Mangudai
10-30-2005, 06:42
Horse archers are my favorite units. By this time I've played hundreds of battles with horse archer armies. I've done a lot of experimenting, and reached some conclusions. However, I'm sure there are a some things I haven't thought of yet. So please share your tips.
Grouping To maintain manual control of an HA army, I find it best to have 3 groups of 6 units. Each group forms up in single line formation and the groups take left, center, right. Typically I lead off with double flanking maneuvers, which sometimes leads to full encirclement.
AI assistance
Note, If you put groups under AI assistance they will sometimes melee attack against enemies who try to chase them off. As long as your cavalry is equal or better than the enemy in melee, its OK to trust the computer's judgement.
I've found that pair groups of 2 units under AI assitance do a much better job of staying out of melee. However, this grouping usually leads to confusion scattered all over the map. This could be fun in MP.
One of the main advantages of AI assistance is that units are less likely to be left alone in remote areas of the field because pursuit was stopped.
Enemy Cav
The best way to counter enemy cav is to let them pursue one unit and hit them with a broadside charge from another unit.
The next best way is to skirmish your way over to a slope then turn and fight, and have another unit charge them from the rear.
If you must keep running, switch to cantabrian circle. When the enemy charge hits, only 1/4 or so of your men will be affected. Cantabrian circle also seems to improve their ability to turn 90 degrees when pinned against the red perimeter line. This tactic is especially good against cataphracts in the desert. The enemy tires out.
Cantabrian circle wastes the energy of your units so I recommend it less than 10 percent of the time.
Enemy Archers
Charge archers if they are unprotected. Shooting them works almost as well. In RTW and BI, horse archers equal or surpass foot archers. In MTW arbelests and crossbows, especially with a pvaise outmatch HA's. Cantabrian circle reduces your vulnerability, however I seldom use it. Enemy Archers are not much of a problem in RTW and BI.
Enemy Infantry
Infantry are no threat. However, if your army runs out of ammo while the enemy infantry stays in good order, you may be forced to withdraw. The key is to make your missiles count by shooting them from a direction not covered by their shields. I often encircle bodies of enemy infantry and manually target my HA's. My HA's will usually shoot over the closest infantry who faces them to hit a farther unit who has their back turned.
Support
Horse archer armies don't need support, but sometimes its available and you might as well use it.
Typically Hun armies have lots of heavy cav. Heavy Cav should charge enemy cav especially generals. The affect of a frontal charge is magnified if your units are stacked on top of each other. I usually deploy heavy cav in double line formation, the second wave of a charge breaks most enemies.
Naturally you can use your heavy cav to attack archers, artillery, etc. Infantry can be attacked if double flanked. If you need to run down enemy horse archers, work as a team. You must cutoff their escape routes then close in.
Infantry support is entirely unnecessary, but can be used to good effect. Spearmen should hide in trees or deploy near the rear of your zone. In basketball the technique is called "pick and roll".
These are a few of my thoughts. I might add more later. I'd be interested in hearing other HA lovers chip in.
Grouping To maintain manual control of an HA army, I find it best to have 3 groups of 6 units. Each group forms up in single line formation and the groups take left, center, right. Typically I lead off with double flanking maneuvers, which sometimes leads to full encirclement.
AI assistance
Note, If you put groups under AI assistance they will sometimes melee attack against enemies who try to chase them off. As long as your cavalry is equal or better than the enemy in melee, its OK to trust the computer's judgement.
I've found that pair groups of 2 units under AI assitance do a much better job of staying out of melee. However, this grouping usually leads to confusion scattered all over the map. This could be fun in MP.
One of the main advantages of AI assistance is that units are less likely to be left alone in remote areas of the field because pursuit was stopped.
Enemy Cav
The best way to counter enemy cav is to let them pursue one unit and hit them with a broadside charge from another unit.
The next best way is to skirmish your way over to a slope then turn and fight, and have another unit charge them from the rear.
If you must keep running, switch to cantabrian circle. When the enemy charge hits, only 1/4 or so of your men will be affected. Cantabrian circle also seems to improve their ability to turn 90 degrees when pinned against the red perimeter line. This tactic is especially good against cataphracts in the desert. The enemy tires out.
Cantabrian circle wastes the energy of your units so I recommend it less than 10 percent of the time.
Enemy Archers
Charge archers if they are unprotected. Shooting them works almost as well. In RTW and BI, horse archers equal or surpass foot archers. In MTW arbelests and crossbows, especially with a pvaise outmatch HA's. Cantabrian circle reduces your vulnerability, however I seldom use it. Enemy Archers are not much of a problem in RTW and BI.
Enemy Infantry
Infantry are no threat. However, if your army runs out of ammo while the enemy infantry stays in good order, you may be forced to withdraw. The key is to make your missiles count by shooting them from a direction not covered by their shields. I often encircle bodies of enemy infantry and manually target my HA's. My HA's will usually shoot over the closest infantry who faces them to hit a farther unit who has their back turned.
Support
Horse archer armies don't need support, but sometimes its available and you might as well use it.
Typically Hun armies have lots of heavy cav. Heavy Cav should charge enemy cav especially generals. The affect of a frontal charge is magnified if your units are stacked on top of each other. I usually deploy heavy cav in double line formation, the second wave of a charge breaks most enemies.
Naturally you can use your heavy cav to attack archers, artillery, etc. Infantry can be attacked if double flanked. If you need to run down enemy horse archers, work as a team. You must cutoff their escape routes then close in.
Infantry support is entirely unnecessary, but can be used to good effect. Spearmen should hide in trees or deploy near the rear of your zone. In basketball the technique is called "pick and roll".
These are a few of my thoughts. I might add more later. I'd be interested in hearing other HA lovers chip in.