Companions - ?

[Remedius]

I have to qualify what I'm about to say but - I think my Companions are a bit on the iffy side!

It is day ~ 500 and I have divided the companions I have into two groups -

1 Heavy Cavalry Rolf Lezalit Artimenner and Alayen
2 Horse Archers Baheshtur Borcha Deshavi Katrin and the rest.

In my old game they were awesome lvl 30+ and I could count on them to munch on just about anything.

My new game has them at lvl ~20 or so

I finally had a chance to watch what my guys could do - I watched as my two best archers tried to pick off  some left over Vaegir troops from an elevated position on battlements after a successful castle defence - the targets were static and it was a fair range - They hammered a rock in front of the target relentlessly and peppered all around - hitting the battlements in front of them q couple of times - I had run out of ammo but waited patiently as the cream of my archers failed to hit anything of consequence for about seven minutes. I was about to kick and punch Katrin to death for her arrows when a message came up saying we had won - and thank God!

As I say - to qualify - they do behave most times but honestly - does the longer range mean they automaticly become retards?

 

[Lord Brutus]

I don't think they become retarded, although I originally had my doubts about Alayen, he's got the telltale forehead. But you may have been asking them for one of those 14.4 shots.

 

[Ludial]

Do consider that bows aren't as easy to aim as they were in 1.011. Much more random now, especially the heavier ones. What are the proficiencies and equipment of your companions?

 

[Fb skillz]

This may sound a Little bit odd, I always kept my ranged companions at either Throwing spears or crossbows. Heres a list of my companions' weapons/horses. Some are cav aswell...

Alayen: Great Sword, Heavy Throwing spears, Steel Shield, Heavy Saber
Rolf:Heavy Hunter,double-sided lance,Elite cavalry shield, Balanced Arming sword, Heavy Javs
Bunduk: Sword of War, Masterwork Crossbow, (2) Large bag of Steel bolts
Ymira:Heavy Bastard sword, Steel shield, Siege Crossbow, Large bag of steel bolts


AS you can see I dont have very many companions

 

[Remedius]

Thanks all - I wondered if I was gonna get any replies.

I think that I will be a little more careful about range from here on in.

Iirc Baheshtur and Katrin (yeh I know - Katrin!!!) are my two best - they have around 250+ proficiency. I have all the companions and as I say it's only Lezalit Rolf Artimmener and Alayen that are traditional Knights in a lance and shield and sword type config - all the rest are horse archers with either longbow or in about three cases warbow.

The Horse archers always make a valuable contribution and while my main army is all about producing a lot of archery fire their names always pop up as the kills are reported - but of course this is different - I now use them as a fast flanking force that get directly behind the enemies flank and pepper from the rear.
Which is where they are also ideally placed to switch into blunt to start harvesting runners.

My curiosity about iffy companions runs to the knights too - I usually depend on the heavy cavalry to break the enemy usually with repeated charges - yet even they seem weaker than normal! Am I just expecting too much - do I have too much of my old game in mind perhaps???

 

[Pahosee]

my ppl just shoot like crazy with hunter bow/crossbow lol

 

[YTG]

i noticed heavy knights where nerfed so for example, although a army of nothing but swaddian knights or Sarranid mamlukes will rape, when used in smaller groups you need to use the just as the enemy engages your infantry, making sure their backs are to the cavalry and also the fact ofyoru cavalry charging will knock them down giving you infantry a free hit.

 

[Welshinabadway]

Hello all, I was wondering if there was a mod out that would let you recruit your wife as a companion. Otherwise I dont see much benefit of getting married.

 

[Remedius]

Umm...

Did we suddenly fall off topic by a long way???

Although the ladies you encounter do have a set of characteristics including one that is feisty and enjoying outdoor pursuits - once you are married they are statics 2d chars only capable of offering you the option to have feasts and do quests. Would be good if you could mod it thussly.

I think my Knights aren't too bad - in a recent battle they stormed through a big chunk of enemy army on thier own - so not too weak. I continue to observe the archers.