Horse throughout the ages...

[AlexDetrojan]

So, in my gaming/learning against the AI, I've advanced beyond the Italian wars into the Machiavelli times to the Tercio to Salvo times and have dipped my toes into the Thirty Years War. During this I've noticed that Horse have changed in function, formations and some weaponry. What has caused me a bit of trouble is that I just get used to say Horse in the Italian Wars but when I try tactics I've discovered during that time in another time, they don't necessarily work as well or at all. Is there a primer. or someone with a bit of patience to guide me a bit in the various Horse types and their intended uses throughout the breadth of this game?
Cheers
Alex

[SnuggleBunnies]

I assume you are talking about non-light horse types.

Gendarmes: Fully armored, move only 3 squares. Use them to charge into vulnerable medium infantry, or to defeat enemy cavalry. Only charge heavy foot if they have already been disrupted by fire. They can get carried away more even than other cavalry in the pursuit.

Later Gendarmes: Heavily armored, but less than regular Gendarmes, who they will suffer against in melee. However, they can move 4 squares. Essentially use as more mobile Gendarmes, but less armored for the melee and thus also more vulnerable to arrows.

Demi-Lancers: Medium armored lancers. Use as flankers or against medium foot. They will suffer against heavies head on.

Reiters: Use to pin down pike keils with arquebus support, or charge medium foot or disrupted opponents.

Non-Light Cavalry Archers: Covering the various Bow, Swordsmen types. Try to use their archery to disrupt enemy cavalry before contact, as they will suffer in the melee. If you must play defensively against enemy horse, park in rough ground; if they charge you, both units will be disordered. If not, you can hopefully win elsewhere on the field. Against infantry, you can use them, like reiters, to pin down heavies to hit them with other missile troops, or charge disrupted or vulnerable missile troops. Quality is key here - there are Average, Unprotected troops of this sort, but also Superior, Armored types.

Non-Light Carbine armed cavalry: Use like horse archers, but keep in mind their fire is somewhat more effective against infantry, and rather less effective against cavalry.

Polish Banner Cavalry: Essentially lancers with additional 50% missile power. This gives them flexibility; the weak missile power can still force enemy cavalry out of position, though it is rather useless against infantry.

"Horse" - Your standard 30 Years War cavalry. They are incapable of taking on Pike and Shot head on, but can run down other foot. Their main role is to defeat the enemy's cavalry before flanking the infantry. Comes in Armored, Unarmored, Average, and Superior varieties.

Impact Horse - Covering Winged Hussars, later French Cavalry, Finnish Hakapells in Swedish service. They have a massively powerful Impact effect that they can use to sweep away enemy cavalry. These troops tend to be a little more expensive as a result.

Cavaliers - English Civil War Royalist cavalry. Essentially horse, often of Superior quality, with a tendency to pursue.

Curassiers - Heavily armored pistol horse. Unlike Reiters, they have no 1 tile shooting ability, but instead get pistol impact. Combined with their heavy armor, they can crush horse in a head on fight, but are rather expensive in points.

Any specific questions on one of these types?

[AlexDetrojan]

SB, thanks! That is exactly what I was looking for. I will put this to good use. As another question, I find Light Lancers a rather flexible cavalry type. Can't stand up to Heavy Horse but can find all sorts of mischief to cause. Of late, I've found them really good against the enemies cannon when they are a bit exposed and under-protected. Any other good uses for them?
Cheers
Alex.

[SnuggleBunnies]

They're actually quite capable of taking on disrupted non light horse, especially if they are already engaged. This gives the enemy a malus for fighting multiple units. Light lances are also great for running down enemy lights, and are able to charge unprotected massed missile troops head on. Finally, like all light cavalry, they can run down routing enemies you don't want to rally, or charge and break fragmented foes to keep your heavier troops under command for more urgent tasks.