Combat speculation

[Montov]

I believe the developpers didn't have time to correct all the issues pointed out by the testers. I've read somewhere vague complaints about this problem (vague because of non-disclosure agreements, etc.).

And personally, I think that horsemen have been overnerfed. They're better balanced than at release, but seriously, who builds horsemen anymore...

The 4 movement of Horseman are great, they are the fastest units until Lancers. The move after attacking works weel with that movement. So a strength of 10 is good as balance. I don't prioritize mounted units, because the movement is not my biggest concern, but when I use them it is really great.

 

[elprofesor]

I know horsemen strengths. I don't find they are enough to justify producing them. Apparently neither do you. That's exactly my point.

Those that play multiplayer say that they are great to hunt down ranged units. You don't need them to do that in single player...

 

[KillingMeSoftly]

I'll build them if I'm early-game warmongering without Iron. Granted that's kinda rare, but they get the job done better than spearmen.

I'll also build them if I'm playing a Civ with a mounted unique unit, like Spain or Mongols.

Concerning their uselessness in single player, that's kind of a given. Mounted units have a tactical edge in their speed. Against an opponent with poor tactics (the AI), you don't really need these advantages.

 

[Civsassin]

The 4 movement of Horseman are great, they are the fastest units until Lancers. The move after attacking works weel with that movement. So a strength of 10 is good as balance. I don't prioritize mounted units, because the movement is not my biggest concern, but when I use them it is really great.

I prefer mounted units station in cities, because I can send them out to destroy a siege unit, and bring them back to the city to heal: all in one turn. The upgrade path is also great once you have tanks.

 

[Louis XXIV]

It's better to have a ranged unit in the city. I try to keep the mounted unit behind the city, especially if the enemy attacks from only one direction.

 

[Civsassin]

It's better to have a ranged unit in the city. I try to keep the mounted unit behind the city, especially if the enemy attacks from only one direction.

I'm an advocate of the tradition and honor policy branches. Both provide bonuses if the unit is garrisoned. Move-after-attacking units permit me to keep the bonuses, which is one of the main reasons I prefer it. Aside from the fact that you can usually remove one defender from the picture using a city attack (with the Oligarchy bonus) and following it up with the mounted unit or tank. I employ this exclusively on border cities. It is an effective way to hold off an attack while other units are brought to the battle.

 

[crazyundead]

Or they could just work on improving the AI...

 

[Ahhuatl]

I'm just nervous about how this will play out on higher difficulties. I'm sure we've all had matches at Emperor and above where the AI just poops out a ridiculous number of units in a war. If combat slows down, I can just imagine wave after wave of those units piling up....