Saharan Cavalry

[Kristaps]

Who would have thought... light cavalry against spearmen. But it works... Just gave a try to the Egyptian faction and built a few units of saharan cavalry. Took them to the rear side of the enemy and started attacking spear units from the rear: it's really easy to outmanouver spear units with saharan cavalry. Just charge them into the flank or the rear and withdraw at the first sign of enemy turning around. The only problem is: takes a lot of micromanagement... But it's fun to see full spear units route after a few strikes by saharan cavalry. BTW, while committing these 'heroic deeds' my cavalry men were constantly wavering. At times it was the superior numbers of the enemy that made them worried; at other times -- they felt uneasy about their flanks...

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Alrowan]

saharan cavalry are really quite overlooked. I love them for the high manouverability

[Hakonarson]

Any light horse will destroy spearmen if attacking from the rear and micromanaging as you have http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[A Nerd]

I fought a battle as HRE in the desert against Egypt with a superior general some time ago. I brought some spanish jinetes, feudal sergants, clansman, vikings and some archers. The enemy had some of the saharan calvary, actually lots of it, and various muslim spear units and we got slaughtered. A sea of black corpses. It was fun

[Alrowan]

heh.. reminds me of french vs english in early... mass hobialrs owning the feild

[Cazbol]

Yesterday I fought a battle in Egypt against the Almohads, where they fielded an army of about 12 or 13 units of Saharan Cavalry and 3 or 4 other units. It seems like archers are the answer to that, as Saharan cavalry seems very vulnerable to missiles. There was hardly any melee. My archers slaughtered the cavalry and routed them. Saharan cavalry may be good, but it should not make out the bulk of an army.

[Mr Frost]

I always keep atleast one around with each Moslim army to chase off the horse archers who are so dammed irritating when mopping up . I also always desire to have fast cavalry {though , given I rarely use Mercenaries , that means Hobilars untill I take Aragon or Castiel etc} to take out enemy Catapults {the only non-cannon artillery that ever causes me real trouble . I have yet to figure out how to mod Balistas usefull for anything except shrinking my treasuries or breaking in the front door of a base-line fort} . The chasing down of infantry more swiftly bit is a bonus in my book .
Saharan Cavalry chase off Horse archers and kill catapult whilst looking fairly good also , so I likethem http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I'm considering {quite strongly} modding the speed of most cavalry , as I feel that , not only are there inconsistancies which need addressing {like Late Royal and Lancers having identical Defense and Armour to Gothics , yet being very much faster } , but that it makes little sense that there should be only three basic speeds Hobilars should be perhaps a little faster than Chivalrics {or slow down Chivs a by a point or two} for example ... well I would certainly make Saharans the fastest {perhaps tied with Steppe Cavalry and Horse archers but the Arab influenced mounts of the Saharans should be able to run swifter than the Steppe Ponies of the Steppe Cavalry even if it is by but a point or two} .

[Tyrac]

I agree with you on the horse speed issue Frost

[Kristaps]

Hehehe, yesterday routed a whole army of varangian guards on a desert map with saharan cavalry (+4 valor), camels and mamluk archers.