Gendarmes: What's Your Thoughts

**_Aetius_** · 03-11-2005, 19:10

I have a soft spot for Gendarmes not because they are particularly effective I just prefer *knights* that dont use the lance.

Let's remember Gendarmes are militia, they are infact the most highly developed militia unit on the game as far as im aware, I prefer to look at them as medium cavalry something most western factions do not have, Jinetes perhaps the best and maybe only exception.

The west has an abudance of heavy cavalry and some light cavalry but dont really have a medium cavalry unit, Gendarmes can provide support for heavy cavalry, and do the jobs you really dont want your expensive heavy knights doing, you want your heavy knights hitting specific points in the enemies line, you want light cavalry to chase down archers and chase routing enemy troops, that leaves a big gap in what your cavalry can attack.

Gendarmes used as medium cavalry can support infantry whilst your Heavy cavalry is causing mayhem on the flanks and your light cavalry is mopping up weaker units, because they have swords they appear to be more suited to fighting infantry like Templar Knights.

In practical terms they are an accessory like Gothic Knights, they come so late in the game that they cant really make a massive impact and even if you got them earlier they wouldnt make a major difference, Gothic knights really have little use because you have everything you need to defeat late period armies before you can concievably train Gothic Knights, its the same for Gendarmes but I still like them

**Thessalos** · 03-11-2005, 20:01

You forget the bigest diference of Gentarmes to the other cav...
They have the most beautifull flags and colours...
I just like coloury things...

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PAS MI HELLIN VARVAROS

**Kralizec** · 03-11-2005, 20:05

I'd rather have multiple units of good cavalry then one or two units of excelent cavalry, and for that I like Gendarmes. But I rarely play the factions that get them (French and Spanish right?)