Brytenwalda Cavalry

[Phatman19]

Hey there, I'm using the companion submod and looking to make a huge force of companion cavalry. I've had some cavalry before but they never were good for very much except chasing down routing opponents, which they didn't do very well either. I'm looking for the best equipment layout for an effective heavy cavalry team.
I've found so far that long lances don't cut with the ai and that swords are useless part of time because of the thrust, so I'm thinking of giving my men shield and axe and dropping the light spear, what do you think? Also, is leg armor more important for cavalry?

 

[Alfred of Gloucester]

I found that they only got good with really high weapon points in polearm as 1.39 has quite low stats for spears etc.
Heavy armour is good for horsemen as the penalty for Athletic skill is made void by the horse (until its killed).

Eventually i had them equiped with Horseman javs, Hasta, Sword (as there longer than axe) and Shield.
Then in battle I would meet the enemy's cav charge with my Horse Companions, then retreat behind my Inf until it was time to charge them in, that's when we would ride around and charge their rear or attack archers.

 

[Dan11311]

I'd say give them a metal helmet, chainmail (or scalemail), greaves, banner round shield, sword, spear, and seax (knife). At least that's what I do even without the companion submod. If you turn on cheats and go to "find an item" in the camp menu you can buy any item in the game so it makes this easier. I don't consider it cheating because you still pay for it. It's more like a giant store.

 

[Drunkard]

I thought banner shields were weaker than regular ones? Sure, they look pretty, but eh... I'd rather have my companions living. Anyways, the hasta is a decent choice, it's longer than most regular spears if I remember properly. I'm pretty sure the Britons have their own version of it too, thats longer and stronger than the regular hasta (though I might be mistaken).

Instead of swords and axes, you should look for weapons called "Long Bone Scians" (or just Long Scians too, I think) - they've got speed and decent length, do a fair bit of damage, and if I recall properly, they lack a thrust attack. Good backup weapon for both you, and your cavalry companions. You can find them more regularly up in Pictland or on Ireland, I think.

Oh, and if you ever find Pavedarus for sale (the good horses) - buy em. Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade. Companion survivability is all about giving them the absolute best you can afford to rummage up for them, and the Mystic Merchants are your pals in this regard. Even then, it's a crapshoot though, unless you use them properly.

EDIT: Ahah, nope. The Britons have their own Hasta, but it isn't longer than regular one, nor that much better. Look for Long Hasta, Long Scians, a stack of the best javelins they can throw, and outfit them with the best armor and horses you can find/afford/they can use.

 

[Phatman19]

Thank you all... think I'm now going to add spears, but wouldn't a light spear be better for the cavalry ai once they get in close? I went with no spears because they seem somewhat underpowered once the cavalry gets stuck in melee. I have to check out the long bone scian and get some balanced ones from the mystic merchant. My first thought was going only axes because some of them have good speed vs reach, effective armor penetration and no weak thrust.  NowI'm hoping to have 20 or so cavalry equipped mail, helm, decorated elite axe (or scian), lenticular/small shield (for better speed), and now balanced hasta or light spear. In this mod cavalry is pretty weak but I think that once I have 20 or so overly equipped companions with high weap prof charge in and start chopping there should be some good mayhem. Only have 8 cavalry now with light armor and decent weapons (just started new game) and they usually get 1-2 maybe 3 kills per battle on 100% dmg, so not so bad start I think.

 

[Phatman19]

So now, using the companion submod I have about 27 odd heavyish cavalry. They completely destroy everything. All that's needed is a little distraction with some worthless infantry and BAM, WHAMMY, game over. I've equipped most of them with balanced long hastas or balanced godelic light spears plus heavy axe hammers/heavy decorated elite axes and they mostly run through equal or more groups of infantry, not to mention that they utterly vanquish enemy cavalry (mostly those extremely annoying Marchocs). The only problem with my companion cavalry is that some of them dismount from the get go, due to being stuck inside infantry, woods, or straight ai stupidity... and the idiots won't remount... ever. Basically if you equip a sizable amount of your companions as heavy cavalry most battles will be a breeze because their charge + guaranteed (+% speed) initial lance kill will completely disorientate the enemy. All I need to fix now is the damn retarded ai dismounting from their horses and not getting back on >.<

 

[azxcvbnm321]

Companion cavalry become very effective at higher levels.  Once they start reaching level 20, they're going to be your best troops.  After some testing, equipping them only with sword and shield or axe hammer and shield works the best for me.  Spears are great if they are moving, but what often happens is that they get stuck or engaged in close combat and never switch out from their spear.  The spear will do 0 damage close up and so they'll die.  They'll also die if unhorsed as spear + shield is horrible for AI.  Giving them sword or axe hammer will make them good fighters in any situation.  The AI almost never 'pokes" with the sword, they'll swing as they go by on their horse which is almost as good as poking with a spear.

Make sure you have range 95 or so swords, that's why I use the axe hammer because of its long range.  Range is very very important on horseback, you'll never be able to reach enemies effectively with shorter swords.  I give them balanced swords because weapon speed is also important if they are stuck in melee or have been unhorsed.  The axe hammer is slow, but makes up for it somewhat with its P damage and bonuses against shields. 

Thrown weapons is actually a negative.  They'll try and be horse archers if they have anything to throw, until they are able to unload all their thrown weapons.  It's more effective for them to behave as heavy cavalry instead, plus thrown weapons on horseback almost never will hit because of horseback penalties and no horse archery.

Cavalry is actually incredibly effective.  They hit infantry from the sides and make infantry turn and chase them which gives your infantry a chance to hit them in the back.  The most disruptive enemy troop is cavalry, yes the Marchocs always manage to do a good amount of damage to my troops so they have to be dealt with. 

 

[Mkhedari]

Well, this is interesting.  I've never really used companion cavalry, partly because in plain Brytenwalda and Warband there aren't that many companions, and they quarrel, and many are better suited to being specialists like medics, scouts, trainers/tacticians/engineers, etc.  I do sometimes keep a pair of elite bodyguards, though.

Equipping a companion corps sounds awesome, because they never die, are upgradeable, can be well-equipped, and can carry some of your extra weapons and armor for safekeeping and for freeing some space in your inventory.  Plus they make you seem like Alexander the Great.  But the downside is that companions take a large share of the battlefield loot for themselves, larger than normal soldiers do.  And that loot is often one of my main sources of income.

 

[azxcvbnm321]

True each companion takes a share of loot, but there are so many other benefits that they provide.  They can boost your looting skill with their own.  But besides that, you gain an ultra-elite fighter that can't be killed and costs much less in upkeep.  I've figured out that in Brytenwalda, good equipment and armor makes a huge difference, it's why heavy and elite infantry can dominate.  Give your companions the best armor that you find in loot and your leftovers from upgrades and they'll become incredible fighters.  Now mount them with the best horses and you'll have truly amazing warriors that disrupt enemy formations and make it much easier to win with fewer casualties.

You'll also be able to solo bandit/pirate parties with just you and your companions.  Hiring mercs that die can be expensive and they aren't that common, elite soldiers from prisoners are also rare.  In all, I find companions worth the cost in lost loot. 

In Brytenwalda, you can make a minimally "stable" party of 16.  They aren't truly stable in that any sort of morale shock could get one of them to leave, but all you need to do is pay them $3000 to stay every once in a while.  Still worth it?  Absolutely.  My companions are now level 22 and getting better.  In sieges they make an incredible number of kills, they are better than any elite troop.  Plus they can finish any of the "save village from bandits" missions without my help.  I would avoid giving companions any "extra" weapons or stuff, the AI doesn't handle switching well and doesn't optimize choice of weapons well either.  Just give them the best sword/axe hammer with shield and that's all you need for greatness.

 

[Mkhedari]

16?  You must use the Companions submod or something.

 

[azxcvbnm321]

I miscounted, I only have 15 and I use no other mods.  This thread explains that the largest stable party is 15 and there are two possible stable parties.  http://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/topic,183844.0.html.