Horse archers - How to deal with them?

[Che Roriniho]

Hello there. I have recently embarked on a love affair with Baktria, but there is one small problem with our relationship - those damned horse archers. The onnly way I can do anything about them is buy getting a couple of lucky vollys wth my persian archers. before they get out of range, usually still poundding me with arows. Is there any more efficient ways than this?

[Hax]

Slingers.

Other horse-archers also help, especially the Baktrioi Hippotoxotai. Against the more heavily armored horse-archers I really, really advise slingers (not the sphendonetai though, the regionals, they have way more ammo).

I've also heard that the Indian archer units are pretty good against them, outranging them. Still, I prefer slingers.

[Che Roriniho]

Slingers.

Other horse-archers also help, especially the Baktrioi Hippotoxotai. Against the more heavily armored horse-archers I really, really advise slingers (not the sphendonetai though, the regionals, they have way more ammo).

I've also heard that the Indian archer units are pretty good against them, outranging them. Still, I prefer slingers.

Right. Slingers. Any particular reason? or is it just because I can't get camels?

But yeh, thanks. As discussed in 'Surprisingly Good Units', slingers rock.

[Hax]

Because slingers have:

1) More ammo than most (if not all archers)
2) AP
3) Longer range than most archers.

[Che Roriniho]

Because slingers have:

1) More ammo than most (if not all archers)
2) AP
3) Longer range than most archers.

Ok, thanks very much. Here's a balloon for your efforts:

[Hax]

Put it in the car.

[Swordmaster]

Because slingers have:

1) More ammo than most (if not all archers)
2) AP
3) Longer range than most archers.

I thought horse archers outrange most slingers?

[Hax]

They don't, AFAIK. Maybe the same range, but even then.

[Fondor_Yards]

I've also heard that the Indian archer units are pretty good against them, outranging them. Still, I prefer slingers.

Actually, Indian Longbows, despite whatever their description says, only have 153 range. HA have 187 and up. Which means Ha will dominate them something fierce.

[Olaf The Great]

Hello there. I have recently embarked on a love affair with Baktria, but there is one small problem with our relationship - those damned horse archers. The onnly way I can do anything about them is buy getting a couple of lucky vollys wth my persian archers. before they get out of range, usually still poundding me with arows. Is there any more efficient ways than this?

Indian and Subeshi Archers have long enough range bows to shoot down Horse archers.
The best against them, however, is Syrian archers and Parsig thanvare.

Also, heavily armoured horse arches(like the Baktrian Hippotoxotai) and slingers help...to :P

[mucky305]

Ballista! Can you say horsie on a STEEK!

[Zing]

When I played Baktria I did not find horse archers to be very difficult at all. I was surprised by it myself. Perhaps it was because of AI stupidity, but I won every single battle against ha.
Usualy I had phalanx in front, geting them under fire of HA. right behind the phalanx I had 3 units of archers, with couple of my own horse archers by the sides. If I could I would take higher ground - this is crucial in fighting with any kind of missile.
If horse archers have more men then I do, I would stand my ground, haras them with my own HA and archers until I ran out of arrows or until they charged. Because I usualy reacted quite quickly in the beginning of the battle and would take higher ground asap, by the time HA and kataphracts charge me they would be down to 70-60% of their initial strength. After that all relies on my phalanx, and mellee qualities of my archers if phalanx are not enough. This way I was able to crash a 2 full stack army of Saka kataphracts and HA led by 7-star general.
If there was less HA then there is of my army, then I would try to corner them with my phalanx, while my archers shoot behind their backs.
Also, I found things that do not work. Trying to simply outshoot HA with your archers is painful - you ought to lose quite a lot of men, unless you take a higher ground or have gigantic amount of archers. Persuing HA with cavalry does not work either - you will get shot to pieces. Never turn your back on HA - phalanx are pretty much invincible from the frontal fire, but will die quickly if fired in the back.
Often AI just shoots and runs away from you. If you employ couple of HA of your own, while making them run in cantabrian circle, you can masacre enemy HA while suffering only couple of HA casualties of your own. Same thing with enemy archers. Cantabrian circle is tremendously effective against missiles.
In short, my strategy was to build a balanced army of phalanx, support infantry, archers and HA - this way I was able to crush any enemy army, HA or not, with ease.

[Che Roriniho]

okay, thanks guys!
AI want to invade Saka at some point mainly for the regional units. Plus, it will allow me to build up my army for when I face AS at some point.

[Woreczko]

On a strategical level, don`t bother to fight HA armies in the field. Take their cities instead. For this purpose thureophoroi are your friend. Spear armed, decently armoured and cheap, they can chew through anything, nomads will throw against you in melee. Just get to the town square and wait till the timer runs out. Thureophoroi are also much more flexible than phalanxes, when you need to react quickly to a flank charge and whatnot - in my anti-nomad armies they take the role of main infantry unit along with lots of foot archers.

[Che Roriniho]

okay, thanks ahgain. now I'm having problems withthose damned selucids. I have 1 army, and that is dealing ith a rebal army that's standing over the road connecting Baktria and Prophtasia. Also having money problems.

EDIT: Bastards are ust about to take Baktra. beause I can't afford much of an army, but I have FM's pouring out of my ears (I have about 10, and only 4 provinces [soon to be 3])All I have defending it is 2 faction members. should be fun, unless I can REALLY pull something out the bag EDIT: The bag has been pulled!)

[Hax]

Actually, Indian Longbows, despite whatever their description says, only have 153 range. HA have 187 and up. Which means Ha will dominate them something fierce.

That might very well be true, I've never used them myself, just rumours I heard. The internet is a dark place...