How to use Horse Archers, and to use Horse Archers with lances?

[Gunnar]

I am new to the game, I cannot decide how to use the horse archers in battle, especially ones with lances

I thought it would make sense to have them somehow close in on the enemy, fire a few shots, then charge. But I don't know how to put that into the commands

I thought having them stay in place and fire, and then attack rear with lances would make sense, but I don't see which command would do this.

I am assuming hvaing them sit there firing their bows would be inferior to charging with lances alone.

[terve886]

I think the best way to use horse archers is probably set them on your frontline with "fire and keep distance" command. They will retreat as the enemy army encloses, and against units like barbarians you might get them to retreat from damage without getting any casualties yourself.

[Gunnar]

Do you think this is true even for horse archers that have lances? The hybrid type

[Kid Icarus]

I think the idea with the lance/bow units is that you have flexible options depending on what you are going up against. So as you are marching into enemy territory, maybe you want to use the horse archers to fire and keep distance to minimize casualties against PD or chaff troops. Then when you run into a main unit, perhaps you use a lance charge to deal some damage to heavier armed troops or use their mobility to attack rear.

Similarly, there are some archer units that are actually armed decently as light infantry. So you can hold and fire or simply fire to deal some extra damage at range before they engage in melee. I find that having squads of these flexible troops is nice because i can reform the army while it is out on a campaign and have them perform different roles. It doesn't always work out, but its always worth a try

[Arkrow XIV]

Not sure if this applies but with Ermor legionaries and javalin users I don't put orders that way they fire on distance and attack at melee range

[Kid Icarus]

I do the same thing with javelin users, depending on the situation. As Arcoscephale expansion, I'd have a line of peltasts in front on "fire and keep distance" with a squad of cardaces behind set to "hold and attack closest" so then i'd maybe get a few lance shots to soften up the troops before engaging in melee and try to keep the peltasts from dying too much. I dunno if it was good, and it didn't last as tactic much beyond expansion.

Also, if you just set a squad to "fire" they will fire until the enemy is close enough and then engage in melee. Another way to use javelin troops or other short ranged troops

[Sombre]

Hold and attack rear means your flank horse archers get a couple turns of shooting then charge in to try and get to the enemy backline. Honestly the two rounds of shooting aren't a big deal though.

I've always used horse archers as flexible troops that can do either.

[Arkrow XIV]

Then is preferable that they spend first their arrows in case of low prot/shieldless troops

[boozermonkey]

Originally posted by Aird:

Not sure if this applies but with Ermor legionaries and javalin users I don't put orders that way they fire on distance and attack at melee range

Just put them on fire closest. Same thing except they will discharge one additional volley of javelins before engaging.

[Alias]

One thing units with mixed weaponry have going for them is better odds at countering glamour.

[ÆtherNomad]

Originally posted by Kid Icarus:

Also, if you just set a squad to "fire" they will fire until the enemy is close enough and then engage in melee. Another way to use javelin troops or other short ranged troops

I think this is the answer OP was looking for.

[Undergrowler]

Haven't tried it yet in Dominions 5 but in Dominions 4 it worked well to have them hold and then attack closest. If you have positioned them right they'll shoot a couple rounds and then charge the closest enemy. Good in a flank position where they can hit the enemy flank too and not just in a front position..