Sword and spear cav??

[ahmed5]

Is there any difference between cavs armed wth spears and cavs armed with sword? Are spears better at punching through??

thanks

[Hader]

I'm not sure, but it seems like the spear cavalry are better for the charge since they can get an extra effect with those spears coming at the men so fast. All spear armed cavalry are armed with swords I think.

[Xiaodun]

To my knowledge, spear cavalry have a greater charge factor while the swords have a better attack. The spears can be used for the first charge, but if they get bogged down they die easily. Swords have less of a charge but can still pack a punch even if they are bogged down (supposedly

[Seasoned Alcoholic]

As others have mentioned, spears are useful for the initial impact of the charge. However, cavalry units that don't carry swords (it usually tells you this in the unit description if you right click the unit card) are more vunerable in melee against opposition that do carry melee weapons.

I'm also sure that the mass of the mount (EG horse, camel etc) comes into play with the charge bonus. Obviously heavier horse types like Cataphracts for example carry a lot more mass (or weight), and will typically fare better with charges whilst armed with spears / lances.

RTW does lack some cavalry skeletons IMO, a two-handed spear / lance skeleton would've been both awesome and historically correct for some units, EG the kontos two-handed lance used by the Sarmatians. Imagine the impact with a two-handed rather than single-handed lance; there would be impalings all round

[Slimshoom]

Spear Cavalry are better at the first charge, and can be absolutely devastating while in the wedge formation, a single group of spear cav can swing the momentum of a battle. Sword cav, while still having a very effective charge, as do all cav units, it is not as effective as spear cav's.

Sword Cavalry is more effective at prolonged melee combat and generally have better armor. Neither types of cav are better than each other, its just both are made and do better in specific types of combat situation. But, in a cav fight between sword and spear without any other extenuating(sp?) circumstances, spear cav would probably win.

[Hader]

Spear Cavalry are better at the first charge, and can be absolutely devastating while in the wedge formation, a single group of spear cav can swing the momentum of a battle. Sword cav, while still having a very effective charge, as do all cav units, it is not as effective as spear cav's.

Sword Cavalry is more effective at prolonged melee combat and generally have better armor. Neither types of cav are better than each other, its just both are made and do better in specific types of combat situation. But, in a cav fight between sword and spear without any other extenuating(sp?) circumstances, spear cav would probably win.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Basically, Spear-cavalry are built for the charge but not melle, and sword cavalry are biult for melee but not the charge. That's about all there is to it. Oh, and Slimshoom, congrats on becoming a civitate.

[Seasoned Alcoholic]

I think the Cataphracts' combination of spears and maces is lethal. If you Alt right-click when in melee with Cataphracts, they simply cut through anything with those maces, if only the AI made use of it