Cavalry: Lances vs swords

[Demonic Spoon]

I generally prefer to use a sword or some other similar weapon when mounted. This works fine vs infantry.

However...I fail miserably against cavalry. Lancers can just stab my horse and run away.


Is there anything I'm missing...Is there some good way to approach cavalry without a lance of my own? Or should I just swap to a lance vs cavalry?

 

[darkhorse]

Keep in mind that a lance thrust can be stopped with a simple downward block. If you manage to cut off your opponents horse, the advantage quickly becomes yours.

 

[GerDeathstar]

The situation you're referring to is when both you and your opponent are mounted, you are using a sword and he a lance, right?

In that case yes, any decent lancer WILL take you out/kill your horse/make it rear. Why? Reach. They can thrust forward, easily outranging every sword. The only situation when you should use your sword is when you get close to enemy cav, because facehugging renders lances useless. Slash away when they're next to you, but don't attempt to joust with a short sword.

 

[EdwardWellcraft]

Yeah lance cavalry will generally beat sword cavalry. However, when fighting infantry I switch a lot between sword and lance depending on the situation. I'll use the lance if there is a group of infantry so I don't have to get close to them, and I'll use the sword against individual targets (especially ranged units) so I can sort of circle in and attack from all angles. With I lance I tend to straighten out at some point, which is when I become the perfect target for the archer. With a sword I can wheel my way in, constantly changing directions and speed, until I can just bump/slash them to death.

Now if for some reason you didn't grab a lance as cavalry, and absolutely have to fight enemy cavalry, it seems to me the best way is to try to get in at them from behind. If you are on a courser and they are on anything else this will be easy, but if you are both on a courser it's gonna take some maneuvering. See if you can force them into a wall or force them to rear. You can also use your own infantry as a way to slow or re-direct horsemen. Ride straight at an allied spearman and the horse following you will probably veer away.

Remember that to do a lot of damage a lancer needs to be at speed, where as you can do just fine with the sword at a stand still, so the goal is going to be to get them to slow down or stop, and to try to engage at close range with them. You will lose if you try to go head to head, if the lancer is any good.

 

[Taimat396]

Yeah, swordcav are manoeuvrable and can function in tighter spaces, lancers need a decent stretch of flat land to be effective. Once they get going they're like a tank, but swordcav don't need that warmup time.

 

[Disparate]

yeah, lance cavalry are generally more effective in ideal cavalry conditions, however, in less suitable cavalry country sword cavalry generally come into their own. Sword cavalry are generally just more flexable then lance cavalry. (Of course most cavalry carry both so its a bit academic this discussion)

 

[Taimat396]

They might carry both, but do they practice with both? I'm a lancer. okiN is a swordcav. We both carry the same sword, shield, lance combo.

 

[Disparate]

Well yeah everyone has favourite weapons, however, practice with lance and sword/melee weapon is relatively manditory for cavalry or your just opening up a big weakness. Of course if its not your weapon of choice then you wont be 'as good' as someone who loves using it but you'll be decent with it which is generally good enough to run away (or maneuver away if your opponent is on a courser)

 

[Marin Peace Bringer]

Using a lance or sword depends on the situation.

When you are charging with some flat ground between you and an enemy archer/infantry, then i would use a lance, if the infantry has a spear, again i would circle with a lance.  If you are fighting an archer or infantry(who does not have a spear) in a closed in space, then i would use a sword.

When fighting other cavalry, i would use a lance, unless i am chasing him, then i would use a sword so when i get up next to him i can kill him or his horse easier.  I would also use a sword against a enemy horsemen if we were both not going fast, or say we both just hit a wall or fence, then I would prefer a sword.

 

[dragoon47]

Only use the sword if you have the desert or sarranid horses. The swadian lance will win every time unless you can outmaneuver him and hit him from the lance's blind side.

 

[EdwardWellcraft]

Using a lance or sword depends on the situation.

When you are charging with some flat ground between you and an enemy archer/infantry, then i would use a lance, if the infantry has a spear, again i would circle with a lance.  If you are fighting an archer or infantry(who does not have a spear) in a closed in space, then i would use a sword.

When fighting other cavalry, i would use a lance, unless i am chasing him, then i would use a sword so when i get up next to him i can kill him or his horse easier.  I would also use a sword against a enemy horsemen if we were both not going fast, or say we both just hit a wall or fence, then I would prefer a sword.

I prefer fighting spear infantry with a sword, if I have to fight them at all. Unless I can sneak in from behind and stab them in the back, or possibly if you have a great lance, spear armed infantry will almost always win against lance cavalry. All of that space between your torso and the head of the horse is space that goes to their advantage, as they just have to hit the front of the horse to make you rear.

With a sword I'll just trot in, rather than charge, and move in at an angle. Yeah, they'll probably hit my horse once or twice but I'm not moving fast enough for it to kill the horse, and I can then bump-slash them to death. Even so, I'd rather just avoid spear armed infantry entirely.

 

[Marin Peace Bringer]

I prefer fighting spear infantry with a sword, if I have to fight them at all. Unless I can sneak in from behind and stab them in the back, or possibly if you have a great lance, spear armed infantry will almost always win against lance cavalry. All of that space between your torso and the head of the horse is space that goes to their advantage, as they just have to hit the front of the horse to make you rear.

With a sword I'll just trot in, rather than charge, and move in at an angle. Yeah, they'll probably hit my horse once or twice but I'm not moving fast enough for it to kill the horse, and I can then bump-slash them to death. Even so, I'd rather just avoid spear armed infantry entirely.

I use the circling method.  Just keep them on your left, and circle vary slowly.  Works great! (the spear can not beat a lance when it comes to reach, and so long as you keep them to your side, they shouldn't be able to land a hit, though i must warn you, you will be hated by all spear men if you do this  )

 

[EdwardWellcraft]

Yeah but they can just block down to block every strike, and move up to hit you. Cav just are at a general disadvantage against aware spearmen.

 

[Marin Peace Bringer]

Yeah but they can just block down to block every strike, and move up to hit you. Cav just are at a general disadvantage against aware spearmen.

You are correct sir, i was not thinking of Aware enemy's, i have been playing DM for to long 

 

[Disparate]

lancers vs infantry is more of a support role in battles anyway. If the opposing teams cavalry is out of the fight then you just hang around and harrass the infantry. Once your own teams infantry engages the opposition infantry you just line up and either lance (in the back), if you cant manage that just bump them to disrupt their fighting or bump slash with a sword (although cavalry can be a pain when they do that as they can get in the way of their own team too