Cavalry Charge: Bugged or Require Technique?

[chaostheory]

After a few days Im really having a blast with M2TW, I will even go as far saying it's the best game I've played in a while (despite the bugs etc).

But the cav charge really bugs me. When playing as Spain I really have a tough time using the cavalry to full potential. After reading some posts from .Org I found that cavalry does properly charged when the cav is in formation and in sync with each other before impact. This is evident in the case of Agincourt HB where AI can always pull a perfect charge(the sneak attack part)against my billmen which were facing them and always finished my billmen off.

But if the cav is out of formation and a single cav(or a few) reaches it's target the rest of group will stop charge and start using melee stance. As a result, low lvl spearmen in loose formation can effectively pwn the Cavalry...(what the)

The sync formation charge is somewhat hard to pull off because the terrain limitation and moving enemy which contributed the factor that wont gurantee the charge to hit the target in sync.

while I agree the notion that player should be reward with devastating power when successfully pulled a sync formation charge but normal and unsync charge should cause at least some good damage(still not as great as sync formation charge) instead of the current state

So, is the cavalry charge bugged or it just require alot technique?

[InferiorBeing]

I think the best answer would be: "Cavalry Charge: Bugged Because it Requires Technique"

[Tom Servo]

I used to think it was bugged too, i read a post by Lusted, i made it work once, then i never had a failed charge again. If the enemy is running away they will switch to swords, if you double click and dont give them time to lineup they will pause on the enemy and then switch to swords. Also dont give the same order to 3 different units at the same time. If you want 3-4 knights to charge a line dont put them in intersecting paths. Im telling you once you get this done two or three times you will just get used to it.

[sabremookie]

I used to think it was bugged too, i read a post by Lusted, i made it work once, then i never had a failed charge again. If the enemy is running away they will switch to swords, if you double click and dont give them time to lineup they will pause on the enemy and then switch to swords. Also dont give the same order to 3 different units at the same time. If you want 3-4 knights to charge a line dont put them in intersecting paths. Im telling you once you get this done two or three times you will just get used to it.

Does anyone know where I can find this post by lusted?

[scottn72]

A clear open path to the enemy really helps along with flattish terrain as Tom Servo pointed out.

Not entirely 100% convinced that there isn't anything wrong with it yet, it possibly needs tweaking a little, to allow conditions for a charge to be relaxed a little.

But once you've got it a few times it does get easier.

[chaostheory]

I see...thx for the advice

Maybe I should go practice in Custom battle before going into the campaign again. So basically it boils down to the follwing:

1. Make sure no obsticles between
2. Reasonable distance
3. Line up the cavs
4. make sure no intersect path btwn cavs
5 single click

sounds about right right??

And agree a bit relaxed condition is definitely welcome...

[scottn72]

Yep, that list should do it, try it out in a few custom games, can't do any harm, might do it myself to test it in different conditions, make sure i understand it as best as I can.

[SPARTAN VI]

Single click? I double click. A single click will make them march to the enemy. I usually spread out my cavalry in 2 lines, and then charge. Making them charge correctly in cities has proven to be difficult.

[Marine Hoplite]

the problem with working out how to do it in custom battles is that it works fine in custom battles. It's only in campaign battles that they go haywire and forget how to charge. It's definately a bug.

[scottn72]

Single click? I double click. A single click will make them march to the enemy. I usually spread out my cavalry in 2 lines, and then charge. Making them charge correctly in cities has proven to be difficult.

You need to do a single click, the will move towards their target and as they get closer they then lower their lances and start to charge, it's the same with infantry. Double click is now best used for moving them around quickly.

[HorseArcher]

here is an easier way, I posted this yesteday.

Give some space (or have space) between your cav and the enemy. When you want to charge, give them a double click move order behind the enemy, so your cavalry starts running towards them with their lancers upward. Just about 3 seconds to run through the enemy, single click on the enemy units. They will lower their spear and send some people flying in the air. Timing is everything.

I'm gonna post some screenies if you won't beleive me.

[Miraj]

I didn't get what people are complaining about cavalry charges either . I haven't noticed any problem with it. You just have to be more careful and conservative in how you use your heavy cav.

As the initial poster said its about technique. Your cavalry unit needs to be together and have no stray units out there. And obstacles (rocks, lone trees) decrease charge impact. And I think lots of people are just charge from too close or are charging in directions that the cav was not running towards (ie hard right/left turns). And the best things is to charge from a sufficently far distance and from a fully stopped start (ie no run/walk arrows on unit card).

In my Turkish campaign my one 40 horse general was able rout 3 rebel spear men through careful long distance charges. Charges are quite powerful in M2TW if you use your heavy cav correctly.

[Theoden]

Poor pathfinding of these units makes it hard to get them to form up properly sometimes, they always seem to spread out and not form lines.

[Lusted]

Interesting post at .org on how to do a good charge:

http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=72726

[snuggans]

Interesting post at .org on how to do a good charge:

http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=72726

i find it amusing how he thinks that the AI messes up on double click charges because they think its suicidal and they dont agree with you.

[eventhorizen]

Charging is incredibly difficult, requires alot of fine tuning and micromanagement, and even then still seems to be based on luck.

I think its a case that if you hang in there, you will eventually develop a few techniques for countering the bugs.

[killmore]

I have seen them charge (and heard "Charge!") with double click.
Yes it happens!

There is a bug here because nothing can explain why most of the time they charge and then change to swords before 5 feet in front of enemy.
If it is unit cohesion problem - maybe CA can fix it and charge will improve.
I tried charges in perfect conditions (single click etc..) - again most of the time they just change to swords.

Is there a way to "see" charge radius? (like a circle etc) How Do I know what it is?
If "difficult charge" is a feature - then this is a design bug. Let make AI dummer here so we can charge easily!
Or make it smarted so single click causes it prepare for a charge and then charge!

[king-nord]

er cavlary charge agaisnt infantry with normal size units leaves enemy infantry with 10 left. i find cavalry charge too powerful

[Endeav]

I'm pretty sure if you single click then push R they will run towards the enemy and still charge. Works for me everytime anyhow, I don't double click cause it brings me bad luck :o

[PandaRegent]

For me the single click charges work, but when in a rush I usually doubleclick the intended target, then after the impact, make them charge another unit that was behind them. Usually encourages routs.