AbsintheRed
Deity
Horse archers EAT axemen, without any promo the start with the same strength, but have two first strikes, are immune against first strikes, and 45% wichanche to withdraw from combat if they do not win. Also they will cause flanking damage to early siege.
Put a stack of 10 of each unit against each other if you do not belive me
The 2 first strikes is enough of edge to those axemen. I get to hit you twice beore you hit me.This means that when you hit me you will already be hurt.
And if the first strike is not enough 4-5 of the attacking HA will still survive and gain XP.
If any axemen are still alive they will be killed the next turn.And the axes will have lost more units and take a stability hit.
This is why I suggested to give attack bonus againt light cavalry
I want to keep it the way you wrote here when horse archers attack, but should result in a more devastating defeat when they have to defend