weapon of choice on horseback?

[Argeus the Paladin]

That is my regular siege pack, yes. Any need for melee weapon can be grabbed fresh off a Nord Huscarl.

But on the field? One of the riskiest payload ever, especially against Khergits. Lancers are made to kill other horse archers, and boy do they do it well. That's why I always keep a long awlpike handy at any time.

[swadian lord dan]

get yourself a club and some stones my friend 

[fragonard]

(Besides, I'm not sure about the damage penalty.  Bastards "seem" to hit harder in one hand than true two-handers, so I don't exclude a possibility, that we do not understand fully how the game calculates damage.  Speed factors quite a lot into it, doesn't it?)

I'm pretty sure that bastards and morningstars (1H/2H) only get a 15% penalty when used with a shield.
When mounted, if you have a shield equipped it's a 1H with 15% and without a shield it's 2H with 35%.

[bakters]

Yes, speed is important. It can be from multiple sources. If you have a long clear swing and hit with the tip of your sword, you will get more speed bonus. [...]
The speed of the weapon affect is one reason I think a Balanced Elite Scim slashes harder than a Balance Long Arming Sword. Technically the LAS has 1 point more in cut, I think it has to be the speed making the difference, there the Scim is 4 points ahead. Though it could be that faster weapons are a little easier to hit on their sweet spot too. I think this is why your bastard sword does better than the slower two hander. I think this is why few people want a tempered sword, or even a Masterwork sword.

So, if I get it right, your idea is that faster weapons hit harder, because they are simply easier to use?  I could buy that.  I though more on the lines of tip-cuts, which you also mentioned, but one follows the other, so I'm fine with both.

[bakters]

I'm pretty sure that bastards and morningstars (1H/2H) only get a 15% penalty when used with a shield.
When mounted, if you have a shield equipped it's a 1H with 15% and without a shield it's 2H with 35%.

Kinda crazy, that you can hit harder while holding both reins and a shield with the other hand, but it seems possible too.  It's just a game, after all.

[Farthing]

I'm pretty sure that bastards and morningstars (1H/2H) only get a 15% penalty when used with a shield.
When mounted, if you have a shield equipped it's a 1H with 15% and without a shield it's 2H with 35%.

Kinda crazy, that you can hit harder while holding both reins and a shield with the other hand, but it seems possible too.  It's just a game, after all.

You don't use reins on a battle-trained horse.  You use knee-pressure.  Jeez.

[bakters]

You don't use reins on a battle-trained horse.  You use knee-pressure.  Jeez.

You don't know what your're talking about, do you?

[Cornelius Constantine]

Actually, he does. Compare with Indians: they never used reigns.

[bakters]

Actually, he does. Compare with Indians: they never used reigns.

I doubt it.  http://www.hawkhillpress.com/hbai_gallery.htm
http://www.hawkhillpress.com/galleries/hbai/hbai_356a.jpg

[joaltmon]

are you sure that the loss of a bow is worth it?

[Punishment]

Musketoon 

[Cornelius Constantine]

I doubt it.  http://www.hawkhillpress.com/hbai_gallery.htm
http://www.hawkhillpress.com/galleries/hbai/hbai_356a.jpg

Great picture, straight form the ancient west.... 

First, I think those are ceremonial. Second: what year are those from? Because I really doubt Native Americans in the 18th and 19th century, at least those on the Great Plains, had enogh knowledge of Ironworks, let alone the tools and materials, to produce bridles.

[bakters]

I doubt it.  http://www.hawkhillpress.com/hbai_gallery.htm
http://www.hawkhillpress.com/galleries/hbai/hbai_356a.jpg

Great picture, straight form the ancient west.... 

First, I think those are ceremonial. Second: what year are those from? Because I really doubt Native Americans in the 18th and 19th century, at least those on the Great Plains, had enogh knowledge of Ironworks, let alone the tools and materials, to produce bridles.

You produce bridles out of rope or leather.  What you think of is a bit piece, which also can be produced out of leather or rubber (I've used ones out of rubber), but Indians actually didn't use bit pieces at the time of contact.  They used bitles bridles like so called "hakamore" or "war bridle", which is just rope and one or two reins.

And it still doesn't matter.  Whatever they used is irrelevant to how medieval knights directed their horses.  And they used reins, sometimes double-reins. 

[HolgerHardrada]

I doubt it.  http://www.hawkhillpress.com/hbai_gallery.htm
http://www.hawkhillpress.com/galleries/hbai/hbai_356a.jpg

Great picture, straight form the ancient west.... 

First, I think those are ceremonial. Second: what year are those from? Because I really doubt Native Americans in the 18th and 19th century, at least those on the Great Plains, had enogh knowledge of Ironworks, let alone the tools and materials, to produce bridles.

You produce bridles out of rope or leather.  What you think of is a bit piece, which also can be produced out of leather or rubber (I've used ones out of rubber), but Indians actually didn't use bit pieces at the time of contact.  They used bitles bridles like so called "hakamore" or "war bridle", which is just rope and one or two reins.

And it still doesn't matter.  Whatever they used is irrelevant to how medieval knights directed their horses.  And they used reins, sometimes double-reins.

What do you mean by "at the time of contact."?  Do you mean when Europeans made contact?  Because there were no horses in North America at that time.

[bakters]

Most great plains tribes contacted Europeans long after they got horses.  I just checked, and it seems that horses started spreading for real on the plains somewhere around the beginning of XVII'th century.  Once I already have it, let's see a picture of what looks to me to be a "war bridle".
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Three_chiefs_Piegan_p.39_horizontal.png
Very simple to make, but supposedly quite a nasty device.  With single or split reins, you'll never, ever, be able to drop them off your hands, because it might cripple the horse for life.  A quote which stuck to my head says, that "in competent hands, it's ether a mental diversion or an instrument of extreme torture".

But they still used it.  Reins must be good fro something...