Why is Imperial Cavalry so rare?

[Julio-Claudian]

Aside from horse archers, Imperial Lords always seem to have around 90% fewer heavy cavalrymen than lords of any other culture. I like that they're not overly easy to get but why is it so much more difficult for imperials?

 

[Apocal]

Aside from horse archers, Imperial Lords always seem to have around 90% fewer heavy cavalrymen than lords of any other culture. I like that they're not overly easy to get but why is it so much more difficult for imperials?

Because they only get heavy cav from their noble line. Aserai, Khuzait and Vlandia all get mainline heavy(ish) cav.

edit: Sturgia too.

I'm not going to count Battania because their cav is garbage.

 

[HalfMetalJacket]

I'm not going to count Battania because their cav is garbage.

And yet I swear its like half of what Battanian lords seem to fill. The scout line needs to be scrapped, period. Give us common archers instead.

 

[lenhuizing]

Aside from horse archers, Imperial Lords always seem to have around 90% fewer heavy cavalrymen than lords of any other culture. I like that they're not overly easy to get but why is it so much more difficult for imperials?

I guess because they're very much based on the Roman empire troups which used very little cavalry as well

 

[Wulfsdottir]

And yet I swear its like half of what Battanian lords seem to fill. The scout line needs to be scrapped, period. Give us common archers instead.

+1

 

[Grandburger]

If the empire is modeled after the "Byzantine" or Komnenian era Romans. Cavalry should in fact be much more present as much Like the westerners and Easterners was it's focus.

Problem is, what exactly is the game's period? Is it Late Dark Ages? You can balance the game's combat alot easier if you decide what period are you modeling them after. As generally speaking, Nations that didn't have much heavy cavalry could still counter nations that did simply because they had to. (They're terrain also helped them shape themselves.)

Also I agree with the Battanians. Maybe the Cavalry should be modeled after the Gaels, Javelin throwing Light Horsemen. And the faction itself focused on heavy long-Bows, self-bows (Basically Welsh) and really anything that can impale a man or cleave him in two as the Gaels and Dacians where quite fond of Two handed Swords and Martial prowess of the simple short axes/swords/javelins spear and shield.

 

[Liffy]

I've found the best way to get Imperial Cav is by doing the deserter quest at villages. Assign blunt weapons to you and companions and try to take out the imperial cav before the rest of your party. Then recruit prisoners (best when improved garrison mod). You will get imperial deserters in every village controlled by an imperial noble. (Does not have to be a true imperial village just controlled by an imperial lord).

 

[Darkax]

I have no problems defeating every cavarly army in game. I use a mix of all types of horse archers (Khuzarit and buci's mainly but any others I can pick up as well) and Palantine Guards. Usually when my personal troops get to around 120 of this mix (30ish Palantines) I can solo take out forces w 3:1 odds and sometimes 4:1 odds if I have the terrain advantage (the high ground). Once my troops total near 240 i don't hesitate to solo engage armies of 700+. It's a tough fight and I lose 50ish troops and get 100ish wounded but you almost always get double or triple that back in troops and prisoners. I never use infantry troops, just imperial recruits and level them to palatines and some buci's. Palantines power imo demand a low Imperial cav count by default