Ktistai

[DaciaJC]

Swinging a falx on a horse...

Then again, look at Traikioi Peltastai - they carry a one-handed falx with a lethality of .26, same as the two-handed version.

And for reference, I believe Tarabostes use a sica.

[Tux]

Yes they do.

Afaik only empire has this options, to dismount units so too bad nothing we can do.:(

[DaciaJC]

Well, it was nice to think about. Thanks for conclusively answering my question.

I suppose I might play around with this a little in EB1.

[antisocialmunky]

Yes they do.

Afaik only empire has this options, to dismount units so too bad nothing we can do.:(

I rather give them a falx for a melee weapon than a boring old lance

[The General]

Tsch, no one wants to get their shooters mowed down in melee, HA-lancers are much more versatile and useful than HAs, as boring as that may be in your eyes.

I like the ability to gun, uh, bow down my opponents and then with concentrated charges break their morale.

[antisocialmunky]

mowed down in melee

Why do you leave HA in melee? I think you're confused there and mean 'on the charge' instead of 'melee.' Oh well...

it was nice to think about

[The General]

Why do you leave HA in melee? I think you're confused there and mean 'on the charge' instead of 'melee.' Oh well...

Why have falxes for Ktistai if they're not to be used, then?

The only sensible way to use HAs in close combat are (if necessary, repeated) charges into flanks/rears and the chasing of routing units, I agree, and thus lances are much more useful.

[Andronikos]

Tsch, no one wants to get their shooters mowed down in melee, HA-lancers are much more versatile and useful than HAs, as boring as that may be in your eyes.

I like the ability to gun, uh, bow down my opponents and then with concentrated charges break their morale.

I found a use for both of them. When controled by a player, HA lancers are real horsemen of apoalypse, but I have a good experience with sword cavalry too, especially in cav-cav melee battles, Gallic Brihentin with longswords, Hellenic elites with AP kopis and elite cataphracts with maces wre good examples. Melee cavalry serve as my FM hunters.
An example of HA swordsmen are Baktrioi Hippotoxotai with kopis and I am able to destroy Saka and Dahae nobles with neglible casualties with them. Archery duels would cause too many casualties. Ktistai with sickle sword as a secondary - high lethality and perhaps AP would have their role - as archers against infantry, as melee fighters against cavalry.