Enhancing Horses (updated 26th Jan 2007)
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Ash nazg durbatuluk
Recruit
Does anyone know if there are any plans by the devs to introduce some of these into the game? Considering what an essential part horses play in Mount & Blade, I'd love to see some of these in game.
Lo
Regular
I think that we should definately add some more life into the horses. For example, the horses in the game shouldn't just take it when the rider makes them gallop for the whole duration of the battle. You have to expect a few bucks, take-offs, etc and I'm sure that there would be more of these in a battle (where there are tons of things to scare the horses) than on a jump course. The rider's postition in the jump should also be changed, from a kind of slouch into a proper two-point or perhaps a cross-country style jump.
Also, the horse should be able to pick up the canter from a halt or walk, instead of having to hold down the W key waiting for your speed to reach the max. The "spirited" horses should be able to make the transition faster and the "heavy" ones should have a bit harder of a time, perhaps.
Each horse should also have its own little quirks, like wanting to chase other horses or lean on the turns. They should also have different traits like being a good jumper or having more stamina/speed etc.
Just something to think about!
Also, the horse should be able to pick up the canter from a halt or walk, instead of having to hold down the W key waiting for your speed to reach the max. The "spirited" horses should be able to make the transition faster and the "heavy" ones should have a bit harder of a time, perhaps.
Each horse should also have its own little quirks, like wanting to chase other horses or lean on the turns. They should also have different traits like being a good jumper or having more stamina/speed etc.
Just something to think about!
Lo said:
yes I think the horses need more animations such as more
idle animations like looking around, shaking their head, stamping a foot and resting a hindfoot.
more rider and horse animations too. the riders never even acknowledge their horses (or seem to realize they are riding)
they would have a pretty strong relationship, just a pat/friendly slap.
and it would be great if they could lash out if someone hit them with a weapon; kick, buck, bite, rear, or run away (rider looses control for a bit or totally if damage to the horse is a lot)
and i agree with the idea of light horses being able to jump into a canter that would be great!! (not heavy armoured horses though)
and horses taking control when they are going straight for a tree/objects/other horses and going around would be beautiful.
and seriously get rid of rider requirement, you should be able to ride any horse doesn't mean your going to stay on it though
dodgy riders/cav should fall offbut I am doubtful of these things happening, but who knows, some amazing mods have been made by people here on taleworlds.
Lo
Regular
wanderer949 said:yes I think the horses need more animations such as more
idle animations like looking around, shaking their head, stamping a foot and resting a hindfoot.
more rider and horse animations too. the riders never even acknowledge their horses (or seem to realize they are riding)
they would have a pretty strong relationship, just a pat/friendly slap.
and it would be great if they could lash out if someone hit them with a weapon; kick, buck, bite, rear, or run away (rider looses control for a bit or totally if damage to the horse is a lot)
and i agree with the idea of light horses being able to jump into a canter that would be great!! (not heavy armoured horses though)
and horses taking control when they are going straight for a tree/objects/other horses and going around would be beautiful.
and seriously get rid of rider requirement, you should be able to ride any horse doesn't mean your going to stay on it though
but I am doubtful of these things happening, but who knows, some amazing mods have been made by people here on taleworlds.
Yes, the rider requirement really doesn't have much point. I'd like it if it were less percent to fall off, or something. And I think that maybe the horse's tail/mane/forlock should move when you go faster, and not just as a big rectangular clump. Also, bridles and proper equipment rather than just a halter would be great.
Charles du Lac
Sergeant at Arms
I found this info on the web, (sites credited below).
Can we get real War Horses, that follow us around if we dismount, that fight for us? They already do damage by charging, just make them do it on purpose like one of your troops, also with a rear and kick ability for fighting.
Knight on a Horse
Facts and interesting information about the life and times of the
Medieval Knights of England - Knight on a Horse
Knighthood as we know it probably began around the year 800. Knights were an important element of feudalism, a pyramid of power, with God at the top, the king under him, lords and barons under the king, and at the bottom , the numerous serfs who did the labor. Males above the serf class were expected to perform military service as a knight.
When the Normans defeated the English in 1066 and took over Britain, they brought their system of feudalism with them. Knights would protect the interests of their lords in exchange for money or land. A mounted knight, covered with armor and mounted on a sturdy steed, was considered the ultimate fighting machine at the time. The knight’s body was almost completely protected with metal plates held together with screws, straps, buckles, and hinges that could weigh well over 100 pounds in all.
Good war horses were in great demand and were very expensive. The horse had to be strong enough to carry the armored knight long distances and be capable of maneuvering in battle with quick attacks. It also had to be bold and courageous, willing to plunge headlong into the confusion and violence of war.
So what breed of horse was this indomitable destrier? Equine historians have debated this topic for years. Some believe the war horses were huge beasts standing 18 hands tall, ancestors of breeds like the Shire, Belgian, and Percheron. More recent evidence, however, suggests that the medieval war horses were of average height – 14 or 15 hands, and while they were certainly stout and muscular, they didn’t have nearly the girth of a modern draft horse.
How do they know this? Saddles, armor, and other items the horses wore have been measured and compared with modern equine equipment. The old fittings indicate that these legendary steeds were about the same size as the modern stock horse, perhaps comparable to a muscular Quarter Horse of foundation breeding.
The modern horse breeds that best fit the descriptions of the ancient war horse of Europe are the Friesian, the Holstein, and the Norman. A sub-breed of the Norman, the Norman Cob, is most likely the closest descendant of the mount the knight rode into battle.
How did a more or less average-sized horse carry a knight and his heavy armor? Humans in Europe were much smaller during the Middle Ages than they are today. The average man was only about 5’3” and weighed about 120 pounds. Add 100 pounds of armor to that, and you get 220 pounds. A short, stocky horse of average height, with good bone and muscling, would have no problem carrying the weight. A horse can fairly easily carry 20% of its own weight. If these chargers weighed 1,200 pounds, a burden of 220 pounds would certainly not be too much for them to bear.
We may never know exactly what breed the knights rode, or what modern breeds carry their bloodlines. From the evidence that has been recovered, however, along with the weight theory, we know that the animals were probably not the ancestors of our modern draft giants.
A war horse's training would generally address its responsiveness to being controlled without reins, tolerance for the noises of battle, and its adaptability to weapons and armor the rider would be using.
In addition, some war horses were trained to kick on command at its enemy, thus becoming weapons in the extended arsenal of the warriors they carried.
A common misconception is that a war horse is simply a horse in armor. In fact, much training was required to overcome the horse's natural aversion to the smell of blood, and its natural disinclination to trample a person.
Medieval horses were defined by their confirmation and the role they were intended to be used for. There were highly refined and trained Destriers, smooth gaited Palfreys, long winded and strong Coursers, and general purpose Rouncies. In addition, ponies, mules and donkeys also played a vital role in society of the period. Since the scope of this article is to inform briefly about medieval horses, I'll limit myself to broad generalizations about a few types of horses. The reader wanting more detailed information should choose and read some of the books listed in the bibliography which is in another part of this web site. A number of those books deal specifically with the breeding and use of medieval horses.
Destrier- In the middle ages this referred to a well, bred, highly trained stallion used as a war or tournament horse. In the modern sense our closest equivalent is the high school dressage horse. This animal is a specialist mount, they were rare and very expensive even in the middle ages.
Palfrey- This is a well bred horse that was bred for general purpose riding, war and for travel. In the middle ages these were often gaited horses, but this is not necessarily an absolute requirement. If you were a person of substance in the middle ages, this is the horse you'd most likely own. Very finely bred mules were often bred for ladies or clergy and called Palfreys. These horses were also called Jennets, or Jenet (Fr.).
Courser- This is a catch-all description of a good cavalry horse in the middle ages. According to at least one recent book on the subject on medieval war horses, this was the most common type of horse used in warfare. Coursers were steady, long winded horses. They wouldn't be as refined or well trained as a Destrier, but then they didn't cost as much either. In the modern era, we'd call them endurance horses, hunters or working ranch horses.
Rouncy- This application fits general purpose combined work/riding horses. Rouncies were common grade horses of no particular breeding or training except that they were indispensable in getting from point A to point B and did the bulk of muscle work people called upon horses to perform. Another name they are referred to is as Hackneys. Does the modern expression "Hack Horse" have any meaning to you?
Knight on a Horse
A Knight on a Horse was a fearsome opponent. His war horse was called a destrier which were used by all the wealthy Medieval Knights. The destrier was brought to England by William the Conqueror following his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. A horse played an extremely important part in the life of a Medieval knight.
A Medieval Knight and his Horse
A Medieval knight would own several horses which were built and used for his different duties. The Medieval knight's horses ranged in variety of sizes starting with a palfrey, or an ambler, for general travelling purposes. Bigger and stronger horses were required as warhorses. The Courser was the most sought after and expensive warhorse, owned by the most wealthy knights. The more common warhorses were like modern hunters, known in Medieval Times as a Destrier.
Knight on a Horse - Description of a Warhorse
The warhorse owned by a Medieval knight had a dense rounded body with a broad back, strong loins, powerful hind-quarters, and long legs with dense bones. The colors of such horses ranged from black, brown, bay, or gray. These war horses sometimes had long silky hair (often white) on the lower parts of its legs. A Medieval knight on a horse wearing full armor required a massive animal and theses warhorses measured in excess of 24 hands tall.
Medieval Knight on a Horse - The Warhorse
A Medieval Knight on horse had a warhorse specially trained for use in battle or individual combat at jousting tournaments. Such a war horse needed the strength and stamina to carry both a knight and his heavy armor into battle during the Medieval times. Theses warhorses also trained to become a battle horse - able to inflict injury on the enemy. A Knight on Horse had to undergo significant training. A warhorse was trained to:
Carry a knight and respond to a Knight's commands from leg pressure rather than reins
A knight needed his hands to wield his weapons and hold his shield
A war horse was trained to trample the bodies of fallen enemies
The war-horse was trained to bite and kick on command
Horse Armor called Barding
Medieval war horses were protected by rigid pieces of plate armor made of both of leather and steel. Horse armor was called 'barding'. A full dressed Medieval Knight on Horse would be armored on the head, neck, body and chest. The rear of the war horse would be covered with a padded cloth. Stirrups were added later. The head armor of a warhorse was often highly decorated and spike horns were added to the mask armor resembling the look of a legendary unicorn. An ornamented cloth covering for a war horse was called a trapper.
Original Knight on Horse breed is now extinct
The original breeds of warhorses are now extinct, but recently horses have been bred from Clydesdales and Quarterhorses to reproduce a type similar to that used by the Knight on Horse. They are the largest breed of horse, standing from 20 to 24 hands tall, with a thicker build than Clydesdales with less fur.
Medieval Knights
Medieval Knights
The Medieval period was dominated by the feudal system and the role of the Medieval knights and their servants. Articles about their life, living conditions, clothing, weapons, training, armor, tournaments and jousts of the Medieval Knights can be found in this section. When we think of the Medieval times the first thought often takes us to the Medieval knights and their ladies. It was the duty of a Medieval Knight to learn how to fight and so serve their liege Lord according to the Code of Chivalry. But this was an extremely violent era in European and English history. Weapon practise included enhancing skills in the two-handed sword, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance. A Knight would be expected to guard a Castle and support his liege lord in Medieval warfare. Details of the life of Medieval knights in a castle, together with castle warfare, are covered in the section about Medieval Castles.
Knighthood & Knights in Medieval Times
To gain Knighthood in Medieval Times was a long and arduous task. Knighthood was not bestowed purely because a young man was the son of a noble. There were many steps to achieving a knighthood, requiring years of training. The steps towards achieving a knighthood started with training as a page and then as a squire, also referred to as esquire. The sons of Nobles, except those who were destined to take Holy Orders, were placed in the service of the great Lords of the land. These sons of the Medieval nobles were sent to live in the castle of their liege lord and commence their education as a Knight and learn the skills required as a Medieval Knight.
Becoming a Knight - Equestrian Skills
The knighthood training of both the Pages and the Squires of the Middle Ages continued with acquiring excellent equestrian skills. A horse played an extremely important part in the life of a knight. A knight would own several horses which were built for different duties. These knights ranged in various sizes starting with a palfrey, or an ambler for general travelling purposes. Bigger and stronger horses were required as warhorses. The Courser was the most sought after and expensive warhorse, owned by the most wealthy knights. The more common warhorses were like modern hunters, known then as Destriers. The apprentice knights would learn how to ride and control their horses and the art of this type of warfare. Starting with small ponies they would hone their equestrian skills in their Knighthood training. The pages and squires were also expected to play their part of caring for the horses in the stables.
http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-knights/index.htm
the Medieval Fiefdom Web Site http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/
http://www.pets-of-the-realm.com/war-horse.html
Facts and interesting information about the life and times of the
Medieval Knights of England - Knight on a Horse
Knighthood as we know it probably began around the year 800. Knights were an important element of feudalism, a pyramid of power, with God at the top, the king under him, lords and barons under the king, and at the bottom , the numerous serfs who did the labor. Males above the serf class were expected to perform military service as a knight.
When the Normans defeated the English in 1066 and took over Britain, they brought their system of feudalism with them. Knights would protect the interests of their lords in exchange for money or land. A mounted knight, covered with armor and mounted on a sturdy steed, was considered the ultimate fighting machine at the time. The knight’s body was almost completely protected with metal plates held together with screws, straps, buckles, and hinges that could weigh well over 100 pounds in all.
Good war horses were in great demand and were very expensive. The horse had to be strong enough to carry the armored knight long distances and be capable of maneuvering in battle with quick attacks. It also had to be bold and courageous, willing to plunge headlong into the confusion and violence of war.
So what breed of horse was this indomitable destrier? Equine historians have debated this topic for years. Some believe the war horses were huge beasts standing 18 hands tall, ancestors of breeds like the Shire, Belgian, and Percheron. More recent evidence, however, suggests that the medieval war horses were of average height – 14 or 15 hands, and while they were certainly stout and muscular, they didn’t have nearly the girth of a modern draft horse.
How do they know this? Saddles, armor, and other items the horses wore have been measured and compared with modern equine equipment. The old fittings indicate that these legendary steeds were about the same size as the modern stock horse, perhaps comparable to a muscular Quarter Horse of foundation breeding.
The modern horse breeds that best fit the descriptions of the ancient war horse of Europe are the Friesian, the Holstein, and the Norman. A sub-breed of the Norman, the Norman Cob, is most likely the closest descendant of the mount the knight rode into battle.
How did a more or less average-sized horse carry a knight and his heavy armor? Humans in Europe were much smaller during the Middle Ages than they are today. The average man was only about 5’3” and weighed about 120 pounds. Add 100 pounds of armor to that, and you get 220 pounds. A short, stocky horse of average height, with good bone and muscling, would have no problem carrying the weight. A horse can fairly easily carry 20% of its own weight. If these chargers weighed 1,200 pounds, a burden of 220 pounds would certainly not be too much for them to bear.
We may never know exactly what breed the knights rode, or what modern breeds carry their bloodlines. From the evidence that has been recovered, however, along with the weight theory, we know that the animals were probably not the ancestors of our modern draft giants.
A war horse's training would generally address its responsiveness to being controlled without reins, tolerance for the noises of battle, and its adaptability to weapons and armor the rider would be using.
In addition, some war horses were trained to kick on command at its enemy, thus becoming weapons in the extended arsenal of the warriors they carried.
A common misconception is that a war horse is simply a horse in armor. In fact, much training was required to overcome the horse's natural aversion to the smell of blood, and its natural disinclination to trample a person.
Medieval horses were defined by their confirmation and the role they were intended to be used for. There were highly refined and trained Destriers, smooth gaited Palfreys, long winded and strong Coursers, and general purpose Rouncies. In addition, ponies, mules and donkeys also played a vital role in society of the period. Since the scope of this article is to inform briefly about medieval horses, I'll limit myself to broad generalizations about a few types of horses. The reader wanting more detailed information should choose and read some of the books listed in the bibliography which is in another part of this web site. A number of those books deal specifically with the breeding and use of medieval horses.
Destrier- In the middle ages this referred to a well, bred, highly trained stallion used as a war or tournament horse. In the modern sense our closest equivalent is the high school dressage horse. This animal is a specialist mount, they were rare and very expensive even in the middle ages.
Palfrey- This is a well bred horse that was bred for general purpose riding, war and for travel. In the middle ages these were often gaited horses, but this is not necessarily an absolute requirement. If you were a person of substance in the middle ages, this is the horse you'd most likely own. Very finely bred mules were often bred for ladies or clergy and called Palfreys. These horses were also called Jennets, or Jenet (Fr.).
Courser- This is a catch-all description of a good cavalry horse in the middle ages. According to at least one recent book on the subject on medieval war horses, this was the most common type of horse used in warfare. Coursers were steady, long winded horses. They wouldn't be as refined or well trained as a Destrier, but then they didn't cost as much either. In the modern era, we'd call them endurance horses, hunters or working ranch horses.
Rouncy- This application fits general purpose combined work/riding horses. Rouncies were common grade horses of no particular breeding or training except that they were indispensable in getting from point A to point B and did the bulk of muscle work people called upon horses to perform. Another name they are referred to is as Hackneys. Does the modern expression "Hack Horse" have any meaning to you?
Knight on a Horse
A Knight on a Horse was a fearsome opponent. His war horse was called a destrier which were used by all the wealthy Medieval Knights. The destrier was brought to England by William the Conqueror following his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. A horse played an extremely important part in the life of a Medieval knight.
A Medieval Knight and his Horse
A Medieval knight would own several horses which were built and used for his different duties. The Medieval knight's horses ranged in variety of sizes starting with a palfrey, or an ambler, for general travelling purposes. Bigger and stronger horses were required as warhorses. The Courser was the most sought after and expensive warhorse, owned by the most wealthy knights. The more common warhorses were like modern hunters, known in Medieval Times as a Destrier.
Knight on a Horse - Description of a Warhorse
The warhorse owned by a Medieval knight had a dense rounded body with a broad back, strong loins, powerful hind-quarters, and long legs with dense bones. The colors of such horses ranged from black, brown, bay, or gray. These war horses sometimes had long silky hair (often white) on the lower parts of its legs. A Medieval knight on a horse wearing full armor required a massive animal and theses warhorses measured in excess of 24 hands tall.
Medieval Knight on a Horse - The Warhorse
A Medieval Knight on horse had a warhorse specially trained for use in battle or individual combat at jousting tournaments. Such a war horse needed the strength and stamina to carry both a knight and his heavy armor into battle during the Medieval times. Theses warhorses also trained to become a battle horse - able to inflict injury on the enemy. A Knight on Horse had to undergo significant training. A warhorse was trained to:
Carry a knight and respond to a Knight's commands from leg pressure rather than reins
A knight needed his hands to wield his weapons and hold his shield
A war horse was trained to trample the bodies of fallen enemies
The war-horse was trained to bite and kick on command
Horse Armor called Barding
Medieval war horses were protected by rigid pieces of plate armor made of both of leather and steel. Horse armor was called 'barding'. A full dressed Medieval Knight on Horse would be armored on the head, neck, body and chest. The rear of the war horse would be covered with a padded cloth. Stirrups were added later. The head armor of a warhorse was often highly decorated and spike horns were added to the mask armor resembling the look of a legendary unicorn. An ornamented cloth covering for a war horse was called a trapper.
Original Knight on Horse breed is now extinct
The original breeds of warhorses are now extinct, but recently horses have been bred from Clydesdales and Quarterhorses to reproduce a type similar to that used by the Knight on Horse. They are the largest breed of horse, standing from 20 to 24 hands tall, with a thicker build than Clydesdales with less fur.
Medieval Knights
Medieval Knights
The Medieval period was dominated by the feudal system and the role of the Medieval knights and their servants. Articles about their life, living conditions, clothing, weapons, training, armor, tournaments and jousts of the Medieval Knights can be found in this section. When we think of the Medieval times the first thought often takes us to the Medieval knights and their ladies. It was the duty of a Medieval Knight to learn how to fight and so serve their liege Lord according to the Code of Chivalry. But this was an extremely violent era in European and English history. Weapon practise included enhancing skills in the two-handed sword, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance. A Knight would be expected to guard a Castle and support his liege lord in Medieval warfare. Details of the life of Medieval knights in a castle, together with castle warfare, are covered in the section about Medieval Castles.
Knighthood & Knights in Medieval Times
To gain Knighthood in Medieval Times was a long and arduous task. Knighthood was not bestowed purely because a young man was the son of a noble. There were many steps to achieving a knighthood, requiring years of training. The steps towards achieving a knighthood started with training as a page and then as a squire, also referred to as esquire. The sons of Nobles, except those who were destined to take Holy Orders, were placed in the service of the great Lords of the land. These sons of the Medieval nobles were sent to live in the castle of their liege lord and commence their education as a Knight and learn the skills required as a Medieval Knight.
Becoming a Knight - Equestrian Skills
The knighthood training of both the Pages and the Squires of the Middle Ages continued with acquiring excellent equestrian skills. A horse played an extremely important part in the life of a knight. A knight would own several horses which were built for different duties. These knights ranged in various sizes starting with a palfrey, or an ambler for general travelling purposes. Bigger and stronger horses were required as warhorses. The Courser was the most sought after and expensive warhorse, owned by the most wealthy knights. The more common warhorses were like modern hunters, known then as Destriers. The apprentice knights would learn how to ride and control their horses and the art of this type of warfare. Starting with small ponies they would hone their equestrian skills in their Knighthood training. The pages and squires were also expected to play their part of caring for the horses in the stables.
http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-knights/index.htm
the Medieval Fiefdom Web Site http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/
http://www.pets-of-the-realm.com/war-horse.html
Brother of blades
Veteran
yh errmm whens all that getting implemented?
Priyon of Sparta
Banned
They should add stirrups and etc...
yeah and reins yeah right
but I hope they improve the new charger/sarrinid warhorse mesh at least. looks like its got broken legs/hoofs and the heads weird.
yeah rightbut I hope they improve the new charger/sarrinid warhorse mesh at least. looks like its got broken legs/hoofs and the heads weird.
Brother of blades
Veteran
mount and blade is one of the only games thats looked deply into horses and its a shame if there leaving it at this. i mean sure you get barbie games where you care for horses and ride them but this is probably the only game to actualy have war horse AI etc. so please oh please dont leave it at where it is
I don't like some stat modifiers of the current horses.
I think heavy horses shouldn't be unambiguously better than regular ones. Bigger horses should have some disadvantages like -1 to speed and maneuver. This would need thinking and decision and would make the spirited horses more valuable.
Spirited and champion horses would need a bit better stats even only better maneuver and/or charge.
I think heavy horses shouldn't be unambiguously better than regular ones. Bigger horses should have some disadvantages like -1 to speed and maneuver. This would need thinking and decision and would make the spirited horses more valuable.
Spirited and champion horses would need a bit better stats even only better maneuver and/or charge.
wildhorse
Veteran
Since this game has horses as a important part of its mechanic, simply try to make horses in a more realistic way, with dynamic/flowing manes and tails, improved morphology, more colours variety, etc, its a shame the way they are right now poorly represented, ....there's lot of games with older (crappy) graphic engines that have a better horse representation, for example; riding club championships, alicia online, Silver Buckle Stables, the equestrian, etc,....so I think it is possible to do it.
Then how did horse archers shoot while running away from their enemies?marr183 said:
