a quick guide to using cavalry..

[Ibrahim]

(this is not meant to be definitive or all knowing. its a basic guide afterall)

ok, first off, I have seen quite a few posts around here that complain that cavalry is too weak in EB. they argue that every time they charge, they get they're men butchered. having used AS and romani cavalry in EB, of every type and denomination, I can prove otherwise.

I will start simple, a one on one guide to a basic charge. then I will add more info and types of carges in EB, and the application of cavalry. Now, let the slaughter begin!

lesson 1: the charge:

many of you probably want to know what it really is (yeah I know you know). What I mean by that is: what qualifies as a charge? a charge has several important components or steps for it to work. they are:

1-type of cavalry: that determines if you can charge in the first place.
2-formation: if your cavalry can mount an effective charge, what do you want to do with them? want to use them as a hammer, a pile driver, or a enveloper/flanker?
3-speed and distance: simple. too close= no charge. too far= tired cavalry. either way you are
4-horns and gallop: the timnig if correct, will cause you to hear a horn go off, and lances couched.
5-follow through: that matters the most (believe it or not). (ya I know its obvious).

for perposes of demonstration (and to make a point) this will be a head on charge on hoplitai.

part one: the type and formation are merged:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

as you see, I'm using AS atandard issue-the hetairoi. they can be put into two formations. this one on top is the hammer/piledriver approach, great for shattering a front line. chargin vcavalry are normally medium to cataphract grade cav. typified by use of the xyston, the longche, or the dreaded Kontos. they also ted to be well armored (30 and up, though not always).

type two: a basic line. note that that is all purpose in form, and that the general is in the rear.

part two: speed and distance:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

when you order an attack, do so starting with a simple trot. use gallup from moment one only if absolutely necessary. the last thing you want are tire horsemen and horses.

order acceleration when about 150-200 m from the enemy. that way, you can have the charge happen more readily. it also keeps the men fresh as possible.

part 3: charge!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

if all goes right, then 4-10 (50-80m) secs before impact the charge order will be sounded. note the couched lances (the horn blew 2 secs earlier).

now all this is good and dandy, but remember: these units are meant to be used on masse. if you use 1 hetairoi/ strategos, you wont be able to hit the enemy as hard, and you will possibly be screwed.

part 4: now for the impact and follow through. if you have a weak stomach, do not look. content is very graphic. I f you think charges are too weak in EB, think again.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

this is the hoplitai unit before th chare. note that there are 83 men in that group, and they are fresh and eager.

this is 2-10 secs after impact of the lead element of cavalry. note the losses on the enemy's side, as opposed to mine. I pulled my cav. out as the pic was taken.



these are the bodies of the dead. note that engagement time was about 10 secs long, enough for the full force of impact to dissipitate.


not how this man's horse is in the pic, though not near him. this gives you an idea of the impact. also says that RTW-BI is bugged..

the followup: regroup 1-200 trds from the enemy, then do it all over again minus the trotting


enemy before 2nd charge.


again, note losses on both sides. again the fight was short and sharp.

by now the enemy is reeling, and falling back. but he's still eager to fight. repeat the previous steps again and this will happen:




and of course, this:

this can also shatter spartans in shield wall mind you. now EB cav is indeed not the all killing weapon in RTW vanilla, but I hope this has shown that they are far from wussies. note that both mine and enemy units are 0 exp, 0 armor up and shield too. my men out number there's, since one must use cavalry on masse. lastly realize that this is not meant for a head on attack. its meant for the flank or rear of the enemy
this concludes my lecture on the basic charge

[Chirurgeon]

Nice guide! Very simple and yet very appropriate. I am glad you did this

[Atanamir]

Realy good!! Thanks!!!

[LorDBulA]

Very nice. Just to support this I will say that today I used Makedonia 40 bodyguards to crush 100 Spartans with a front charge.
It took around 6 or 7 frontal charges and I lost 21 men ( Spartans where supported by Akontistai fire and this claimed few horsemen life ) but still 5 to 1 casualty ratio with enemy two and a half number advantage is very good.

[mlc82]

Very nice and simple! Do you think that, if there are no reserves behind the enemy unit(s) you charge, it would be more effective to then double-click a hundred or so meters behind them after impact and drive the cavalry through instead of pulling them back? Just wondering because many times when pulling back, a few cavalrymen tend to get hung up in the enemy formation and slaughtered- the driving through should also wreak havoc on their formation if you follow up with infantry, although I have no idea if this has any real effect due to RTW hardcoded limits.

[Ibrahim]

Very nice and simple! Do you think that, if there are no reserves behind the enemy unit(s) you charge, it would be more effective to then double-click a hundred or so meters behind them after impact and drive the cavalry through instead of pulling them back? Just wondering because many times when pulling back, a few cavalrymen tend to get hung up in the enemy formation and slaughtered-the driving through should also wreak havoc on their formation if you follow up with infantry, although I have no idea if this has any real effect due to RTW hardcoded limits.

that would work; remember that I said pull back. I didn't say to where. however, this is potentialy more dangerous, since often the rear of whatever you are pouncing on tends to remain intact. result=lose way more men. in the end, haing a few get stuck and killed is normal, and mostly unavoidable (all my casualties in the demo were from hang ons). it will even happen if you do it that way. follow up is possible with infantry.

Very nice. Just to support this I will say that today I used Makedonia 40 bodyguards to crush 100 Spartans with a front charge.
It took around 6 or 7 frontal charges and I lost 21 men ( Spartans where supported by Akontistai fire and this claimed few horsemen life ) but still 5 to 1 casualty ratio with enemy two and a half number advantage is very good.

I got similar results myself charging them..

[Aemilius Paulus]

What I have noticed so many times much to my own lament is that when a unit is running away from you, the effects of the charge tend to be minimized. A unit of un-upgraded Akontistai (120 men) against my Hellenestic Mercenary General's unit of 3 experience, 1 armor/weapons and containing 51 men tends to suffer only 1-5 casualties under the conditions that the general's unit is charging them while they're running away. A unit of spearmen or heavy infantry armed with spears, when braced for the impact, usually has no fatalities. Even a unit that is not armed with spears could minimize the number of dead by in turn charging the charging enemy horsemen. However, simply running towards the charging cavalry but not actually charging at the horsemen does not offer much advantage.

For instance, to test this I took a unit of Gaesatae (60 men) and Seleukid general's unit of about 35 men. During the first test, I let the bodyguard charge me, head on, with my men braced. The casualties: a surprising of 7 men dead (JUST the initial impact, absolutely no melee)! On the second test, the Naked Fanatics charged the in turn charging bodyguard, resulting in no losses among the Fanatics due to the effects of the charge itself, although as the fray went on, some of the Gaesatae did eventually meet their ancestors (the first Fanatic died well into about the 15th second of the fight). I also ran this test with other medium to high quality swordsmen and ended up with strikingly similiar results. The braced swordsmen received even higher casualties from the charging cavalry, but when leading a counter-charge, the sword infantry usually did not sustain any losses from the charge.

[Thermal]

good guide, but thinks arent always tht simple, u were only fighting 1 pack, and an unexperienced one as you said, and you had companions, which is a luxery most factions wouldnt get till late on (or equilant) when i find medium cavarly are getting slaughtered charging medium skrishmers things start to annoy me, especially after doing very much what you have said, cav may be able 2 break inf in MASS, but any units can break another in MASS amounts, when cav cant even win v missile troops, plus there shocking upkeep, i see no reason 2 recruit them

[QuintusSertorius]

good guide, but thinks arent always tht simple, u were only fighting 1 pack, and an unexperienced one as you said, and you had companions, which is a luxery most factions wouldnt get till late on (or equilant) when i find medium cavarly are getting slaughtered charging medium skrishmers things start to annoy me, especially after doing very much what you have said, cav may be able 2 break inf in MASS, but any units can break another in MASS amounts, when cav cant even win v missile troops, plus there shocking upkeep, i see no reason 2 recruit them

You're doing it wrong. You shouldn't be charging any infantry that aren't already engaged, whether skirmishers or line troops.

That said, I do still think heavy cavalry are a waste of money.

[satalexton]

heavy cav has it's uses, but definatly not as versatile as medium cavalry. Since I only use no more tha 3 slots for cavalry, the heaviest thing i usually field are thessalian cavalry, tho usually lonchophoroi or prodromoi. Camapinian cavalry are absolute killers if u use them right.

QS: heavy cav dun really suit your style of play, ur better off with medium cav with shields+cheap light cav with AP/javs... I may be wrong, cuz i'm purely judging from your AARs.

[QuintusSertorius]

heavy cav has it's uses, but definatly not as versatile as medium cavalry. Since I only use no more tha 3 slots for cavalry, the heaviest thing i usually field are thessalian cavalry, tho usually lonchophoroi or prodromoi. Camapinian cavalry are absolute killers if u use them right.

QS: heavy cav dun really suit your style of play, ur better off with medium cav with shields+cheap light cav with AP/javs... I may be wrong, cuz i'm purely judging from your AARs.

I use light-mediums (Curepos, Illyrian Hippeis) and heavy-mediums (Thrakian Prodromoi) for shock charges to the rear of engaged infantry. Work brilliantly in that role as you might have seen.