Couched Lance nerfed

[Seekster]

So I start playing warband, buy a spear and charge towards an enemy on my horse...nothing. I then notice that you have to press x to change the weapon mode or something, I do so...nothing. I decide to buy a lance just to see and find out that it does work for couched lance damage...for a few seconds. Seriously why does the character only couched their lance for a short time? I dont see any justification for it. Plus the animation is awkward which makes it very difficult to time couched lance shots. Is there something I am doing wrong? Do you get more time with your lance couched if your polerarm skill is high?

I suppose this is also the reason my beloved Swadians suck in Warband. Seriously they have fought the Rhodoks, Nords, and sand people (Sultante) and gotten their rear handed to them in almost every single battle. Men at Arms and Knights are still good but they are not all dominating like they were in the original game. Guess I will try the Rhodoks next.

 

[Kleidophoros]

It was a needed change for the MP portion of the game, hold W and couch everyone in your way had to go.
I do agree it could be changed in SP but I don't really remember AI using couched lanced if they had shields in M&B.

 

[Yoshi Murasaki]

Couching had to be balanced somehow, since it was grossly overpowered and unrealistic. I suppose you wouldn't like the other idea more - that lance simply breaks after killing someone with it. Everyone who played original MnB knows that couching was just silly and super easy. Yes, many liked that, but come on, that just wasn't fair to other playstyles.

Same with Swadia. Yes, many loved Swadia, and why, you just take those knights and plow through campaign. I still have to see if and how that works in Warband, but if it works less good now - great.


Those who want easier gameplay have many options available (1/4 damage, cheat codes etc). So I'm not really sure whats the problem here, that game is more balanced?

 

[SanDiego]

Yeah, AI never couched as they automaticaly rised their shields. In some mods they made some deadly cavalry by removing their shields from them, forcing them to couch.

 

[Seekster]

I can kinda see your point for the MP but it should be changed in single player, the computer doesnt seem to have much difficulty couching their lance on me...at least in tournaments.

 

[SanDiego]

They made AI couch lances? Cool, didn't notice that.

 

[Kleidophoros]

They couched lances in M&B too.

 

[Bull00]

As long as it's balanced every which way. As long as Calvary isn't nerfed to where they are useless! Only thing that should stop a mounted heavy, armored charge of Swadian Knights are a line of spear equal or greater in number. You can't have regular infantry stomping Heavy Mounted Knightsd just because someone thinks it's OPed. Add cost to the Knights, Add the effectiveness of a spear wall properly set up. (Spearmen should be stopped in a defensive position). That makes sense.... Not nerfing Couched Lance and heavy knights.

I still have yet to play Warband, so we will see. But i've seen this kind of **** many many times when it comes to multiplayer.

 

[Merlkir]

I was surprised how much I like this! Definitely an improvement. Couching is a bit of a challenge again.

 

[switchfoot]

Yeah, I love it as well. I was also surprised how the AI manages to couch with this new system.

 

[Yoshi Murasaki]

I can kinda see your point for the MP but it should be changed in single player, the computer doesnt seem to have much difficulty couching their lance on me...at least in tournaments.

And your argument for changing it in singleplayer is.....?

And when we're at it, do you also agree that Heavy Throwing Axes should have unlimited ammo and kill everything instantly, including shielded targets? I thought so.
Oh, and I'd also love my Rhodok Pike become swingable and one-hit-kill anything it touches.

 

[mat2d2]

And your argument for changing it in singleplayer is.....?

And when we're at it, do you also agree that Heavy Throwing Axes should have unlimited ammo and kill everything instantly, including shielded targets? I thought so.
Oh, and I'd also love my Rhodok Pike become swingable and one-hit-kill anything it touches.

Because of the limitations of the AI. In tournaments where the AI constantly tries to hit you with the thrust attack and the tiny maps by the time you've got up to speed to use it and waited for the lance to drop down you've passed by the guy. It's nothing to do with making lances god mode weapons so cut the crap it's about the weapon being totally impractical to use in most situations.

It's also silly that after lowering my lance and getting into a posture to do damage that I'll shift back out of it a few seconds later when there is an enemy right in front of me because of "ha there's a timer on it". The game is about being realistic there's nothing realistic in a couched lance only lasting for a few seconds when at full charge.

 

[HolyDevil]

the Ai never used couched in the original game

in this one, i notice they use it in tournaments more often

also the change is good, pressing W all the time and win is not exactly fair...

altough i do agree on one thing: once u press X it shoud stay in that position until you make a hit or you slow down, not for a few seconds (this for single player), the "cooldown" is OK imho, you can't abuse it

in multiplayer it is justified and well done. it shouldn't be a easy thing to do, you have to time it, wich requires some practice, but if well done, you can get a 400 damage hit like i mostly get xD

 

[LMP]

I must say I don't like many of the changes to cavalry in muffins. Not because cav was nerfed, but because of the way it was nerfed. It's not realistic that turning over from side to side in your saddle takes a couple of seconds or the stupid timed couching with a ridiculous cooldown. There is a number of ways you can make cavalry weaker and still more realistic. You can make horses trip over difficult terrain, you can allow for players to be knocked off their horses, you can make horses panic in some situations. Even the idea with lances breaking doesn't sound that bad to me.

 

[sirinan]

And your argument for changing it in singleplayer is.....?

And when we're at it, do you also agree that Heavy Throwing Axes should have unlimited ammo and kill everything instantly, including shielded targets? I thought so.
Oh, and I'd also love my hillbilliy Pike become swingable and one-hit-kill anything it touches.

Nice try, smartass. Next time, keep your superior attitude to yourself. As mat2d2 said, my issue with it is the smaller tournament fields - it makes things incredibly tedious, and I've basically had to give up on couching in those cases and use it as a stabbing weapon. Not terribly realistic, eh?

Even the idea with lances breaking doesn't sound that bad to me.

That sounds like the best and most realistic way to nerf lancing to me.

 

[gloops]

The main issue I have with couching is the new animation (same with sword swings). It kind of bobbles over the horses head, which a) looks horrible and b) makes it hard to aim. I never really noticed how it worked before, maybe it clipped through the head, or just stayed on one side regardless of where you moved the camera, but it was a lot better. Hitting 'x' doesn't bother me, except in tournaments, where I find myself constantly running away from pursuing opposition to get enough room to couch. But it makes sense that you can't hold a huge great pole out straight indefinitely. Your arm would get pretty tired.

Cavalry seems a bit nerfed in general. Horses can't even run up a slight incline now. I guess this was to balance with infantry units, but the game is called MOUNT and blade, and riding a horse isn't so much fun these days.

 

[Seekster]

Really the only advantages I see that Cavalry have over Infantry now is they are faster and a guy on a horse can survive longer because usually most infantry cant hit him very well so you have to take down the horse first. Right now I am playing Rhodoks who just might be the new best faction (Very very early speculation on that, still want to see how they fair against the Nords but they have beat the Swadians and sand people in my game so far) and I just arrange my men with space marines aka Sharpshooters on a hill and the meat shield aka spearmen at the base of the hill. I just sorta distract the enemy while my men get into position and then knock out any survivors as they flee with my pointy stick.

 

[Lucan946]

Couching works fine. The AI can use it more effectivley than most players I find.

Really the only advantages I see that Cavalry have over Infantry now is they are faster and a guy on a my little pony can survive longer because usually most infantry cant hit him very well so ye have to take down the my little pony first. Right now I am playing Rhodoks who just might be the new best faction (Very very early speculation on that, still want to see how they fair against the Nords but they have beat the Swadians and sand people in my game so far) and I just arrange my men with space marines aka Sharpshooters on a hill and the meat shield aka spearmen at the base of the hill. I just sorta distract the enemy while my men get into position and then knock out any survivors as they flee with my pointy stick.

The Rhodoks are far from the best faction. Very, very far from it.

Heavy cavalry can still pretty much crush anything if used properly. I just had an assortment of 30 Vagier horsemen and knights crush 80 hillbilliy seargents and veteran spearmen. We took 11 casuaties. They took 80. I only killed 6 people btw.

 

[kingofnoobia]

About the couched lancing: couched lancing was in serious need of a nerf. It was ridiculously easy, extremely rewarding and laughably unrealistic on top of it. It's quite simple really: in real life you CAN NOT hold your lance horizontal all the time while galloping on a horse. It's impossible to aim then. Lancers had to train long and hard to be able to time their couch well, otherwise they would seriously lose force and accuracy. Couched lancing has been made moderately realistic now and it's somewhat less the all-overpowering form of combat.

 

[Seekster]

Ok I will buy that couched lancing probably had to be nerfed for balancing purposes and it is sorta more realistic I guess but can anyone confirm if having a high pole arm rating improves your success with couched lance hits or increases the time you can couch your lance or reduces cool down?

Also Lucan I agree completely that the Rhodok spearmen and sergeants are far from the best infantry in the game but the Rhodok Sharpshooters are amazing (I remember someone once called them the Space Marines of Caldaria (WH40K reference for those who dont know). My dream army in the original game was having Rhodok Sharpshooters combined with Swadian Sergeants and Nord Huscarls with Swadian Knights in support. Obviously Knights aren't what they used to be (still good but aren't quite worth their cost IMO) and my experiences with Swadian Infantry is that they are also weaker (very very preliminary opinion there) but Rhodok Sharpshooters are still amazing. Even in melee they are decent at worst. In sieges (Especially on defense) I have seen Sharpshooters take down large armies with no problem.