Proper use of non-missle calvary?

[steevie]

When you charge do you click on the enemy unit or do you double-click on an area of terrain past the unit so that the calvary runs "through" the line?

Once the calvary has reached the enemy unit, how long do you let them melee? Do you immediately run them out of the melee, reform and then charge again?

I know about flanking manuevers and trying to get behind enemy units and all that, but I'm a little lost on the actual mechanics of the charge and attack.

[Sarcasm]

Let them make their own charge (don't over use the double-clicking). Fatigue level is increadibly important in RTW so conserve energy. I personally don't like having my cavalry go to waste by going through an enemy unit, but against light infantry (such as akontistai) in open formation, it has its uses.

As for letting them stay in melee, that depends on the situation. If you think the pressure of having that cavalry unit there in the melee will make the enemy rout, stay there for a bit. If you see that that isn't gonna happen, withdraw, reform, charge and then the classic "rinse and repeat" for as many times as necessary.

[Magnificant me]

Well, the best way I have found to use them is to run them thrugh their lines and falow that up with an infantry unit to crush the formation. The calvalry will break the lines, just make sure they don't stay in the enomy formation to long or you will suffer losses. Then when you have your unit amongst them have that calvery attack the rear of the enomy, or the right or left flank wich ever it more conveniant. The point is, don't let them sit in a fight with infantry for too long or they will die right quick.

One thing you can do is set up a little experimant in the custome battle mode of the game. Then just run calvery charges against your most comon enomy, or any enomy realy, untill you have figured out how you like to use them and what works best for you.

[econ21]

The answer to this question will probably be more important when EB ports over to 1.5, as then the charge bonus will work as intended and be very important for proper use.

I've started playing with RTR Platinum which uses 1.5 and has high charge stats, but low attack stats for cavalry, so proper use of the charge is very important.

I've started to look for whether a unit has it's lances lowered, as I've been told only then will it get the bonus. This requires a decent run up, apparently. I've also been told it requires a single click and that the unit is properly ordered and in formation before charging, although I am unsure if these points are true (as in necessary, rather than just desirable).

I've read that there is something in the engine to prevent cavalry getting a charge bonus in settlements and painful recent experience seems to corroborate that.

CA used to say (maybe for MTW?) that the charge bonus can only apply against the unit you target. So strictly, speaking, this would imply that running through a unit forfeits the charge bonus. But to be honest, I have not really noticed this and am not sure it is true.