FMAA and CMAA.

[Ironsword]

This is excellent advise, for me at least. I've considered ambushes impossible to pull of, and neglected them in my battles. I always seem to have my units 'found' before the enemy is close enough to charge though...

I often find my hidden units are suspiciously targeted by the AI too.

Well, more on topic: The ability to take damage is in the domain of spears, the ability to give damage on hvy. cav. and certain shock-troops (Ghazi, Vangarians ect ect.) Halbs are even more of a direct compeditor to swords as they are excellent melee units that even get a bonus against cav.
Why do you need swords who can do a little of everything? Because in many situations you'll need the ability to adapt to the situation on the battlefield as it develops. Swordsmen will persevere in most situations, and can act more independently as they have much better morale than halbs and often elite status. So in some ways it is a 'hybrid' unit. These 'invicible' abilities makes the swordsmen quite adept in my eyes, and often well worth the florins

I think I under-use CMAA's, I always use them as a reserve unit behind the archer screen.