Knights and ZOC

[benn]

I've asked this before, but no one seemed to know. Why do Horseman and Calvary have ZOC but knights don't? Is the armor weighing them down?

 

[bakant]

In civ 3 there are no zones of control.

 

[Peteus]

Hee, hee...good question, and a reasonable answer! Knights in plate armour were like tanks, used for frontal assaults against lighter-armed infantry. Light cavalry (i.e. Horsemen) were better for hit-and-run tactics, which is what occurs when someone passes through your ZOC.
So sure...it's because they are weighed down by the armour!

 

[Maeldun]

It seems a fair reason indeed.

 

[Hurricane]

Well, well. Peteus: the Knights did not have that heavy armor except on the tournaments (is that the word?). The closest to your description would be the Polish knights during the 16-th century, and they easily outrode their less heavily armed counterparts (Swedes or Cossaks).

In my opinion, this is a bug that should be fixed. And I really would like to see some "real" ZOCs (like in Civ2), at least for cities and fortresses.

 

[FullofHoles]

I would assume that knights require more "readiness" time than cavalry or horsemen. I do not know if this is the reasoning that they used, but it seems likely. A horseman might just be able to jump on his steed and grab his spear while a knight has to suit up.

I am not really arguing that that is the reason, but I am saying that it is a possible reason.

 

[ajohn505]

It's got to be the gaggle of squires and armor-bearers keeping them slow.

 

[benn]

Thanks for everyone's comments. Can someone from Firaxis comment one whether this was a deliberate design decision?

 

[Ethics]

Well dont worry, these same knights despite their lack of zoc, can outmatch any elite marine and tank of today. =(

 

[Anunikoba]

I actually took away the Horseman's ZOC in my Pre-Patch mod because it didn't make much sense for them to lose this ability when upgraded to Knights.

I just don't know why they have it- they already have the 'withdraw' ability, and if you say 'Chivalry', then ... hmmm..

 

[benn]

Well, with the new patch, horsemen also lose their ZOC. I guess they don't want anything until calvary to have a ZOC.