Mounted Combat Discussion

Stirrups should allow for charge and the ability to equip twohanded weapons rather than improving AP and attack speed.

But yes, horses should be improved upon.

I don't know.  In the last beta, I got a lot of movement bonuses from tech research.  Adding three more potential movement points make these mounted unit move like jet fighters in Civilization games.

Finesse might work, if it enhances the fantasy aspect of the game.  Units could become so fast that it's supernatural--faster than any normal human could move.  Such that only supernatural opponents can face them.  But, that wouldn't come from technology research.  (In tactical combat now, one movement point equals one time or one attack.  This would change movements into action points, where one attack might equal .2 action points, for example)

To add more bonus-imparting items to the research tree and equipment, while maintaining the current scale of how speed works, would require lowering the speed bonuses of other items.  So, existing +1 bonuses would change to +.5.  I might like this, if it allowed further specialization.  It would be like zooming way in on how speed works.

I'd rather see special attacks in tactical combat mode, like Cavalry Charge.  A mounted unit could pass through the enemy unit while attacking, with a possibility to knock the enemy back as well.

I'd rather that research didn't increase overland movement.

Maybe one tech that increases movement by 1 ... but I see movement itself as being much more static than speed or finesse.

As for Stirrups ... the best thing about stirrups is the ability to stand while riding a horse. This is best for using LongBows.

I can see how it would be useful in a charge too though.

I forgot to mention, I think Mounted units should be "immune" to counter attacks. Only spear-equipped units and other mounted units may counter attack a cavalry attack.

Stirrups enabled people to use bows and lean forward and absorb a charge from horseback. Until that they ust ran into the crowd and attacked with swords and spears. And bows are 2h and therefore would require stirrups to be used along a horse.

So choppin' off the horse's legs is not a counterattack? Splitting the entire horse's knee with a sledge is not a counter attack? Cutting of the thigh artery with a dagger is not a counter attack? Of course you should be able to counter horses. The reason that spears and halberds are better irl is that they can knock off the rider and kill the horse from a distance since horses aren't all that small, and amad horse is best kept a spearlength away.

The point is to make the mobile forces (first attackers) ... not saying that they can't be attacked but simply not on their turn. Of you disagree, that is fine.

Of course ... being immune to counter attack could simply be a special passive ability that a mounted champion could learn on level up.

Now, with Spear units, due to the long range ... I could see them counter attacking BEFORE the mounted unit attacks, but only if the mounted unit is not using a Spear or Lance.

The long reach should be an ability of spears/lances that gives them the first attack. (Someone said that earlier, was it you by chance? ) This would disregard ranged etc.

Horses should give some defense though, since it is harder to hit a person who is 1 meter above you.

Horses should also increase the cost of a unit by gold, and increase its gold wage too (probably by +0.1)

Right now mounted units definitely need some love. Having Horses/Wargs just be a flat +1 movement bonus sucks.

Yea, I'd prefer +1 (or 2) overland movement and +4 speed