army composition

I absolutely love fast cavalry, and as such, Saharans never disappoint. Easily spammable, highly useful, very cheap, and a valor +1 province (Cyrenaica, a province absolutely worthless in most other regards): what's not to love?
Recruited from Cyrenaica with a Master Horsebreeder, Saharans can give you a very powerful fast response force. They're the ultimate opportunists: hang around the flanks, charge where an enemy is engaged, withdraw, charge again, chase some routers, return to wreak more havoc. Even only two of these are worth having in your army. Six to eight are terrifying. More are probably too much of a drain on your staying power, though.

That said, in their standard issue form, I like Steppe Cavalry even more. They're slightly more durable with 1 more point of defense and armor, and they have a more powerful charge (6 as opposed to 4). This allows them to bring to bear more of an immediate impact, and can sometimes be useful against semi-heavy units, as well. The price difference is negligible (both units are dirt cheap, basically).
But Steppe Cavalry doesn't have a valor +1 province, so all in all, Cyrenaican Saharans make it to the top.

BTW: If only Alan Mercenary Cavalry were regularly recruitable!

Ye, give me Steppe Cavalry. Good fighters and with there 120 strong they can sweep two missile units at once and kill them quick before enemy sends foot or heavy cav. Exellent unit.

There are a few units that always take all my attention on the battlefield, and Saharan Cav. is absolutely one of them. Just like hobilars before 1100 always make for a tough challange whether you're french or english. Other units are just rubbish and shouldn't be in the game (peasants: I'm pointing my finger at you!)

Mamluk cav, I'm a bit undecided. They're armor piercing, but lack the charge of Gulam Cav. wich I think is their natural competitor. Faris even add to my confusion on what to train, as they are good all-rounders, but maybe just a little inferior in most respects? Mamluk HA are nice, but not game-breakers.

/KotR

Mamluk HAs are to be recruited from Sinai with MHB. Then they need to be combined with arbs to be fully effective. "Fast" cavalry can't do nothing with them - they're too strong, and as long as you pin the enemy arbs with your own the Mamluk HAs are free to do their thing. It's the combination of weapon systems that is the real gain - arbs + HA.

Faris are supposed to be a defensive unit in desert battles, if you ask me. Get invaded by armored catholics and run them tired with the Faris. I wouldn't use them otherwise, I think, since there are other options for the medium cavalry role.

Wouldn't it be better to run them tired with camels or Saharans? Faris do have some armor (armor rating 3, same as Militia Sergeants), and they will tire (if not as fast as the tin cans). If you like to use horse archers to separate the enemy, just take run-of-the-mill ones (no armor), or Mamluk Horse Archers from Sinai with MHB (better than Faris in most respects, same armor).

No, it wouldn't be better with camels or saharans. Mounted archers are (as the game is balanced out) designed to 'pull' on enemy units by shooting at them. They will either then break formation, by dispatching missile units to fend you off or by retreating the targeted unit to safety, or the unit in question will try and chase you down. Regular cavalry (and Bedouin Camels) can provoke charges, sure. But you'll either end up fighting or get shot at, a lot, before you can provoke said charge. And when that happens, there's always the risk that your unit routs. Especially the unit types you mention.

And, of course, there seems to be some confusion on your part concerning the armor modifiers. Cavalry units get an extra point of armor from the very horse. This is why cavalry penalties for desert fighting doesn't kick in at '3' as is the case for infantry. Rather it kicks in at '4'. The Faris' are not afflicted by the fatigue penalty since they're not considered 'armored' by the game.

You could use regular HAs, sure. If you're playing as the Turks, that is. The factions that have access to Faris' don't have access to HAs. And the Turks don't have access to Faris, so the point is moot. Regarding Mamluk HAs; they're clearly preferable. They're also not available in 'Early'. So there is still some room for Faris in an Egg campaign in 'Early'. Not to mention that they are the only option for the Elmos if they want a tolerably speediful mounted archer - Berber Camels are agonizingly lumbering for the task. And, basically, if they fight Mounted Sergeants, for example, they might win but will quickly become kind of useless. HAs are supposed to make life difficult for the enemy over quite some time. Berber Camels are flank protectors. Faris' are 'pullers', even if not as effective as THA. Which if they were, by the way, would make the Elmos kind of unstoppable with most every weapon system available to them.

:balloon2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bondovic

Regarding Mamluk HAs; they're clearly preferable. They're also not available in 'Early'. So there is still some room for Faris in an Egg campaign in 'Early'.

---

Sorry but I am 99% positive that Mamluk HA's are availble in Early.

IIRC that is Mamluk Cavalry which is unavailable in Early.

What Jxrc says is true. The bow mamelukes are in in early. Its the ap Mam. medium cavalry that appears in high indeed.

Oh. Cancel the Egg talk, then, and apply simply to Elmos... Faris in a nutshell, still.