Surprisingly bad units

[We shall fwee...Wodewick]

I think you are harsh on the equites campanici. Yes they don't have a lance or spear to charge with, but they aren't supposed to charge. They are skirmishers. What they are good for is killing other cavalry. If you have your normal equites bogged down in a battle with another cavalry unit, the campanici with their swords can kill the AI cavalry which will be using it's slower spear attack.

[satalexton]

i find sword cavalry very nice in mobbing enemy FMs....

[gamegeek2]

Sword cavalry are fine, just don't use them against melee infantry except to mob them and cause a rout. But they are a tad overpriced for what they do, and I prefer Leuce Epos.

About that Thureophoroi comment - they are very solid heavy infantry, with much more staying power than Peltasts, and they can put most cavalry to flight.

[Cullhwch]

I think you are harsh on the equites campanici. Yes they don't have a lance or spear to charge with, but they aren't supposed to charge. They are skirmishers. What they are good for is killing other cavalry. If you have your normal equites bogged down in a battle with another cavalry unit, the campanici with their swords can kill the AI cavalry which will be using it's slower spear attack.

Or you could just charge a unit of Curepos at that engaged cavalry unit and rout it immediately without having to worry about a prolonged melee. There are very few situations in which Campanici et al are better than skirmisher/shock cavalry.

Oh, and Thureophoroi are far from disappointing. They can be a great bread-and-butter unit, and almost perfectly priced for what they do.

[Woreczko]

1)Thureophoroi. Remember, that they are suppose to cover phalanx weak spots, not form the battle line. With spears they are a lot better at receiving cavalry charges than peltasts, while higher armour gives them more durabiility against missiles and lets them hold that flank a bit longer. Denser formation makes them better in guard mode, in which peltasts suck.

2) Sword cavalry. If your opponent has the cavalry superiority, and is human, you won`t have the luxury of charging here and there, as you wish. He will tie your horsemen in melee and won`t let you go... unless your cavalry has enough melee skill to make such a tie-up undesirable for him.

[penguinking]

1)Thureophoroi. Remember, that they are suppose to cover phalanx weak spots, not form the battle line. With spears they are a lot better at receiving cavalry charges than peltasts, while higher armour gives them more durabiility against missiles and lets them hold that flank a bit longer. Denser formation makes them better in guard mode, in which peltasts suck.

They're not really bad. But if I want a unit to hold my flank with durability and that's good in guard mode, I'll go with classical hoplites, who are much more durable. If I want to have a versatile outflanking unit, I'll go with peltasts. The Thureophoroi are sort of stuck in between the two, unable to do either job that well.

[Decimus Attius Arbiter]

I love hoplites. The missile ability of Thureophoroi is nice. But I've found that the lower defense and morale of the unit attracts the enemy to the flanks. I don't have that problem with hoplites or hypaspists.

[QuintusSertorius]

Or you could just charge a unit of Curepos at that engaged cavalry unit and rout it immediately without having to worry about a prolonged melee. There are very few situations in which Campanici et al are better than skirmisher/shock cavalry.

Oh, and Thureophoroi are far from disappointing. They can be a great bread-and-butter unit, and almost perfectly priced for what they do.

Exactly, cavalry without spears/lances are entirely useless.

[Celtic_Punk]

agreed.