[Keir Maxwell]

Hiya,

After failing to get Alex's mod off the dom library I quickly made up my own for Tien Ch'i and came up with what I believe to be an important break through in dealing with quality LC - fear.

The difficulty of simulating LC as that they are not involved in full on frontal combat but instead ride in shooting, throwing javelins, feint charges etc. High defense can simulate how hard LC are to catch but its harder to simulate the impact of the LC which is primarily on the cohesion/morale of the units attacked. If the LC involved are of low to moderate quality they will cause a few casulties but are unlikely to shake steady opponents. On the other hand if the LC involved are fierce and keen to close when the opportunity presents the results were described by ancients as terrifying.

So give low to moderate quality LC high defence, as Alex has suggested, to make it hard to shift and give the hard buggers (Huns, Xiongnu, Turkomans, Mongols, Szekeler etc) a fear ability to represent the greater stress they could apply. This is not just about fear but about representing the overall impact of aggressive LC.

So my Tien C'hi Barbarian Kingdoms mod gives the LC bucklers, raising both defense and prot, I've raised precision to 11 (ouch), removed the lance, tinkered with res cost and added fear -4 (good for pillaging). I've given the other cav precison 9 - lower than the LC to reflect the impact of heavy armor on shooting from horseback.

The changes in equipment and precision are to my understanding more accurate for what is being modeled and provide the HC with a clear role - the shock - while the LC are the multi role troops - generally either delaying and shooting or else attacking the flank. While there were lunatic LC with lance I have not heard that the Xiongnu of similar steppe nomads fought this way. My understanding is that the standard is a light lance able to be thrown and better classified as a spear till the weapon mod comes out - then I'll give them scimitars and a one shot light lance.

I'll do a bit of play testing then post the mod. Should provide me with the basic mounted troop types for the Easterling WoTR mod.

cheers

Keir