Holy Cavalry Charges

**RussianWinter** · 01-06-2007, 03:58

So I'm playing HRE and just trying out completely different army makeups. Decided to smack Denmark early and waltz up to arhus to engage one of there stacks. I've got maybe 2 spear militia, 2 p archers, my general, and 6-7 mailed knights against 10-11 merc spearman and there general.

Line up the cavalry against there mercs, charge, and I don't think I've seen so many troops fall so quick, ever. A few seconds after the charge hit a typical spear unit went from 150 troops to maybe about 65-70, sometimes as low as 50 followed by almost immediate route.

I wasn't up against prime units or anything but daaammnnnn!! When a charge works, it works. Anyone found good countermeasures to this?? Spearmen really don't seem to stop cavalry for anything.

I've become accustomed to the same unit makeup for ages now - line of heavy spears backed by archers and cav for the flanking. Now, I'm thinking of putting the cav in the center for a swift blowout and a few spears 'on the side' to engage whatever cav the AI uses.

**OMGLAZERS** · 01-06-2007, 04:11

There seems to be some confusion between spearmen and pikemen. Spearmen have spears, and they're good for attacking at calvalry, but if a calvalry charges and hits them proper, they'll go down. Pikemen on the other hand, would impale the entire charge and laugh it off later that night over some warm beer.

The best way to deal with calvalry charges is to have deep ranks, and flanking units. If they hit you, and you can surround them, calvalry can drop like flies.

**sapi** · 01-06-2007, 04:15

I agree with you - you've just described my strategy as the HRE ;)

I had 10 units of mailed knights/mounted sgts running around wiping out anything that moved, and the only factions the strategy has trouble against are the byz and the turks.

**Scotsmanforlife** · 01-06-2007, 05:20

I'm playing as the HRE as well and all my stacks are usually half full with cavalry. When i set up my troops i split up my cavalry and put them to either side of my foot troops. That way when i see the enemy i just bring around my cav to either side of them and sweep em from behind while my foot troops bring up the center. This has worked almost perfectly every time.

**Hamburglo** · 01-06-2007, 05:28

On the recieving end without pikemen, quickly switching to Loose formation and clicking Run can lower the effectiveness of the enemy charge. Trouble is, you have to see it coming which can be tricky in a battle.

But yeah. On the right end, cavalry charges are great fun :D

**Braedonnal** · 01-06-2007, 07:10

Yep, put those spearmen on loose formation and if you can manage to make their formation very untidy, that's even better. I giggle when I have a lone spearman ahead of the rest of the unit as oftentimes he will disrupt a charge alone. Sure, the point man is a sacrifice but it is better than the whole unit getting smashed.

**Rilder** · 01-06-2007, 08:45

Eh I have at max 3 units of Calvary in an army, they just seem useless, to me at least, most enemy infantry route by the time I get into position for a charge, and missile units never seem to run when my infantry go after them, so far the only reason my small calvary divisions get any kills is running down the cowards. Oh and horse archers suck, give my a dismounted archer any day of the week :).

Rawr Rilder the Infantryman

**Revenant** · 01-06-2007, 18:36

Originally Posted by Braedonnal

Yep, put those spearmen on loose formation and if you can manage to make their formation very untidy, that's even better. I giggle when I have a lone spearman ahead of the rest of the unit as oftentimes he will disrupt a charge alone. Sure, the point man is a sacrifice but it is better than the whole unit getting smashed.

The sad thing is the fact this is completely "gamey" tactics that should not work

But i do not blame you, it works in this game...

**baron_Leo** · 01-06-2007, 18:42

Oh and horse archers suck, give my a dismounted archer any day of the week :).

I don't think horse archers "suck" probably, you just don't know how to use them. Try playing with Egypt or Turkey without using them...In my Russia campaign they also play a great role, okay they are not so good for sieges, but In a field battle, it is the all-rounder of the field.

**Rurik the Chieftain** · 01-06-2007, 19:51

Originally Posted by Rilder

Eh I have at max 3 units of Calvary in an army, they just seem useless, to me at least, most enemy infantry route by the time I get into position for a charge, and missile units never seem to run when my infantry go after them, so far the only reason my small calvary divisions get any kills is running down the cowards. Oh and horse archers suck, give my a dismounted archer any day of the week :).

Rawr Rilder the Infantryman

Where is Doug?

**ShadesPanther** · 01-06-2007, 20:54

Originally Posted by Rurik the Chieftain

Where is Doug?

Hes probably getting his tranquilizers

**katank** · 01-06-2007, 20:58

Cav is useless? Horse archers suck? Wow. Show me any case where your all infantry army is able to beat a full stack without triple digit casualties.

Horse archer/lancer army can easily do that. Foot archers also don't have the tactical flexibility of flanking and crossfire as well as effective rout chasing. If your cavalry can't even get there before your infantry routs the enemy army, then you are fighting a decidedly unequal battle in your favor. Try a closer battle and see how cav superiority can win the day for you.

**Rilder** · 01-06-2007, 21:13

I just said they suck for me, Ive used a few horse archers in my time but they seem to only get use as just archers that are bigger targets for enemy archers so I just use regular archers, besides when push comes to shove the enemey always just charges its calvary into my spears anyways so heh