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View Full Version : Hippeis Tarantinoi (Greek Cavalry in Rhegion and Taras).



Zafersan
05-08-2007, 05:03
This is my first topic on the boards. I posted earlier in another topic though...SO HIIIIIIII EVERYONE.

Ever see these guys, Hippeis Tarantinoi. The Hellenon and Epheiros can recruit them. They are basically skirmisher cavalry (javelines). They use swords in melee...not to mention their damage and armour are pretty damn high for cavalry.

I had them in a prolongue melee after they hammered the enemy from behind while my infantry were holding the enemy in place...AND MAN these guys just slaughtered the enemy. I had them fight other cavalry skirmishers in 1v1 battles and they totally dominated them (take that Numidians).

But playing the EB with BI, I can't do custom battles. I want to see how these Greek militia cavalry fair up against let's say...Mecedonian Heteroi or Cataphract cavalry in a prolongue melee? I know they'd get hurt bad from the initial enemy charge but after, I bet they'd make those expensively armoured enemy pay.

From what I've seen, these guys are like the knights on horse back from MTW. They have kinda crap Charge but when it comes to melee, I'd put them as the #1 cavalry in the game.

Just to say, I feel like starting a Hellenon game right now and migrating to Southern Italy. The Hellenon in this mod are SICK. They have Spartans (one of the best infantry in the game, I gave them 2 hp), excellent cavalry Hippeis Tarantinoi and those Tessalian cavalry clones they can make in homeland provinces. Archers...they get Cretans...nuff said. The Hellenon are easily one of the best factions in the game.

Cheers.

Thaatu
05-08-2007, 05:33
But playing the EB with BI, I can't do custom battles. I want to see how these Greek militia cavalry fair up against let's say...Mecedonian Heteroi or Cataphract cavalry in a prolongue melee? I know they'd get hurt bad from the initial enemy charge but after, I bet they'd make those expensively armoured enemy pay.
A quote from the EB homepage's Hippeis Tarantinoi description:

"Hippeis Tarantinoi are a superb elite cavalry that long ago made their home city of Taras, on the southern coast of Italia, famous for its own modest equestrian tradition. They wear light, high quality linen armor and charge into combat with a curved kopis blade and several javelins to weaken enemies for their charge or sustained melee fighting. In appearance and style they are a distinct, traditional Hellenic light cavalry, but fight with far more skill then their less recognizable predecessors from Hellas itself. As a force, they can be relied upon in any situation to perform as missile cavalry or as melee troops, providing that they do not get bogged down in the thick of battle."

Not militia... :jarswim:

Teleklos Archelaou
05-08-2007, 05:35
I was just about to (today!) ask for some changes in the unit actually (description, availability, etc., but not model/texture). Thanks for reminding me. :grin:

LorDBulA
05-08-2007, 06:41
They look like great cavalry. I'am just able to build them in my Epirothes campagne 222BC, they need mic 4, enough said.
I liked using my 1 unit at the start of campagne , so I think they will make excellent addition to my armies.
Especially because I didnt have missile cavalry in my armies until now.

Kralizec
05-08-2007, 10:17
But playing the EB with BI, I can't do custom battles. I want to see how these Greek militia cavalry fair up against let's say...Mecedonian Heteroi or Cataphract cavalry in a prolongue melee? I know they'd get hurt bad from the initial enemy charge but after, I bet they'd make those expensively armoured enemy pay.

The reason for this is that the AI normally doesn't use the secondary weapon of cavalry (except if the primary weapon is a missile weapon). For Hetairoi and similar units, the lance is a deadly weapon when charging due to its high lethality, but in prolonged melee it's kind of lackluster because of its low base attack. Its secondary weapon is much more suitable for close combat, but as said the AI doesn't know how to use it.

MiniMe
05-08-2007, 11:27
I was just about to (today!) ask for some changes in the unit actually (description, availability, etc., but not model/texture).
Are you going to downgrade them or power-up them?
IMO, they, being a 4th level unit, truly deserve additional stamina.

Cataphract_Of_The_City
05-08-2007, 12:00
TA, any chance the changes include giving them to the Romani as well? I don't know, but since they were so good I would have thought that the Romans used them...no?

keravnos
05-08-2007, 14:13
Actually, the Romani get something else, unitwise. (under devellopment at the moment)

user999
05-08-2007, 17:51
@ Zafersan... If you want to keep using the Spartans and are moving to Italy you have to keep Sparta, as they are only recruitable there.
Just checking,
Thanks

Zafersan
05-09-2007, 02:24
^I know. I traded Macedon, Athens and Sparte for Chalkis and Mytilene (comepletely moved out of mainland Greece). I built a few Spartans and they're holding my eastern islands with some cretan archers. Since I gave them 2 hp, they make the perfect garrison. I know I won't be able to train my Spartans for a long time (until I take back Sparta anyways).

But that is no problem. Taras = type 1 government for Hellenon. So Italy is a great place to migrate too. Even though I cannot train Spartans anymore, I have the Generals and the kick-ass Samnite swordmen.

In my game I already have a standing army with 1 general, 9 Samnite swordmen, 8 Hippeis Tarantinoi and 2 of those Tessalian clone cavalry (no real missile units, real men dunt needem anyways huh!). This army is tearing appart the Romans.