Nomad questions

**Cyrus** · 12-02-2008, 18:29

I was wondering what is the differnce between horse archers and raiders? i noticed for ex. that the latter cost a little more but do 1 more in arrow damage, while having a -3 in melee, so wich would be the best? also how can it be that 3 units of saka horse archers and a general managed to outshoot 4 units of thanvare payadang? they were all standing perfectli still and neither had any armour upgrades, more or less the same exp. and the gen only had 40 men? oh and they all had full quivers.

**Tristuskhan** · 12-02-2008, 19:02

Raiders have a much better charge (27 usually) and a much greater upkeep. Horse-archers are to be the bulk of your force in the early game, raiders beeng a nice addition to your bodyguards as shock cavalry.

Later, when you are rich, if you can afford them, nobles could replace both raiders and horse-archers. But even then, you'll probably keep on using your gold-chevroned old army, for sentimental reasons and because horse-archers and raiders once veterans can cripple even the best armies the foe can field.

**Mediolanicus** · 12-02-2008, 21:42

Archers : bow + short sword = cheap + hold out marginally longer in a melee due to their swords

Riders : bow + spear = better charge

**gamegeek2** · 12-02-2008, 23:11

Isn't it Riders, not raiders?

**Tristuskhan** · 12-02-2008, 23:15

It is indeed

**A Terribly Harmful Name** · 12-02-2008, 23:15

I generally switch to the Aorsi boys when I'm Sauromatae, they are just slightly more expensive than the Sauroamatae line HA's but have a far better charge and more defense against incoming arrows, as lousy as it still is.

After I've built two to three mines and conquered a reasonable amount of territories I add riders to my seasoned armies to get more shock power. They are far more effective against massed infantry and heavy cavalry than against nomad units, when noble HA's should be used.

**gamegeek2** · 12-02-2008, 23:33

The problem is, Sauromatae are at a definite disadvantage against the overly-aggressive (against its steppe allies) Pahlava, who has 6 DAHAE NOBLES in Mazsakata in my current Sauro campaign. I do have two mines though. I'll have to FD peace with them, we need an FD fix for 1.