I had a play with my mod for improving the mounted in the Barbarian Kingdom. The mod does the following:
LC
#prec 11
#def 12
#gcost 22
#rcost 13
#armor "Buckler"
#armor "Full Leather Armor"
#armor "Helmet"
#fear -4
I wanted to take the lance away but with the #clear command not working that will have to wait. The fear is to represent the impact of agressive LC on opponents cohesion and morale. Note the def of 12 is the base and is modified up to 15 by equipment and the mount and thats what you see.
HC
#prec 9
#gcost 30
#rcost 32
#armor "Full Chain Mail"
The up armouring is to bring them closer to their armour rating in the ancients systems I know (mainly WRG) in which they are either heavily armoured or cataphracts - both probably with horse armour. As there is no Lamillar armour and horse armour is not represented I figured a final prot of 17 was ok.
The lower prec of the HC is to reflect the greater difficulty in shooting in heavy armour. It might be a bit harsh.
The Test - a quickly thrown together race aimed at having strong scales.
Auway the Lady of Fortune Nature2, water 3, dom5
turmoil2, prod2, growth3, luck3, magic1
Castle
Dragons Eye (no wrap around), indie6, events commen, 12 impossible ai's.
I would raise the prod next time, lower the magic and probably take Prince of Death as it feels more appropriate to the way the race plays - ie the big undead presence and the early rush.
I built LC and spearmen (for arrow catching) early and by turn 7 had switched to HC and LC. Attacked the first indie on turn two and expansion went smooth.
Luck provided a national hero on the second and third turns and went on to give some death gems, lots of militia, +10 res, some odds and ends and cost me my first conquered province to some vinemen - I took it back with little trouble. Then from turn 11 to 24 I have had bonus events all bar one turn and two most. I have also lost 2000 pop to a flood and 1700 to immigration in minor provinces - I've lost more than that pillaging. Weighed against plus 30 gps income in my home province, a one off 500gps, and lots more gems it been clearly better than bad and by quite along way. Lots of Militia where feed to the enemy which was not without its value. Still wish that event was less commen and you got always Zealots not militia who should just be a def increase. Anyone keen enough to volunteer for to fight for the cause should have vaguely decent morale.
Started in the NW cornor and by turn 11 had cleaned up everything up to my immediate neighbour Pythium - 10 provinces including two bigguns. Delayed a few months to assemble more cavalry and get good numbers of Spirits to the front. Attacked in a pincer movement from the west and east threatening Pythiums capital and Pythium responded by counter attacking in the middle with a big army lead by the Prince of Death. I held my ground on the flanks and fell back in the middle. I then closed in behind by taking their capital. The PoD died shortly after and I chased the left over elements of the break through around for a couple of turns. In the eastern cornor I cleaned up until Orion showed up with his Knights but a regroup and counter attack saw them shoot down by the ever larger bodies of LC. Same turn Pythiums capital fell and at present they have but one province and no army. Its t.24, gold 1137, and leading the way in most stats - especially gold and provinces.
So how have the Cavalry gone?
The LC are great. The most important improvement is the prec increase as this allows them to perform their primary function - shooting. However these guys are not like foot archers. When the few surviving enemy get to them they get lanced down and flee from the extra morale tests caused by the fear - at least thats how I interprete what I'm seeing.
The HC are proving very useful and 3 of them broke down the flank of Pythiums main counter attack in a battle I lost but still chased off 1/3 of their large armour and it had no where to retreat.
At present I'm using big units in the middle on fire with LC to their flanks and this works well. Sometimes I send a small body on a flank attack using hold and attack enemy rear. I haven't had to be to be too imaginative but a number of different possiblities occur.
Mound Kings lead Spirits plus bring the reserves up, A Khan for each major army (just because), and a mage for each major army. My first Khan is my prophet and has quickness. Boots of flying for the mags is very important for speed and then you can leave behind the HI and rely on the HC for doing the grunt work.
I pillaged a fair bit in dodgy border provinces. One example is 17LC plus a Khan getting 85gps in a ~7000 province and killing 1700 people. Returns drop over the next couple of turns.
I have also patrolled quite alot. Making up for gold shortage (compulsary turmoil) by having fast moving troops who can redeploy when needed and pillage or patrol otherwise seems to work well.
Problems.
The LC seem too good. The problem is the combo of having the lance and the fear. Hit the enemy with lances then make them take extra morale tests with fear - nasty. I will drop the lance with the next patch but till then the fear is out.
The Strengths.
The LC work now. Sure they are gold expensive but their abilty to rout opponents who make it all the way to them makes them much better than normal archers in a 1on1 comparision. They are a troop type which is very multi-functional but still good at its primary role - shooting.
The HC work in their role. They now have enough armour to behave as shock and not get shot to pieces by the LC while pursuing - a thorny issue previously.
The best thing is that I'm using armies made up overwhelmingly of Barbarian Horse and its working. I'm a very happy man.
Previously I have had to depend alot on foot archer and spear with BK which doesn't feel right.
Add in the syncrhoncity with the whole Mound King/Spirits thing and its all very maneuverable and with many threats.
Keir
[ January 16, 2004, 11:19: Message edited by: Keir Maxwell ]
Barbarian Kingdom mod test
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