Golden Horde!

[Prince Cobra]

I hope I am not obsessing the thead with my stupid comments. Thanks.

I would advise against taking on the horde with a mainly cavalry army. Pronoia cav are expensive and you will take heavy losses in cav vs cav battles against the horde. They're certainly better than Kataphraktoi, but the best cavalry to suit are the Byzantine Lancers, in smaller numbers for chasing routers. Personally I like to use a combination of Byzantine Lancers and the Byzantine Cavalry as the latter can unleash their arrows and then chase routers before you withdraw them.

If you are concerned about money, my treasure continues to grow. I can't really get on with the Byz cavalry. These are too slow for horse archers and not that devastating as the normal cavalry. I remember when fighting the Spanish (their army was a crap, though): I did not make any attempt to pursue them. I just kill them and leave them flee out of the battlefield. My purpose is to push the Horde back, not really to kill all of their armies. I am bad at pursuing the enemy since I prefer not to leave my hill.

I am also quite rusty, so I doubt I will afford the luxury to keep a unit for the sole purpose of chasing routers. But I will change my plans for big cavalry force.

I would have a unit of Varangians for every three units of spears.

Perhaps I underestimate the spears but their relatively low morale (esp. the morale) and humble fighting abilities are scaring me. Surprising as it may be, I have 3 provinces specialised in Varangians and only 1-2 that can make valoured (Constantinople) or high morale (Nicaea; in the others I have only church and monastery) spears. 1:1 (1:2 at best) ratio can work fine in my case. And perhaps some mercenaries to improve the quality at least in the first row of defenders.

What about the missiles? Is 1/4 of the stack a good ratio?

And the cavalry about 1/5 of the stack (3-4 units; Pronoiai and Kataphraktoi;)?