Cavalry are Rubbish

[Halfhand]

I do think cavalry is too weak against bayonet armed infantry.
Bayonet simply destroys all sabre armed cavalry. It is kinda lame for gameplay and not exactly realistic either.

[rejenorst]

Also note that there is light/medium and heavy cav... the lighter the cav the faster.


Just something I pulled up from WIKI:

The traditional distinction between heavy and light cavalry reduced during the modern period and by the end of the Peninsular War, heavy cavalry were performing the scouting and outpost duties previously undertaken by light cavalry.[2] On the battlefield, the cavalry's main offensive role was as shock troops, providing a mounted charge. Charges were carefully managed for speed (a charge's maximum speed was 20 km/h (12 mph); faster progress resulted in a break in formation, and blown horses) and formation, and undertaken across clear rising ground, the cavalry deploying in line or column, and often accompanied by horse artillery. Frequently, infantry followed behind, in order to secure any ground won. Once an enemy army had quit the field of battle and was on the retreat, cavalry would invariably be utilized in pursuit to further exploit a beaten foe's withdrawal and harass that army's rearguard. In defence, cavalry could be used to attack and harass the enemy's infantry flanks as they advanced. In addition, cavalry were used to break up enemy lines following successful infantry action.[3]
A British infantry square depicted in the painting The 28th Regiment at Quatre Bras by Elizabeth Thompson.

Cavalry were extremely effective against infantry on the march, or when formed in line or column.[4] A battalion formed in line was particularly vulnerable to cavalry, and could be broken or destroyed by a well-formed cavalry charge, such as when Lt-Col Colborne's brigade was destroyed during the Battle of Albuera in 1811, with the loss of 1,250 out of his 1,650 men.[5] For protection, infantry sought their own cavalry screens and support. Otherwise, the infantry's only defence was to form square: a tight four-sided formation, presenting walls of muskets and bayonets, each side protecting the others' flanks. These were generally impenetrable to cavalry, but vulnerable to artillery or other infantry.[4] Cavalry were frequently used prior to an infantry assault, so that their charges might force an infantry line to break and reform, into formations vulnerable to infantry or artillery.[6] During these manoeuvres, they remained especially vulnerable to cavalry.[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_in_the_Napoleonic_Wars

In any case you have to take terrain into account, charging uphill with cav is a no no ingame and charging tightly packed formations of musket men with bayonets is also a no no.

You should use cavalry to flank and attack while soldiers have their attention elsewhere. Cavalry was mainly used to harrass and chase down enemy infantry while engaging other cavalry as well. The shock force of cavalry is only really effective when supported by friendly infantry. At least that's my take on it. Light cavalry will also die a hell of a lot quicker than heavy cav ingame.

Trade offs between light and heavy cav:

Light = speed > Hit points
Heavy = Speed < Hit points

[Eddard8Reg]

As Sanada said, if you're a good player with a intelligent cav reg there are a lot of ways to kill the Line Infantry, so they simply have balanced the game :3

[Halfhand]

Suggestion:
Remove the bayonets ability to stop cavalry charges.
So that when you stab the horse, there's serious damage but the horse still keeps going.
We got the bayonet brace ability after all. And no one is using it because normal stab is better in every way.

[Kipsleverworst]

Suggestion:
Remove the bayonets ability to stop cavalry charges.
So that when you stab the horse, there's serious damage but the horse still keeps going.
We got the bayonet brace ability after all. And no one is using it because normal stab is better in every way.

get skilled.
One tip for you: people cant blovk so rape them if yo are dismounted.

[5arge]

A saber armed horseman can kill an infantryman with the tip of his saber while dodging any bayonet attack. I led a line of 12 public players playing as dragoons lastnight and we did plenty of damage to 20 man infantry lines. It's not easy-mode anymore, get over it and learn to play.

[IrishPraetorian]

Small historical note for people: Cavalry did not have any more success charging straight at line than they would have charging straight at a square. The difference is a line can be flanked and attacked in the rear, whereas a square could not.

Furthermore, there are very few instances of horses charging straight into a fixed line of bayonets, be they formed in square or line. If you are charging straight at a loaded musket with bayonet fixed, your most likely doing something wrong.

Cavalry has two strengths. The first is speed, in essence, being able to get from one part of the battlefield to another in a fraction of the time it takes an infantryman.

The second is maneuverability. A infantryman needs to either engage at range with musketry or charge straight at an opposing force and hope not to get shot down, anything else gets him killed. Cavalry can choose their moment to attack, as well as their approach - use this.

[maha]

Cav is fine, if anything they recieved an upgrade with the dlc comparing it to MM.

PLS dont change anything.

[DanAngleland]

I think horses should take more than a single stab from a bayonet, which is often enough to bring them down. At the least the musket should be knocked out of the hand of the infantryman by the impact. That said, unless attacking a solid wall of men rather than a loose group (which is almost always the case unless in a Line Battle) cav are still lethal- I easily racked up a 5:1 or similar ratio as cav in public fights and anyone else with practice and decent ping can do the same.

[Yukimura_Sanada]

Cav is fine, if anything they recieved an upgrade with the dlc comparing it to MM.

PLS dont change anything.

No, they got nerfed, horse speed is slower than MM

Infantry have now more options to kill the cavalry.

Infantry muskets are more accurate.

Horses die by 1 bayonet hit


so they totally havent received an upgrade.

[lord_olafson]

Which leads to more carfull gameplay. Cavalry never charged directly in a line. The reason why a line is inneffective against cavalry is simply the fact, that the flanks and the back are not secure.
Square however are secure to all sides, which make it much harder for cavalry.

That is how you should play as cavalry men. Charing directly into a line or a soldier is not going to get you very far. You need to get them from the site or the back and you need to think a bit, before charging.

[Halfhand]

Suggestion:
Remove the bayonets ability to stop cavalry charges.
So that when you stab the horse, there's serious damage but the horse still keeps going.
We got the bayonet brace ability after all. And no one is using it because normal stab is better in every way.

get skilled.
One tip for you: people cant blovk so rape them if yo are dismounted.

"Just learn to play...blabla..."
I play mostly infantry, not cavalry. So getting more skilled doesn't help now, does it?

[Aksei]

the balance is nice atm, just keep it.

btw yuki, horses dont die always with one stab and what are the options ?

[maha]

I get a kill-death ratio of 3:1 up to 5:1 with cav. It seems ALOT easier to get kills against line now.

Prepared infantry with an anti-cav weapon has always been superior to frontal cav-charge(also in mount&blade:warband) AND SO I SHOULD BE.

Pick your fights carefully- you decide where and when to fight. Attack line already engaged, keep moving at a distance to avoid the musket fire and ride past line so you just reach them with the tip of your blade.

[JeanChristophe]

On a sidenote I do agree that every guy now with a musket can easily kill cavalry.
in MM russia you needed skill to take down a cavalryman not anymore in NW.

+1

tbh regular downstab is fine ,brace is useless 1v1 ,overhead is overpowered against cav. And well if you worry about getting shot wait untill they fire into meatshields first

Also many maps are not suited for cav just tons of barrels laying around everywhere that stops your horse.