How to use your horse archers efficiently in battle...

[arslanbeg]

I noticed they are terribly efficient in defending a castle during the siege by pouring rain of arrows, but in battle their performance is rather poor..I fought along side some AI lords from the Golden Horde as mercenary, against Polish army, each side had ~1200 troops. An army of 1200  Polish troops has about 2/3 of well protected infantry, the AI of the infantry is improved greatly, they tend to form tight formation when facing cavalry attack. The mongol horse archers simply charge head on into the tight formation of heavy infantry and knights, and they were overwhelmed. Those who survived these suicidal attacks went away to deliver their arrows but then they charged again with their melee weapon...However, I also noticed that if the horse archers were ordered to dismount, they fought much better. When dismounted, they form a single line and shoot their arrows. I'm wondering  is there a way to make them use ranged weapons all the way until all the ammo is spent, instead of charge head on with their melee weapon? In the current version, the mongols use kind of human wave tactic, they can never win a battle when the other side has slightly numerical superiority. If they can be made circling and shooting instead repeat charging, they will be much stronger. I understand it is important to balance the troops, but right now the horse archers are simply too weak (except in defending siege).

 

[Othienka]

My horse archers always run around in circles raining arrows until I tell them to charge/their ammo is spent.

 

[arslanbeg]

My horse archers always run around in circles raining arrows until I tell them to charge/their ammo is spent.

Thanks for reply

At the start of battle, the horse archers are "holding" by default, did you use "follow" to lead them in circle? or is there any special command to order them running in circle?

 

[Othienka]

Yeah, since I play in 1257ad as a horse archer, I just have them all follow me around making porcupines out of my enemies. I have seen on other mods the Skirmish command [shoot and run if they get near you], which is pretty much what you are actually asking for.

 

[blackitalian]

a skirmish command would be great for horse archers.

 

[Lazyman]

Make sure the option "Force ranged troops to use ranged weapons" is on. They work fine then. Though I have removed range weapons from the Mamalik al Sultaniya and Bahirrya and made them melee only

 

[arslanbeg]

Make sure the option "Force ranged troops to use ranged weapons" is on. They work fine then. Though I have removed range weapons from the Mamalik al Sultaniya and Bahirrya and made them melee only

Thanks, probably that's the problem, I didn't activate that option.

 

[Lazyman]

If you dont the turkomans will try to fight will sabres and suddenly you notice half the army is dead

 

[thrakkemarn]

Make sure the option "Force ranged troops to use ranged weapons" is on. They work fine then. Though I have removed range weapons from the Mamalik al Sultaniya and Bahirrya and made them melee only

Thanks, probably that's the problem, I didn't activate that option.

I have that box checked in the Camp > Mod Options, but my horse archers still charge headlong into the enemy and get themselves slaughtered. I installed the SVN last week

 

[arslanbeg]

Make sure the option "Force ranged troops to use ranged weapons" is on. They work fine then. Though I have removed range weapons from the Mamalik al Sultaniya and Bahirrya and made them melee only

Thanks, probably that's the problem, I didn't activate that option.

I have that box checked in the Camp > Mod Options, but my horse archers still charge headlong into the enemy and get themselves slaughtered. I installed the SVN last week

Sometimes it does that, you'll see your horse archers come really close to the enemy formation, but actually they are not charging, they are "loading" their ranged weapon (if you force them to use range weapons). The two-hand weapon or polearm can kill their horses and slaughter them easily, but that only happens for the horse archers in front. The other horse archers get stopped before they are close to the enemy ( blocked by those in front of them), and you will see these horse archers turn away to deliver their arrows and will never charge in. Force your horse archers to use range weapon is a compromise, the horse archers will never use melee weapon even though they come hand to hand with the enemy, but the good thing is that most of your horse archers will shoot continuously instead of use melee weapon to charge.

 

[Lazyman]

So what I did was just remove bows from Mamalik al Sultaniya and Bahirrya and make them armored lancers. That way I can keep a good force of 30~ Mamalik Al Kibar al Umara as my horse archers. Companions charge first and blunt the enemy anyways so my horse archers dyeing to lances is not a problem, ive given the Kibars a lance of their own.