Bratok
Regular
So, seriously. I am trying to analyze, which method is preferrable from the gameplay point o view, regardless of roleplaying, lore and culture background factors.
Mounted combat pros and cons:
+ Speed and mobility in both combat and campaign modes.
+ Weapon damage bonus.
+ Riders do not care about armor weight.
+ Can safely ignore shields, if armor is heavy enough, and wield more weapons.
+ Better overview and control of the battlefield situation.
+ Riding skill levels up FAST in conjunction with weapon skills.
+ Girls love horses and riders.
+ Filthy peasants can clearly see who's the boss.
- Maximum efficiency is expensive (a good mount + saddle/horse armor)
- If your polearm is shorter than theirs, you are ****ed.
- If your mount is killed in an enemy crowd, you are ****ed.
- Speed damage bonus works both ways, ouch.
- Horseman is a bigger and, thus, easier target for ranged troops.
- Much worse performance in woods, hills/mountains, and villages.
- Much worse performance in static melee.
- Long pikes and some ranged weapons are not available.
- Two-handed weapons are less efficient than on foot.
- Useless in siege combat.
- Girls may not like the odor.
- Enemy footmen WILL call you a *****.
Foot combat pros and cons:
+ All weapons are available and at 100% efficiency.
+ Easier to get additional cover from allied footmen.
+ Works much better in woods, hills/mountains, and villages.
+ Works MUCH better in siege combat.
+ You can pick up weapons from the ground.
+ Easier to get in cover, lower profile, harder to hit with projectiles.
+ No need to spend lots of money on horses and horse equipment.
+ Can stand and die with your battle brothers shoulder to shoulder, like a man.
+ Gives the exclusive right to call enemy horsemen pussies.
- Much lower speed and mobility in both combat and campaign modes.
- Heavier armor further decreases speed and mobility.
- No weapon damage bonus.
- It is hard to control the tide of battle, when you cant see **** in that crowd.
- The corresponding skill levels up way too slow.
- Performs worse on flat battlefields (steppe, desert).
- Shield is very very advisable.
- Girls still love horses and riders.
- Filthy peasants can't clearly see who's the boss.
The thing is, despite all the abovementioned pros and cons, I still eventually switch to mounted combat in all my playthroughs, no matter what culture I choose. Foot combat just feels much less dynamic and gets boring fast for some reason.
Mounted combat pros and cons:
+ Speed and mobility in both combat and campaign modes.
+ Weapon damage bonus.
+ Riders do not care about armor weight.
+ Can safely ignore shields, if armor is heavy enough, and wield more weapons.
+ Better overview and control of the battlefield situation.
+ Riding skill levels up FAST in conjunction with weapon skills.
+ Girls love horses and riders.
+ Filthy peasants can clearly see who's the boss.
- Maximum efficiency is expensive (a good mount + saddle/horse armor)
- If your polearm is shorter than theirs, you are ****ed.
- If your mount is killed in an enemy crowd, you are ****ed.
- Speed damage bonus works both ways, ouch.
- Horseman is a bigger and, thus, easier target for ranged troops.
- Much worse performance in woods, hills/mountains, and villages.
- Much worse performance in static melee.
- Long pikes and some ranged weapons are not available.
- Two-handed weapons are less efficient than on foot.
- Useless in siege combat.
- Girls may not like the odor.
- Enemy footmen WILL call you a *****.
Foot combat pros and cons:
+ All weapons are available and at 100% efficiency.
+ Easier to get additional cover from allied footmen.
+ Works much better in woods, hills/mountains, and villages.
+ Works MUCH better in siege combat.
+ You can pick up weapons from the ground.
+ Easier to get in cover, lower profile, harder to hit with projectiles.
+ No need to spend lots of money on horses and horse equipment.
+ Can stand and die with your battle brothers shoulder to shoulder, like a man.
+ Gives the exclusive right to call enemy horsemen pussies.
- Much lower speed and mobility in both combat and campaign modes.
- Heavier armor further decreases speed and mobility.
- No weapon damage bonus.
- It is hard to control the tide of battle, when you cant see **** in that crowd.
- The corresponding skill levels up way too slow.
- Performs worse on flat battlefields (steppe, desert).
- Shield is very very advisable.
- Girls still love horses and riders.
- Filthy peasants can't clearly see who's the boss.
The thing is, despite all the abovementioned pros and cons, I still eventually switch to mounted combat in all my playthroughs, no matter what culture I choose. Foot combat just feels much less dynamic and gets boring fast for some reason.