Question about Cavalry

**vale** · 06-16-2005, 07:36

For most faction I only seen them with cavalry units (light or heavy) carry only a spear and hardly use sword. In rome total war, are there any faction that have cataphract cavalry type? I mean the one that only use sword.

**sapi** · 06-16-2005, 07:52

No, iirc

**econ21** · 06-16-2005, 11:20

Why do you want them use swords? And why do you equate swords with cataphracts?

I suspect horse archer types use swords rather than spears. I assume this gives them a lower charge rating.

I believe cataphracts can use maces or some armour piercing weapon that gives an advantage against armoured opponents, but vaguely recall that you have to click "Alt-attack" for them to switch to these from their lances.

I also have a memory that desert cav may have an armour piercing attack (axes?) although I tend to shun the ahistorical Egyptians.

A modder or someone more familiar with fighting in the East should be able to give you a more definitive reply.

**dopp** · 06-17-2005, 02:47

Desert cavalry and the Scythian head hunters use armor piercing axes rather than spears.

**CMcMahon** · 06-17-2005, 03:27

Originally Posted by Simon Appleton

I believe cataphracts can use maces or some armour piercing weapon that gives an advantage against armoured opponents, but vaguely recall that you have to click "Alt-attack" for them to switch to these from their lances.

Maces are the correct weapon.

**Rodion Romanovich** · 06-17-2005, 11:18

I think round shield cavalry used by carthage and spain use swords and no spears

**Uesugi Kenshin** · 06-20-2005, 03:15

As a testament to how rarely the Cataphracts draw their maces I first saw them two days ago or so and have been playing RTW since a week or two after it was released. In addition to this I have used Cataphracts quite a bit during that time.

I am not sure if the alternate attack will get them to draw their maces involuntarily, but I will have to try this tomorrow.

**Muska Burnt** · 06-20-2005, 03:17

Originally Posted by vale

For most faction I only seen them with cavalry units (light or heavy) carry only a spear and hardly use sword. In rome total war, are there any faction that have cataphract cavalry type? I mean the one that only use sword.

why would you want them to use swords all the time that would be bad sine using a spear for a charge would do better than a sword but the horsemen do pull out their swords in close combat

**sik1977** · 06-20-2005, 03:32

For those who still are unaware about the Heavy Cavalry Secondary attack and how to use it, I will simply post something i wrote earlier in another thread

Actually, if the player were to use the Alt-right click command for the Cats, i.e., make them use their maces instead of Lances in close melee, they will beat any unit one-on-one except 50% against Spartans. This is on medium diff ofcourse where neither side gets an advantage.

You don't have to do a Alt-right click once the melee has started, simply do a Alt-right (double) click and the Cats will do their standard charge and auto-shift to maces. (a point many don't seem to know and keep Alt right clicking after the charge).

The maces have better melee stats and armour piercing. Alt-right click is ofcourse beneficial to all other heavy cavalry which has a secondary weopon but doesnt use it automatically. Another lame bug from CA which wasnt there in the Demo, but made it to the game... go figure.

BTW, lucky for us, the AI has no clue how to use Alt-right click... so AI Cats are rather casterated...