Info on cavalry charges.

**Lusted** · November 09, 2006, 10:31 AM

Frm what i've observed in battles, the cavalry units need time to build up momentum for a charge. So you need to charge from far enough away for that momentum to be maintained. This makes the charge as effective as it should be. So before saying that cavalry is ineffective, make sure you are doing charges correctly.

**happyho** · November 09, 2006, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by Lusted

Frm what i've observed in battles, the cavalry units need time to build up momentum for a charge. So you need to charge from far enough away for that momentum to be maintained. This makes the charge as effective as it should be. So before saying that cavalry is ineffective, make sure you are doing charges correctly.

When charging from far away how well do the cavalrymen hold their formation? Do they break into a loose rabble if you charge from the right distance or do they maintain good unit cohesion? Meaning do they crash into the enemy in an unbroken line? Or do some lag behind while others get too far ahead of the rest of the company? Quite interested to know.

**Mahatma** · November 09, 2006, 10:48 AM

My biggest success with charges was using a wide formation of two ranks of 40 with the french cavalry, so I could get 40 horses dealing out a charge attack simultaneously. I haven't had much success with the wedge formation, what are the benefits of this?

Also, has anyone tried a combined cav/inf charge where the cavalry charge in first to do some melee damaged, quickly followed by masses of infantry to finish off the enemy. As many of you probably know, cavalry don't fair well in a prolonged melee vs infantry, so once your infantry charge in you can withdraw your cavalry and prepare them for another charge.

**General Dissaray** · November 09, 2006, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Mahatma

My biggest success with charges was using a wide formation of two ranks of 40 with the french cavalry, so I could get 40 horses dealing out a charge attack simultaneously. I haven't had much success with the wedge formation, what are the benefits of this?

Also, has anyone tried a combined cav/inf charge where the cavalry charge in first to do some melee damaged, quickly followed by masses of infantry to finish off the enemy. As many of you probably know, cavalry don't fair well in a prolonged melee vs infantry, so once your infantry charge in you can withdraw your cavalry and prepare them for another charge.

the wedge formation is used to get better penatration into a formation. Example, when you charge your cavalry into a formation in normal formation you get thru the first 2 lines of infantry or so. In wedge formation you should see them geting way deeper, near the middle of the infantry formation if your lucky. Not usefull for hit and run stile attacks beacouse you have to get your men out of their formation wich takes time and gets your guies killed most of the time, but if you are going to have them finish the deed it is perfect

Your combined taktic could work well if you time it just so. I perfer to do it the other way around though. Charge the infantry in to hold their attention and then slam the cavalry into them from a flank if I can or hed on if I have to. Then when they are ready to break and run I back off the horseies a little to give them room to run and then falow the cowerds with the cav to ensure no one gets any wize ideas about returning to the fight.

**Lusted** · November 09, 2006, 10:49 AM

If you time it right its a good line, but from too far away they turn into a bit of a rabble.

**jegui** · November 09, 2006, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Lusted

If you time it right its a good line, but from too far away they turn into a bit of a rabble.

Give us some distance/time measures... ie. 1/2 units away or crossbow range distance...

**ProudNerd** · November 09, 2006, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Lusted

If you time it right its a good line, but from too far away they turn into a bit of a rabble.

Sounds good! Nice and realstic.

**Scarlett Letterman** · November 09, 2006, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Lusted

If you time it right its a good line, but from too far away they turn into a bit of a rabble.

wow that sounds very cool. Adds another level of tactics.

cheers CA

**Legione** · November 09, 2006, 10:52 AM

I remember in the Otmba battle in the demo the cavalry charges were a big mess. About half the time they wouldn't even charge but gallop lazily into the battle out of formation, used to **** me off. Also do they maintain formation as a whole not just when charging? In Otumba the cavalry would spread out too much and as a result would get themselves killed. They were very difficult to use sometimes I may add.

**the Black Prince** · November 09, 2006, 12:58 PM

i've tried cav/inf at pavia, it works - very well! the german general charged some dismounted knights, did some heavy damage, then broke through their line, some zweihanders right on his heels fell on the knights when they were in total disarray. for best effect, the cav could charge through then turn round, but in this case the zweihanders had things well in hand, so i sent the general off after crossbowmen

**DougyM** · November 09, 2006, 01:37 PM

Keep in mind cavarly no matter how armoured were always vulnerable if they got dragged into prolonged combat with infantry.

Its a lot easier for a group of guys to surround a panicked horse and stab it and its rider than for a group of knights to try and maintain cohesion with one and other and fight at the same time.