EB cavalry

[Diamondj]

I have read that the Cavalry in EB is supposed to be much more effective than the cavalry in RTW vanilla but I have found the opposite to be true. Is there some secret to cavalry tactics in EB than is any different than RTW vanilla? I know not to attack spearmen head on and everything but I have found that they will quickly die in combat that lasts more than a few seconds regardless of the circumstances. I am afraid to make them withdraw because they always lose a few more men as they are getting out.

[Malik of Sindh]

Learn to use cavalry.Cavalry are supposed to be flankers,morale breakers,not melee troops.

[konny]

I have read that the Cavalry in EB is supposed to be much more effective than the cavalry in RTW vanilla

Yes and no.

The charge of the EB cavalry is much more effective, but it is hardly able to hold itself long against foot in a pitched fighting, especially against speermen. The RTW cavalry was more like mediavel knights, able to win a battle on its own; the EB horsemen always need support by infantry and have a more auxillary role. That is more accurate.

[beatoangelico]

cavalry in EB is all about charge. And you need to do a good one to take the full charge bonus: afaik the cavalry unit has to be stationary when it starts, have a decent speed (so fatigue can reduce the effectiveness of the charge), and the target unit has to be blocked in melee or running towards the cavalry (not fleeing from it).
In vanilla in properly used even the weakest light cavalry could change the outcome of the battle by just flanking every unit and staying in melee (I remember winning a lot of battles with the sloppy carthaginian sword cavalry), in EB the frontal charges are limited only to the heaviest bodyguard cav and against dagger wearing troops (archers/skirmishers), anything with a short sword or better can beat cav units in prolonged melee combat

[Diamondj]

So is it better just to keep charging and retreating or just allowing cavalry to remain in combat

[Sakkura]

So is it better just to keep charging and retreating or just allowing cavalry to remain in combat

Usually it's better to charge, pull out, and charge again, as long as necessary.

[beatoangelico]

So is it better just to keep charging and retreating or just allowing cavalry to remain in combat

in melee cav is not effective and can take heavy losses, even if you use the secondary weapon (shortswords usually, with higher attack then lances but less lethality, so doesn't help much), it's better a strategy of repeated charges, but you have to manage the fatigue, expecially with cataphracts and the like

[Olaf The Great]

There are a few "melee" cavalry, but that type of thing is clearly stated in their description, and even then, they can't go head-on with spears.


Lonchophoroi are a example of this.