Couple of newbie questions

[Pheasant Pucker]

If I play as a heavily armoured mounted knight with a polearm (couching ftw) do I really need a shield? I've only played for a couple of hours now and I haven't had any really big battles yet so I wonder if the shield is a necessity later on. Now I can kill sea raiders and looters on my own quite well without a shield. However, I saw some people recommend using two shields for maximum protection (one on the back and one in the hand). But what do they do when they face horse archers?

Also, are there any polearms that can be swung on horseback?

Thanks!

edit: What is the exact penalty for using a two handed sword as a one handed?

 

[stygN]

I don't think any polearm can be swung on horseback, every 2 handed weapon works as 1 handed on horseback, so you can only stab I think (I think, I don't know this for sure).

Well, why not have a shield? When you ride against an army of Rhodoks or Vaegir you'd be glad to have it, have that shield soak up the arrows instead of your chest.

Just use it when you charge, and release the shield and drop the lance just in time to strike the guy, and after that just ride around and whack people.

Shields are also really useful in sieges.

EDIT: The penalty is 35% reduction in damage.

 

[hermanJnr.]

Though I'm certainly no expert at the game, I find a shield is pretty much a neccesity in big fights, especially on the higher Player Damage difficulty settings.

If you're not blocking and a measly peasant gets in a lucky swipe with a rusty scythe you suddenly find yourself minus 50 or so health, which can really hurt in a fight. A shield stops all that, and also works well for just charging straight into infantry on horseback and trampling without taking much/any damage. Great against pesky archers and javelin-throwers as well.

Not to mention if one of your idiotic men runs right in front of your horse, bringing you to an abrupt halt - you'll be glad that metal disc is between you and the 4 or so sharp pointy sticks that would otherwise have pierced your spine with massive momentum 

Just from my (relatively small) experience though...

 

[Swadius 2.0]

If I play as a heavily armoured mounted knight with a polearm (couching ftw) do I really need a shield? I've only played for a couple of hours now and I haven't had any really big battles yet so I wonder if the shield is a necessity later on. Now I can kill sea raiders and looters on my own quite well without a shield.

Have you turned the AI difficulty up? They can be quite deadly when they are, people have complained, or proudly proclaimed that they have been hit in the head with throwing axes a lot when they turn up the AI difficulty. All the missile troops also seem to benefit from this, it's not rare to see missiles sticking out of enemy troop's heads when commanding an archer or crossbow regiment.

However, I saw some people recommend using two shields for maximum protection (one on the back and one in the hand). But what do they do when they face horse archers?

Was it the one I started? It's simply a matter of choice, there's no significant advantage to this, you'll rarely fighting with both missile troops to the front and back in native, not so in mods.
As for horse archers, either get a force of infantry that has large shields or get heavy cavalry. Fighting these buggers tend to be long though, no matter how or what you fight them with.

Also, are there any polearms that can be swung on horseback?

Not in native no. Here's a program to edit the weapons to allow you to do that: http://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/topic,27735.0.html

edit: What is the exact penalty for using a two handed sword as a one handed?

It's either 35% or 25% This is the case when using them on foot with a shield and on horse back, in fact all two handed weapons suffer this penalty when used on horse back because of the one handed use.

 

[Pheasant Pucker]

Thanks for all the answers! I have more questions so I'll ask them here instead of opening a new topic.

When is the right time to become a vassal and when is the right time to support a claimant?
Currently I have 200 renown and I joined the Swadian claimant with my meager 50 moderately upgraded troops (15 or so huscarls). When I try to siege a castle, 300-400 hundred troops descend on me and whoop my ass. Should I recruit more troops? If I boost my relations with Swadian lords before starting a rebellion, will they come to my side from the beginning? Or do I need to persuade them? If so, what is the minimum persuasion skill to be moderately successful at that?

What is the best way to get an army of 300 hundred men anyway? Should I vassalize to a king and upgrade my fief until I can afford them and the break my oath? Or should I hunt sea raiders and recruit for a year?

Does staying in a tavern on a payday reduce the troop upkeep? I think I've read that somewhere...

Thanks!

 

[Archonsod]

When is the right time to become a vassal and when is the right time to support a claimant?

For vassalage, whenever you can. You don't need to jump on the sieging bandwagon right away, use the time to develop your fief, maybe raid a few enemy villagers and steadily grow your party. Don't forget to assist your own lords from time to time (great way to get loot and XP without too much risk).

When I try to siege a castle, 300-400 hundred troops descend on me and whoop my ass. Should I recruit more troops?

For a castle siege? Yep. Or wait till your faction goes on the warpath and join in a siege with them, so you get to have their men killed instead Until you're ready try taking on enemy caravans and villages, and any enemy lords who look weak enough to defeat.

If I boost my relations with Swadian lords before starting a rebellion, will they come to my side from the beginning? Or do I need to persuade them? If so, what is the minimum persuasion skill to be moderately successful at that?

It depends on the lord. Higher relations between you and the lord help; high persuasion helps and of course the arguments you use will affect your chances.

Does staying in a tavern on a payday reduce the troop upkeep? I think I've read that somewhere...

No, but garrisoned forces (ie those in a castle) have reduced wages.