Dismounted Byz Lancers...

**rvg** · 02-07-2007, 18:41

These guys should be using some kind of a spear like the dismounted Sipahi Lancers do. Byzantine army doesn't need a useless byz infantry clone, but it would benefit quite a bit from an elite spear unit.

**Redtroll** · 02-07-2007, 18:51

Yes I agree with you. I like to play the Byzantine Empire, but you really lack a strong infantry able to hold its ground against cav units.
It make sense that spear was the primary weapon, and dismounted byzantine cav should be able to hold the line against cav units.

**General Zhukov** · 02-07-2007, 19:00

In defense of DBL, they do have Good Stamina, a trait which Byz Inf lacks. This really helps out when using DBL to storm cities. Also, DBL are sword units produced in castles, making them useful for racking up Swordsmith's points. That is, of course, if you don't want to pay or can't afford the outlay to get Dismounted Latinkon.

**Quillan** · 02-07-2007, 19:27

They can get 3 armor upgrades; Byzantine Infantry can only get one. I agree, though. I think they should primarily be spearmen instead of swordsmen.

**econ21** · 02-07-2007, 23:46

Revealing my ignorance, but I'd always assumed they would use their lances as spears when dismounted. I'm sad to learn they don't.

I keep hankering for a spear-armed dismounted English knight... Agincourt, White Company etc.

**General Zhukov** · 02-08-2007, 00:58

Originally Posted by econ21

Revealing my ignorance, but I'd always assumed they would use their lances as spears when dismounted. I'm sad to learn they don't.

Most other heavy cavalry in the game also wield swords when dismounted. D. Feudal, D. Chivalric, D. Norman, D. Latinkon. And a good thing, too. Otherwise, it would be very hard to get Swordsmith's points.

With Byzantium already starved for good assault infantry, it would be a cruel act to turn this one into a spearman, and force the Byz player to tech up to Citadel and the highest Barracks just to get some sword inf.

**Quillan** · 02-08-2007, 15:57

They don't have to do that. Byzantine Infantry are available from a large city with the level 4 barracks. Constantinople starts as large, and I think only requires one barracks upgrade in order to start building them. Their stats are identical to the dismounted lancers; they just can't get as many armor upgrades and lack the good stamina trait.

Byzantium lacks good spearmen. Unlike the western factions, the Spear Militia doesn't even have the ability to form Schiltrom. You have to get the Byzantine Spearmen from a castle in order to get that ability. Of course, almost everyone lacks good spearmen because of how the game handles the swords vs spears bit and the shield bug. But Byzantium, from the actual Castle with the level 3 barracks recruits what is the equivalent of Spear Militia with 1 xp for any western European faction. Most of those factions get either armored sergeants or something equivalent at that level. Byzantium has to get to a level 4 barracks to get any decent melee infantry at all.