Roman Soldier Mount Effect

**Mediolanicus** · 09-07-2009, 18:42

Originally Posted by The General

That would require legionaries to have three weapons, now wouldn't it? (Gladius, javelin-pilum and spear-pilum)

That's impossible with the game enginge iirc.

Not when you simulate this by just giving the Romans a bonus against cavalry.

On the other hand, this can only be done when it is almost certain the Romans would have used this every time to counter cavalry.

**The General** · 09-07-2009, 20:43

Originally Posted by Mediolanicus

Not when you simulate this by just giving the Romans a bonus against cavalry.

On the other hand, this can only be done when it is almost certain the Romans would have used this every time to counter cavalry.

Indeed, and giving the bonus at all times would be rather unfair, considering they can throw both of their pila to decimate their enemies before mêlée and still get the bonus against cavalry afterwards.

**Mediolanicus** · 09-07-2009, 21:11

Originally Posted by The General

Indeed, and giving the bonus at all times would be rather unfair, considering they can throw both of their pila to decimate their enemies before mêlée and still get the bonus against cavalry afterwards.

Which is the best argument against what I think antisocialmunky is proposing/putting up to be considered.

**Aulus Caecina Severus** · 09-07-2009, 22:40

I think that all types of heavy infantry should have a bonus against cavalry.
Is sword (or mace and axe) so ineffective against horses?
Yes, spear is more long for hit the knight, but the horse can easily be hit in melee.
I ve seen in EB that some time cavalry can run through enemy infantry(especially swordsmen) without died.
I think shouldn t be only for roman legionaries, but should be for all heavy infantry.

**Tellos Athenaios** · 09-07-2009, 23:39

Hmm. I think you are forgetting that the main bonus you get from a long pointy stick is that it's long. For example long enough that the horse doesn't get too near to you; hence that it can't trample you?

**A Terribly Harmful Name** · 09-08-2009, 00:25

Exactly. Otherwise, spears have no other inherent bonus against a cavalryman than an axe, for example.

And infantry already trounces cavalry in close melee, so there's no need to make it even more harder for them.

**antisocialmunky** · 09-08-2009, 03:12

The heavy pilum formation is meant to deter charges and allow legionaires from behind to javelin heavy cav as they made mock charges and stuff. I think it should be reflected somehow either by higher mass or perhaps some sort of small mount effect.

All legionaires need is some sort of deterrent against cavalry attacking them while formed up since cav will do massive damage to anything without spears in EBI and probably will be similar in EBII barring some sort of change in the shield/missile balance. Perhaps a solution could be increasing damage from their pilum volley against horses or something. Perhaps increase mass but just something to keep legionaires in their formation and standing from taking 20% casualties from a formed charge from the front and not being able to do MAD or anything to the horses. That's a just a tad unrealistic...

They don't have any protection against horses and any decent charging cav can do massive a damage to a cohort and just withdraw with most of their units intact.