army composition

[Knight of the Rose]

Don't get me wrong, Nubians are close to worthless. They only hold limited value in early and in the desert. I still believe higher numbers and higher morale give them some staying power. But UM in their flank will take them down, so they are to be used carefully.

As to different playing styles: I use spearmen either in the middle of formations to recieve the AI's (never playing MP) cavalry charge, or inf. charge. Then I use other units to engage the troops the spears have pinned through not breaking.

On the flanks, the AI usually likes to place some cav. Like you, I prefer to engage these either with cav of my own, or to lure them to my spears with HA. Therefore my spears don't run around, or engage other inf. in the battles where I can control the relative setup.

Where it gets funny is offcause the battles where you either have a substandard army, or is outnumbered, or is placed at the bottom of a slope. In these cases the Nubians lack the versatility of cav and regular inf. When used as 'flank cover' as you put it, they can very easily be either surrounded or engaged in an akward position.

So I think we agree, they're not useless, just close to



/KotR

[bondovic]

So I think we agree, they're not useless, just close to
/KotR

What you said. But do you further agree that a 'large' shield makes sense?

[Knight of the Rose]

Large shield would make sense as it would keep the 'desert warrior' touch and give a small defence bonus. It would also make them a little less flexible, but being charged from the rear spells death for almost any unit. Go for it

/KotR

[caravel]

What you said. But do you further agree that a 'large' shield makes sense?

The large shield gives 2 points of armour and 2 points of defence. Nubian Spearmen are actually Feudal Sergeants with one point less charge and one point less defence and armour (due to the small shield). But they are also disciplined. Adding the large shield is probably a good idea - though cosmetically the shield will remain the same size. I once modded them into spear/javelin hybrids and that worked quite well.

[PershsNhpios]

I haven't vast experience with the Mamluk armies (I don't envy their position and I don't like seeing my knights flounder before them in the Hejaz), but I will note my love for one of their units in particular:

The Saharan Cavalry!

Though not worth recruiting in Navarre for 600 florins on the mercenary market, apart from Andalucian Cavalry (Which aren't vanilla anyway), I have never used cavalry to such wonderful effect outside the Turkic horse!
They are fast as horse archers and seemingly more powerful on the offensive than Hobilars and such, especially when they are in the desert element. Their lack of weight may easily be compensated for by their disposable nature.
Whenever I have the chance I will have great wings of these cavalrymen on either side of a manipular-sized body of heavy infantry, and I will conquer in any climate with them.

[HopAlongBunny]

Saharan Cav are indeed underrated and too often overlooked

Fast and annoying; can valour up to become absolute killers; disengage from fatigued foot (or cav) and set up a beautiful 1-2 with the slower camels. I learned to respect them as a Catholic and appreciate them as the Egyptians.

Despite their lack of missile weapons they can be used as a "proximity lure".

[Empirate]

I absolutely love fast cavalry, and as such, Saharans never disappoint. Easily spammable, highly useful, very cheap, and a valor +1 province (Cyrenaica, a province absolutely worthless in most other regards): what's not to love?
Recruited from Cyrenaica with a Master Horsebreeder, Saharans can give you a very powerful fast response force. They're the ultimate opportunists: hang around the flanks, charge where an enemy is engaged, withdraw, charge again, chase some routers, return to wreak more havoc. Even only two of these are worth having in your army. Six to eight are terrifying. More are probably too much of a drain on your staying power, though.

That said, in their standard issue form, I like Steppe Cavalry even more. They're slightly more durable with 1 more point of defense and armor, and they have a more powerful charge (6 as opposed to 4). This allows them to bring to bear more of an immediate impact, and can sometimes be useful against semi-heavy units, as well. The price difference is negligible (both units are dirt cheap, basically).
But Steppe Cavalry doesn't have a valor +1 province, so all in all, Cyrenaican Saharans make it to the top.

BTW: If only Alan Mercenary Cavalry were regularly recruitable!