Slitherine

Cavalry Light Spear is confusing me a bit. Does it only count when all other POA cancel out or if the unit with it has no POA? It seems to cost the same as Lance but to be really inferior in game terms.

When other PoA's cancel out.

Its value in the game are things like troops with it are not shock troops and so can skirmish by being 1 rank deep.

Also light spear cavalry cannot be forced to charge when you might not want them to.

nikgaukroger wrote:When other PoA's cancel out.

Could you expand and clarify this? Could you also give us some examples of when they would and when they wouldn't cancel out?

Thanks.

Monty

Montagu wrote:
Could you expand and clarify this? Could you also give us some examples of when they would and when they wouldn't cancel out?

Thanks.

Monty

When fighting impact MF, for example. Or cavalry armed with bow and sword.

Rgds,
Peter

Montagu wrote:

nikgaukroger wrote:When other PoA's cancel out.

Could you expand and clarify this? Could you also give us some examples of when they would and when they wouldn't cancel out?

Thanks.

Monty

If when all other fatctors have been considered there is no difference in POA between light spear armed cavalry and whtever they are fighting then the light spear cavalry get a POA.

Charging light spear, spear or impact foot medium foot in the open for example. The cavalry get a POA for mounted vs medium foot in the open, the foot get a POA for their weapon, the nett POA is nothing so the cavalry light spear gives them a POA.

If the foot were heavy foot or not in the open then as the cavalry don't get a POA to start with but the foot do the combat would have a POA in favour of the foot hence there is a nett POA so the light spear doesn't count.

hammy wrote:

Montagu wrote:

nikgaukroger wrote:When other PoA's cancel out.

Could you expand and clarify this? Could you also give us some examples of when they would and when they wouldn't cancel out?

Thanks.

Monty

If when all other fatctors have been considered there is no difference in POA between light spear armed cavalry and whtever they are fighting then the light spear cavalry get a POA.

Charging light spear, spear or impact foot medium foot in the open for example. The cavalry get a POA for mounted vs medium foot in the open, the foot get a POA for their weapon, the nett POA is nothing so the cavalry light spear gives them a POA.

If the foot were heavy foot or not in the open then as the cavalry don't get a POA to start with but the foot do the combat would have a POA in favour of the foot hence there is a nett POA so the light spear doesn't count.

Oh yes! My Roman cavalry just found this out this past weekend. DO NOT charge steady heavy foot frontally. Its a very bad idea.

So basically as I say it is worse than Lance but costs the same. The advantage of being able to skirmish would apply without the spear and it will rarely count in impact.

themightycid wrote:So basically as I say it is worse than Lance but costs the same. The advantage of being able to skirmish would apply without the spear and it will rarely count in impact.

The main advantage of light spear for cavalry is POA vs shooty cavalry in the impact phase, but retain the option to evade, and no CMTs not to charge.
Also, it is better than lance vs MF spearmen.

In many circumstances I would prefer them to lancers.

Also good for digging out MF w/ missile weapons from rough going where the lance gives you nothing whereas the light spear will give you a +. This helps counter the dice advantage they will have. Then it's on to armoured + swordsmen on melee which is a ++. Your light spear mounted can also try baiting lancers into uneven ground for a fairer fight.