Tips for newbs - just add

[thejeff]

If flanking could work even semi reliably or if light cavalry could skirmish, firing and staying out of close combat, then it would be useful.

Once in a while cavalry well actually get past the front line and reach the unprotected rear, but far more often they'll close with the heavies in front and light cavalry gets slaughtered there.

Using light cavalry as archers is pointless, since you're paying a premium for troops that have no real advantage over cheap foot archers. Sure, light cavalry can beat barbarians because they've done some damage with their bows before the barbarians can close and the high defense helps them survive, but 4-5 times as many foot archers would have routed the barbarians before they closed.

I'll admit a fondness for some of the heavy archer units. LA T'ien Chi Cavalry and LA Man's Defenders come to mind.