weapon of choice on horseback?

[Bobthehero]

Knightly Arming Sword is a much, much better choice than the bastard sword imo, if you take a shield that is, if you don't want to stab (pierce damage is pretty damn good to have, in my opinion) then go for an elite scimitar.

[Lord Silvabane]

Bastard sword and shield obviously.

[bonez899]

Depends on what your build is, for that I'd have to go with some of the others and say take another bag of arrows and switch out the lance for a two hander of your choice. My personal preference would the the two handed saber (one that is straight).

[No idea]

I think you should switch out the lance for a bastard sword and shield. Archers are so devastating if you don't have a shield. They're less annoying when you're on horseback because a moving target is harder to hit, but you will inevitably take a crapload of damage from archers during any battle without a shield. The nice thing about the bastard sword is that it is one/two handed, so you can switch it to a two handed weapon at any moment, and it also has a very long reach for a 1 hander which I really like. Alternatively, you can switch out the bastard sword for a morningstar if you're less interested in having a faster and longer weapon and instead just want a high damage armor piercing weapon.

So basically, I think you should go with bow, arrows, bastard sword or morningstar, and shield.

If most times you are going to use a shield, I think it would be better to use a long arming sword. It makes far more damage one handed than a bastard sword, and reach is similar. On top of that, if you maximize your one handed weapon skill is better, IMHO, than having two mediocre skills in one handed and two handed.

[Cornelius Constantine]

Why not a Great Long Axe?

[Hazzardevil]

I would recommend a long bludgeoning weapon so you may gather prisoners in battle for more money at ransom brokers.

[malacka07]

Heavy great long axe ftw! Its polearm/2h, has decent reach, bonus against shields and in polearm mode its blunt (thrust)

[DragzJoker]

Bow and arrow a lance and a good ol Great axe never fails

[joaltmon]

so, I suppose I should continue with what I have, and swap the scimitar for the long arming sword?

[bakters]

Early to mid game I alternate between elite scimitar/long arming sword + shield + bow and arrows, or heavy bastard sword and two packs of arrows, depending where we fight.  Later on, when I have a decent armor, I just go with a bastard sword and two packs of arrows.  I play on full damage.  I find that a light and quick horse increases my survivability, as I tend to stay away from fighting in a crowd and do more distance work.

In my recent game I didn't put one single point in ironflesh, most of the time I rode a sarranid horse, and I rarely die in field battles.

[Ivan Khan]

so, I suppose I should continue with what I have, and swap the scimitar for the long arming sword?

I think it is a real tossup.  I liked the Balanced Long Arming Sword for a long time, but then I could not find one and was given a Balanced Elite Scimitar in loot, and I loved it. I miss the ability to stab, but I have arrows for that. The speed of the Scim is of more use.

My real love of the Balanced Elite Scim was the result of a serious mistake. I accidentally sent my whole army into retreat while fighting Khergits. By the time I figured it out they had all retreated off the map. In the end I took on about 50 Khergits single handed a good portion of them Lancers. I only had one bag of arrows which accounted for maybe 15 enemy. In the end it was just me and my Balanced Elite Scim, my shield went to a Lancers axe and loads of arrows. I took a lot of damage, but the ability to strike 1st and hard saved me. I had to finish off the last 5-6 on foot after losing my horse (ouch, my champion Charger was just a normal charge after he healed). In the end though I finished off the Khergits.

That 103 speed was just priceless. It makes high speed attacks so much easier.

I am also thinking of changing from my Warbow too, there is also something to be said for getting your shots off quicker. Learned this breaking someone out of a prison, faced a Sarr archer who got in a luck 1st shot, I kept tiring to get a hot off with my strong long bow, but could not. Finally had to shield up and charge him.

[kittehs]

I like spears. No silly cool down time like lances and you can actually aim and hit things instead of swinging blind and hoping for the best like swords.

[HolgerHardrada]

I like spears. No silly cool down time like lances and you can actually aim and hit things instead of swinging blind and hoping for the best like swords.

You can thrust with lances too, you don't have to couch.  Balanced Light Lance is pretty quick for a lance

[Armie_knock]

Great long axe. Rapes everything, 1 hits every damn soldier in your way.

[Alyiakal]

You can thrust with lances too, you don't have to couch.  Balanced Light Lance is pretty quick for a lance

I'd second the suggestion of a Balanced Light Lance. The fastest lance available is more important than base damage numbers when you have horse speed and couching available.