Something cavalry really needs in a patch

[IvarrWolfsong]

the only impressive thing I have seen from cavalry in the game so far is ulhans charge the rear of infantry that is taking cover against a wall. You will kill almost the entire unit on the charge.
They can also be usefull for killing arty but it takes a lot of micro

[Sheogorath]

As I said in other topics, cavalry in this era had a few particular uses and were not much good outside of them.

The age of frontal cavalry charges is over and done. It's impressive, and a good way to waste a lot of horses, but wont be much use in terms of changing the course of the battle.

Cavalry are rather like the air force. Their main purpose is 'shock and awe', and supporting the ground forces. Cavalry do not win battles.

Charge from the flanks or the rear, preferably against an already engaged enemy who cant turn to face your men.

A simultaneous charge from infantry (from the front) and cavalry (from the rear) is good enough to route just about anybody.

[A Very Super Market]

I like to catch early Line Infantry while they are reloading.... :D

Nar, but seriously, cavalry certainly has diminished in usefulness, but the prestige associated with them remains. Also, if you have cavalry, but they don't, it still comes down to tactics because you have less men in total.

[Callahan9119]

Man, this thread quickly went off topic.

I think the OP was complaining about cavalry just running into stakes and dying when there is nobody within shouting distance of them. They should become "inactive" if a unit isnt a certain distance from them.

Micro is fine, but I'm sure all of us send our cav after routers, then turn our attentions back to those that are still a threat. Nobody wants their cav being decimated by some lonely stakes because the cavalry couldnt decide by themselves to change their course by a few meters while chasing 12 enemy fleeing to the hills.

[antisocialmunky]

The Line Infantry spike walls only kill running cav and its not even instantanious. Horses have to keep runing a little bit after hitting it to die. Walk speed horses will just jump over them. Also, if you put them right infront of fort gates if you're going to give up the wall, cavalry will be able to run through them like they weren't there.

[geala]

For me it's ok that fast moving cavalry will impale itself even if nobody is near the stakes. Moving fast on a horse is dangerous. Slow moving cavalry should not be affected.

One ot thing I have to say: I've a completely different opinion about cavalry than f.e. Sheogorath. Cavalry of the 18th c. was often the battle winning arm of the army and direct assaults against infantry formations were often successful. They were more often successful than in (late) medieval battles. Often also they were not successful but in war nothing was and is for sure.

[pdoyle007]

I've had good success with my cavalry on the fringes of the maps taking out the native american tribes and some Indian units, especially when they are large in number but under powered (using the TW2 method of grouping units together and attacking flank or rear.

I haven't tried against the European big boys but I have taken a decent amount of provinces which means my income is up and when I start to recruit more infantry my tech will be higher