Quick question about secondary weapons for cavalry.

[Zing]

When pursuing fleeing enemies my cavalry always switch to primary weapons, ie spears, which, I feel, strongly reduce their effectiveness. They do it even if I alt-attack. Is there any way to make cavalry to use secondary weapon when chasing rioted romans, or is it hard-coded?

[A Very Super Market]

When it says, "pursuing" it means that they will hit the running enemies and do a bunch of damage, then start sucking.

You can try moving your cavalry ahead of them, then doing a quick turn and getting a few more guys impaled on their spears before it is sword time.

[Zing]

No, what I mean is when the enemy is routed, cavalry refuse to hit them with swords. As soon as enemy breakes, cavalry changes to slow spears and would not go in "sword time" under any circumstances.

[A Very Super Market]

Eh, just keep them on if the battle has ended.

If its mid-battle, there's no point in chasing down routing enemies when you could rout the rest with that cavalry

[soup_alex]

I disagree, Super Market; sometimes you really want that fleeing unit to stay dead (e.g. when it's an enemy FM, or other elite).

As for your problem, Zing, I'm not sure. I recall a similar annoying problem occurring far too frequently in M2; cavalry ordered after fleeing enemies (either attacking or overrunning) would seldom seem to switch to couched lances, in fact, almost always preferred to use swords, even when charging at full tilt towards a stationary target. Worse, they would charge with lances ready, only to stutter and grab for their swords just moments before what would have been impact. ANNOYING!

...but that's not much help. Sorry :(

[seienchin]

Its impossible to switch... That is why heavy cavallery sucks so much and fleeing generals nearly get away all the time.
You should use light cavallery like the numidians, spanish or curepos(The light gallic ones).
They kill far more enemies. Might be their formation or their short spears I dont know.
I had an fleeing ptolmaei general today who refused to die, chased and surrounded by 4 units of heavy cavallery after fighting them alone for 3minuits and he just didnt die... Man I hate those generals ...