Batkrio Hippeis and Indo-Iranian cavalry, useless??

[alexanderthegreater]

I thought i should notice this, since i came across it in my H/M Baktria campaign.
It seems that stat-wise, Indo Iranian cavalry and Baktrian medium cavalry hardly have an advantage over prodromoi. Baktrian meds have 3 points higher charge, but less stamina and no fast-moving. Indo-Iranians have a shield but less armor and stamina.
Despite this, both Indo-Iranian cav and Baktrian medium cav. have 200mnai more upkeep. So im left puzzled why i should ever recruit them if i can recruit prodromoi in the same regions? This bugs me, because they seem like nice-looking units with a great backstory.

Thoughts?

[anubis88]

I thought Podromoi could be recruited only in Baktra? (+ the other hellenistic centers?) Perhaps the other cavalry has greater AOR? Also roleplaying wise, i guess Baktria never had a lot of Podromoi, since they had to create their own cavalry forces, which were not as good for the same money

[bobbin]

Baktroi Hippeis get an axe as a side arm which makes them much better at fighting armoured opponents, they have a higher lethality spear and better charge and they have higher morale. I'd say that wouldaccount for the 200 extra upkeep pretty well.

[Andronikos]

Yes, it's true about the AOR, Prodromoi could be recruited in two provinces, Indo-Iranians all over the eastern part including India, Baktrioi hippeis at least in 5 provinces.

I have a feeling that there is a great difference between Prodromoi and Baktroi hippeis in charge effectivity, not to mention that Baktrioi hippeis could be used to fight catas in melee.

And even if those units would be the same, it would just add diversity.

BTW I don't train Prodromoi as Baktria too, Hellenes form core of heavy infantry, locals serve as psiloi (no sphendonetai, toxotai or akontistai), light infantry and archers, cavalry are local specialists (Dahae, Arachosians, Indo-Iranians, Taxilans) and those of mixed origin (Baktrian medium cav. and HAs, Hellenic catas).
Perhaps I could write this in the rolepalying thread.

[WinsingtonIII]

I haven't used the Indo-Iranian cav very much, but Baktrio Hippeis are well worth the money. They aren't as maneuverable or fast as Prodomoi, but in prolonged melee they will destroy Prodomoi, I know this because in my Baktrian campaign they do it to the Seleucid Prodomoi all the time. Once they've done this, they can run train on the enemy infantry without fearing retribution by enemy cavalry. As Andronikos and bobbin said, they are certainly better in prolonged melees (especially against armored enemies) than Prodomoi, with better morale, lances, and axes as a secondary. I like to use them as a heavier medium cavalry that provide a balance in between the super-heavy but slow cataphracts and the weak-in-melee Prodomoi.

Additionall, Andronikos is right, if you're roleplaying you should be using them, because historically, the Baktrians would be.

Plus, they're one of the most beautiful units in the game in my opinion, they're gorgeous.

[Krusader]

We were actually debating if we should include Prodromoi at all for Baktria, as the former Faction Coordinator for Baktria said they would have used native Iranians in that role ie light cavalry, while using Hellenes as infantry and heavier cavalry. Due to shortage of unit slots we decided to give Baktria the Prodromoi to kind of represent the Iranian light cavalry.

[Ibrahim]

I thought i should notice this, since i came across it in my H/M Baktria campaign.
It seems that stat-wise, Indo Iranian cavalry and Baktrian medium cavalry hardly have an advantage over prodromoi. Baktrian meds have 3 points higher charge, but less stamina and no fast-moving. Indo-Iranians have a shield but less armor and stamina.
Despite this, both Indo-Iranian cav and Baktrian medium cav. have 200mnai more upkeep. So im left puzzled why i should ever recruit them if i can recruit prodromoi in the same regions? This bugs me, because they seem like nice-looking units with a great backstory.

Thoughts?

well, the baktrian horse are better armored and better at melee than prodromoi (at least the look it). and they can actually survive the saka a little better than a bunch of prodromoi..

[ARCHIPPOS]

i hardly use any other cavalry than the Baktrian early bodyguard and 2-3 units of dahae riders as soon as i can afford them ... combined they make a very solid force... just band together 3-4 spare Baktrian family members (by 240 BC i get 8 of them and only 4-5 cities) and 3 dahae riders and you have yourself a mighty counter-guerilla force to face the menacing nomad hordes... and it works great against most low-quality Seleykid halfstacks too... in fact i'm rarely using my foot contigents anymore... my Somatophylakes and dahae have maxed up sooooo many chevrons after 10-15 battles, that very few things can match them :) ...