Cavalry units . . .

[stockwellpete]

Two ideas to discuss, possibly . . .

Firstly, as a house rule, cavalry units cannot dig their own trenches. I know cavalrymen were able to use shovels, but their main role was to exploit gaps and disrupt enemy supply lines. They can, however, move into trenchworks already dug by infantry. I quite like this house rule as it makes me think harder about how I use my cavalry.

Secondly, should cavalry units be able to Reform? Or if they are destroyed should they cost full price to replace? Cavalry seem to feature less and less in the literature as the war progresses, although this may be a Western Front development. Any thoughts on this?

[mdsmall]

If you introduce either of those changes, I would offset the negative effect on cavalry units ability to survive attack by increasing their chances of retreat before taking casualties in combat.

[stockwellpete]

ORIGINAL: mdsmall

If you introduce either of those changes, I would offset the negative effect on cavalry units ability to survive attack by increasing their chances of retreat before taking casualties in combat.

Yes, good point. Do you know how to do that?

I am finding against the AI that I am much more careful with my cavalry with the "no trenches" idea. I think I would be even more careful if I tried the "No Reform" idea as well. I tend to use them as scouts and rarely cross rivers if I know they are likely to be attacked by infantry on the other side. Still send them after artillery and HQ's though.

[BillRunacre]

If you go to Campaign -> Edit Combat Data then you can edit the chance of a unit retreating.

[stockwellpete]

ORIGINAL: BillRunacre

If you go to Campaign -> Edit Combat Data then you can edit the chance of a unit retreating.

Thanks Bill, I will have a look this afternoon.

[stockwellpete]

I have increased the Retreat % for Non-Resource Positions from 50 to 60. I have left the other values for cities, fortresses etc as they are for now.

[Bavre]

Kind of semi off topic, but another thing that puzzles me about Cav:
Why do they have def 1 vs bombers? I mean, I get why cannons or HQs have this, as they are high value and mostly stationary targets. But why Cav, and if Cav why not Inf, too?

[Bo Rearguard]

ORIGINAL: Bavre

Kind of semi off topic, but another thing that puzzles me about Cav:
Why do they have def 1 vs bombers? I mean, I get why cannons or HQs have this, as they are high value and mostly stationary targets. But why Cav, and if Cav why not Inf, too?

Wild speculation on my part but maybe because horses are easier to hit or panic? Horses can't take cover either.

[BillRunacre]

ORIGINAL: Bavre

Kind of semi off topic, but another thing that puzzles me about Cav:
Why do they have def 1 vs bombers? I mean, I get why cannons or HQs have this, as they are high value and mostly stationary targets. But why Cav, and if Cav why not Inf, too?

It's a good question and I can only think it was by accident rather than by design.

I've made a note to change this in a future patch, thanks for mentioning it.

[Bavre]

ORIGINAL: Bo Rearguard

ORIGINAL: Bavre

Kind of semi off topic, but another thing that puzzles me about Cav:
Why do they have def 1 vs bombers? I mean, I get why cannons or HQs have this, as they are high value and mostly stationary targets. But why Cav, and if Cav why not Inf, too?

Wild speculation on my part but maybe because horses are easier to hit or panic? Horses can't take cover either.

Misunderstanding: Cav has higher def vs Bombers than Inf (1 vs 0).
But as you just said, the opposite (Inf 1, Cav 0) would indeed make sense.

[shri]

ORIGINAL: stockwellpete

Two ideas to discuss, possibly . . .

Firstly, as a house rule, cavalry units cannot dig their own trenches. I know cavalrymen were able to use shovels, but their main role was to exploit gaps and disrupt enemy supply lines. They can, however, move into trenchworks already dug by infantry. I quite like this house rule as it makes me think harder about how I use my cavalry.

Secondly, should cavalry units be able to Reform? Or if they are destroyed should they cost full price to replace? Cavalry seem to feature less and less in the literature as the war progresses, although this may be a Western Front development. Any thoughts on this?

Historical part -
Cavalry was maintained extensively by the UK, tens of thousands of Horses and men by Haig in the rear for 4 years basically played emergency firefighters waiting for the inevitable charge to victory.

The Germans quickly switched all their cavalry to the east, where it was priceless to patrol, scout and keep the peace in the countryside. Vast spaces of Poland and Byelorussia and Ukraine had the German and Austrian/Hungarian cavalry (later supported by Polish cavalry) against Russian cavalry & Cossacks in charges and counter-charges often against machine guns (albeit with huge losses to Cossacks and Russian cavalry).

Gameplay-
Think of cavalry as mounted infantry without heavy weapons.