Enhanced HPs or protection for cavalry?

[lampros69]

I've always thought cavalry should be harder to kill, because there is a chance for the "killing blow" to strike the mount instead of the rider. In fact, it is far more likely that ranged units would hit the mount, given that the mount is far larger than the rider. (Additionally, ranged units should have harder time hitting cavalry as a whole anyways, since they are moving at greater speed as well.) Unfortunately, games often do not depict this phenomenon - though I can think of several exceptions, with perhaps Warhammer Fantasy Battle being an outstanding example (especially when it comes out riders on a "monstrous" mount).

So how does RC deal with this issue? It obviously does not grant additional HPs to cavalry; in the alternative, then, does it grant them greater defense or armour? Or is the greater survivality of cavalry outright ignored or evaded?

[lampros69]

Hmmm, on the export descr_unit file, I do see that there is an HP number for mounts as well:

stat_health 1, 3

How does this factor into gameplay?

[Point Blank]

RC adds any armor worn by the mount to that of the rider. The amount added is less than for an equivalent armor type worn by the rider since the coverage is less uniform and typically lighter (ie not as thick). It's not an ideal mechanism, but the best that we can do. Cavalry are relatively easier than footmen to hit using missiles by about 50% explicitly, and they also have a larger model radius size which appears to have interaction with missile attacks.

Shooting at moving targets is a hard-coded process but does appear to be accounted for.

The '3' in stat_health is used to affect auto-resolution. It weights the combat value of the unit.

Please look at the RC2.0 Guide for info on the upcoming version. Cavalry has been well-balanced.

[lampros69]

RC adds any armor worn by the mount to that of the rider. The amount added is less than for an equivalent armor type worn by the rider since the coverage is less uniform and typically lighter (ie not as thick). It's not an ideal mechanism, but the best that we can do. Cavalry are relatively easier than footmen to hit using missiles by about 50% explicitly, and they also have a larger model radius size which appears to have interaction with missile attacks.

Shooting at moving targets is a hard-coded process but does appear to be accounted for.

The '3' in stat_health is used to affect auto-resolution. It weights the combat value of the unit.

Please look at the RC2.0 Guide for info on the upcoming version. Cavalry has been well-balanced.

Great; I understand now. Thanks.