Quote Originally Posted by Aper View Post
About cavalry :
Guys, I think you are simply speaking of different tactics, in RL soldiers are quite more versatile than in RTW...
When cavalry was forced to face (frontally I mean) infantry, with no chance to outflank, what did they do? Like the Berber cavalry at Poitiers or the Norman cavalry at Hastings they fake charge, slow down when near to the enemy foot soldiers, attack them from safe distance with missiles or long spears, then retreat to not be caught in melee. When cavalrymen see their foes disorganized or frightened, they made a full charge and rout them. Simple. You're both right and however there's no need to be disrespectful to each other...
So, a bit like Hippakontistai type cavalry, or Hetairoi Aspidophoroi.

Anyways I thought about the rinse and repeat issue and have come to the so far conclusion that very elite forces would be certainly able to do so. Like Hetairoi, people with much to lose, a reputation, wealth, social standing. People with very strong ties to the ruling house and a strong warrior codex. But I don't think this would be the case for lower or middle class cavalry. I don't think Prodromoi could perform such a maneuver. In the middle of melee, each fighting for his live, then to listen to an order of some sort, which essentially means retreat in the first place, but then not to fully retreat, but instead line up again. This is difficult and would require a very large degree of discipline and morale.