Fighting from horseback
When striking at a person on foot while wielding weapons (not pole arms), the best tactic is to slash at them just as you are passing and not when they’re still slightly ahead of you. Two-handed melee weapons can not be used when you are
riding horseback. Pole arms from horseback work a little differently, in that when you ready your weapon for a thrust, you can aim it anywhere you like with the mouse. You can trample enemies with a horse, which is extremely useful.
Horses deal “blunt” damage whenever they hit an enemy on foot with sufficient speed, so you can knock enemies unconscious by trampling them. Note that this doesn’t work well against foot soldiers with pole arms or bayoneted muskets, because they can get a hit at your horse before they are knocked down. If your horse takes a strong hit in the chest with a pole arm, you will be halted, which can prove to be very dangerous if you’re surrounded.
riding horseback. Pole arms from horseback work a little differently, in that when you ready your weapon for a thrust, you can aim it anywhere you like with the mouse. You can trample enemies with a horse, which is extremely useful.
Horses deal “blunt” damage whenever they hit an enemy on foot with sufficient speed, so you can knock enemies unconscious by trampling them. Note that this doesn’t work well against foot soldiers with pole arms or bayoneted muskets, because they can get a hit at your horse before they are knocked down. If your horse takes a strong hit in the chest with a pole arm, you will be halted, which can prove to be very dangerous if you’re surrounded.
Fighting mounted opponents
It is all well and good to learn about running down infantrymen, but what if that infantryman happens to be you? The greatest strength of a war horse is its speed. Therefore, when you face a mounted opponent it is best to make use of the features of the terrain. Gullies, steep hills, and cliffs will impede the horse and slow it down, and it is ideal to engage mounted opponents in the woods or in shallow water. Equally important, when facing this threat, is the use of pole arms or bayoneted
muskets. After sustaining a powerful blow of a spear/bayonet to the chest, a horse will stop and may even fall. The hardest part is timing: you want to have yourweapon at full extension at the same time as the horse runs into it, for maximum
damage and safety. If you wait too long, your spear won’t be in a position to hit the horse before you’re run over, or the horse will be stopped close enough that the rider can still chop at you with their weapon. If you thrust too soon, your strike
will be wasted, the horse won’t stop, and you’ll be flattened.
muskets. After sustaining a powerful blow of a spear/bayonet to the chest, a horse will stop and may even fall. The hardest part is timing: you want to have yourweapon at full extension at the same time as the horse runs into it, for maximum
damage and safety. If you wait too long, your spear won’t be in a position to hit the horse before you’re run over, or the horse will be stopped close enough that the rider can still chop at you with their weapon. If you thrust too soon, your strike
will be wasted, the horse won’t stop, and you’ll be flattened.