the Scythian cavalry and the late Baktrian bodyguard) or the side-arm.

[heroic21]

Don't they have to run out of ammo before they can use their third weapon?

Yes, this could be a possibility. I'll have to check again on that.
But as far as I remember, they continue to attack with the lance, even if all bow arrows are depleeted.

@ Moros & eggthief:
I'm sure that some heavy cavalry units with bows (e.g. Saka, Parthian and Hayasdan Bodyguards) do have three different weapons. Although I don't yet know how to use all three of them.
The unit description also describes those three different weapons. And, as I mentioned before, I saw how the AI actually used the third weapon (i.e. the Saka Bodyguard's axe) against me. So I'm sure, that unit's can have up to two melee and one ranged weapon...

[The Persian Cataphract]

Actually, you can only use two different weapons; This is a hard-coded limitation and the other things you see on the unit, whether they be swords, bows, maces or axes, depending on which unit, are just embellishment. For instance we see the Parthian cataphracts with quiver-bowcases (Gorytoi) but they do not use bows. We make up for the discrepancies, by showing our intentions when decorating our units.

[heroic21]

Actually, you can only use two different weapons; This is a hard-coded limitation and the other things you see on the unit, whether they be swords, bows, maces or axes, depending on which unit, are just embellishment. For instance we see the Parthian cataphracts with quiver-bowcases (Gorytoi) but they do not use bows. We make up for the discrepancies, by showing our intentions when decorating our units.

Ok, but this still doesn't explain, why the AI was able to employ the axes of their Saka Bodyguard Cavalry and why Arkatreides Unit cards feature stats for the Axe.

Are those stats on the unit cards mere hypthetical stats?
( ...that might be put to work in future versions of EB if the hardcoding restrictions allow it?)


Sorry for beeing so insinstent on the topic, but I'm really interested in that issue. =)

[The Persian Cataphract]

...Hmmm

By Saka Bodyguard Cavalry, do you mean this:

https://www.europabarbarorum.com/i/units/saka/saka_cataphracts.gif

Or are you talking about this:

https://www.europabarbarorum.com/i/units/saka/saka_armored_nobles.gif

The latter is supposed to use bows and lances, while the former indeed uses lances and axes (It's actually a Sagaris, but it's a technicality). Now you've got me all curious :beam:

[heroic21]

...Hmmm

By Saka Bodyguard Cavalry, do you mean this:

https://www.europabarbarorum.com/i/units/saka/saka_cataphracts.gif

Or are you talking about this:

https://www.europabarbarorum.com/i/units/saka/saka_armored_nobles.gif

The latter is supposed to use bows and lances, while the former indeed uses lances and axes (It's actually a Sagaris, but it's a technicality). Now you've got me all curious :beam:

I think you hit the bull's eye there.
It's possible that I confused those two types of Saka Heavy Cavalry and took them for one and the same.

That would explain why I thought to see three different kinds of weapons, while only two (primary and secondary) are technically possible in EB.

Thank you for enlightening this issue. =)

[The Persian Cataphract]

No problem, just glad to help out :2thumbsup:

[Olaf The Great]

Its something to note that the Saka normal cataphracts are labeled as "Saka Bodyguard Cavalry" which could add to this confusion.

[russia almighty]

The Saka Kataphraktoi use to be the Saka bodyguard in .80 and .81 .