View Full Version : Eastern Horse Archers
Catiline
08-08-2003, 16:00
Eastern Horse Archers
The provinces of the East produce excellent Horse Archers. They are used to harrass enemy forces, using speed and nimbleness to staying out of close combat whenever possible: Horse Archers rely on the theory that "speed is armour". Infantry have no hope of catching them, but other cavalry may be able to run them down. Wise eastern commanders know this, and deploy Horse Archers alongside other cavalry, creating an interesting tactical problem.
Horse Archers are armed with powerful composite bows, and it is their task to kill, wound, disrupt or simply reduce the morale of enemy infantry with endless showers of arrows. They are also masters of "the Parthian shot" tactic: a quick reverse shot "over the shoulder" while seemingly withdrawing from the action. If Horse Archers have a weakness it is that of all soldiers armed with composite bows: these weapons do not take well to damp or wet weather, as the glues used to construct them become weakened. While this is seldom a problem in the East, it can be in wetter climes.
http://www.totalwar.com/community/images/horsearc.jpg
Catiline
08-08-2003, 16:02
Parthian shot sounds like we might finally have horse archers that can fire on the move.
Quote[/b] (Catiline @ Aug. 08 2003,10:02)]Parthian shot sounds like we might finally have horse archers that can fire on the move.
SWEETNESS http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/redface.gif
some_totalwar_dude
08-08-2003, 17:00
cool
This means finally real hit and run tactics http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
GAh i cant stand them at the moment let alone running and fireing http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mecry.gif
IIRC each unit has a "special ability". So I guess for these guys it's Parthian Shot.
Is the name Eastern archers not a bit too broad to be historically correct ?
IIRC it means "If I recall/remember correctly" http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
CBR
Fire on the move would be nice..historical accuracy is always the best http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
But we will see. Unit dscriptions always sound so good heh
CBR
Big King Sanctaphrax
08-08-2003, 19:15
I hope the harrasment/fire on move tactics don't require too much micromanagement. If they're implemented correctly, however, they should add a new and interesting tactical element. *Busies himself in working out counter for annoying horse archers*
Skomatth
08-08-2003, 22:42
It will prolly be the same as putting em on hold/skirmish. I do hope their accuracy is reduced while on the run but for that matter some horses should be tripping http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Leet Eriksson
08-09-2003, 01:13
I beleive you won't win the war with them only,you also won't win without them,so its kind of an important unit to the eastern army,but not too overpowered or underpowered,they'll have to work in tandem with other units to acheive victory.
Red Peasant
08-09-2003, 03:08
Quote[/b] (faisal @ Aug. 09 2003,00:13)]I beleive you won't win the war with them only,you also won't win without them,so its kind of an important unit to the eastern army,but not too overpowered or underpowered,they'll have to work in tandem with other units to acheive victory.
...but the Parthian coup-de-grace was delivered by heavily armoured Kataphraktoi cavalry whom the Romans eventually copied.
It's interesting to note that the later Roman/Byzantine army had both horse archers and kataphraktoi as primary troops.
Quote[/b] (Skomatth @ Aug. 09 2003,00:42)]It will prolly be the same as putting em on hold/skirmish. I do hope their accuracy is reduced while on the run but for that matter some horses should be tripping http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif over legionaries??
How about shooting on the run while routing http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif
That would discourage pursuing routers a bit
Leet Eriksson
08-10-2003, 00:28
Quote[/b] (Red Peasant @ Aug. 08 2003,21:08)]
Quote[/b] (faisal @ Aug. 09 2003,00:13)]I beleive you won't win the war with them only,you also won't win without them,so its kind of an important unit to the eastern army,but not too overpowered or underpowered,they'll have to work in tandem with other units to acheive victory.
...but the Parthian coup-de-grace was delivered by heavily armoured Kataphraktoi cavalry whom the Romans eventually copied.
It's interesting to note that the later Roman/Byzantine army had both horse archers and kataphraktoi as primary troops.
yeah basically what i meant is that you harass the enemy with horse archers and then let the cataphracts handle it.
Hakonarson
08-10-2003, 00:44
Quote[/b] (SeljukSinan @ Aug. 08 2003,11:24)]Is the name Eastern archers not a bit too broad to be historically correct ?
I don't think so - there's no difference between Scyths, Masageae, Parthians, Dahae and various others - they're all actually Skythian tribes anyway - the archers are all virtually unarmed appart from their bows.
First, I haven't heard of Dahae. Where were they located, Hark?
Second: I think that all the archers had at least a sharp iron bar with them, no? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif
Hakonarson
08-11-2003, 00:18
Dunno specifically where they came from, but they weer Skythians - 1200 of them were in the Seleucid army at Magnesia & I believe they're recorded in various other places.
Your iron bar comment has gone over my head sorry http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif
sharp iron bar = sword perhaps http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
CBR
Hakonarson
08-11-2003, 02:16
ahh.. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif - well in that case - no.
They would have a sharp bronze or iron sliver, or maybe a sharp lump on the end of a stick, but probably not a bar.
Quote[/b] (Hakonarson @ Aug. 11 2003,04:16)]ahh.. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/idea.gif - well in that case - no.
They would have a sharp bronze or iron sliver, or maybe a sharp lump on the end of a stick, but probably not a bar.
CBR is corect, about swords I was talking about. I must apologise for my english, I picked the wrong term.
So they would have a short lance?
Given the fact that gamestar has mentioned the revolving tactic of rushing in firing, I think we can be sure they can fire on the run. That is nice. I too hope their accuracy will be lowered when running.
Sasaki Kojiro
08-11-2003, 19:59
Best unit yet http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif I love horse archers, it's great to hear that they will be able to fire on the run.
Hakonarson
08-12-2003, 01:17
Quote[/b] (pr Fire @ Aug. 11 2003,02:46)]So they would have a short lance?
No - an axe or a dagger mostly http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
But this would mean that they would be the equivalent of the Mongol Horse Archers from STW, and that would be awesome, in my opinion.
Hakonarson
08-12-2003, 23:01
Why would it mean that?
Just because most horse archers throughout history have similar equipment doesn't make them equal - any more than you'd be equal to a Praetorian Guardsman if we gave you his equipment.
IMO most of the different combat factors given to similar troops in games like TW are absolute nonsense anyway.
If troops have similar equipment and training then the only difference is going to be in morale.
That is just what I was saying. As in STW, not like in real history. IN STW the mongols were superb horse archers, carried an axe for close-combat. In RTW, the EHA has pretty much the same description (if we admit that the axe is the corect melee weapon they would wear) Of course, in order to balance the game, CA modified the fighting capacity of some units, changed their weapons and attack style. So it is very probably for these two units to be very much alike, despite the historical difference.
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