Bad Boyars, bad Boyars

[mystic brew]

The mobility of Horse archers and the toughness of heavy cav.

I've been playing the Russians for the first time and they have been absolute stars.

As far as I can gather, my use for HA's in the past is to harass and pull units out of position, so that I can isolate and annihilate. But in order to do that properly you need to send out a couple of units of HAs, with a couple of units of heavies to deal with any counter.

But not with Boyars You pull a unit out of position and then kill it, they send out a unit of spears, even. but Boyars on Hold Formation/hold position don't take any casualites, while the second Boyar unit charges from behind breaks them double quick.

I've been killing halbardiers and spears with only a couple of casualties.

My steppe army has been running riot all over the place with just 6 Boyars and a couple of Halberds.

Does anyone else love 'em to bits?

I doubt they are much cop in MP, though, when the later, better units of knights kill em. Also, the Russian infantry isn't great.

[Urban Legend]

Boyars are to expensive to maintain. I try my best to replace Boyars with Steppe Heavy calvary which costs half to maintain. Better to have 2 SHC than a Boyar.

[Cebei]

Yes they are tough. I usually send a sacrifice cavalry (alan for ex) to catch and stop them until heavier cavalry comes to match them.