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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Steel_Wind" data-source="post: 2289838" data-attributes="member: 20741">First, I didn't say dispersed - I said "dispersed and hiding".  You can't ride him down if you can't find him.  (Cav also does not work very well against a dug in foe either. See "Whoever saw a dead cavalrymen?" et al from the American Civil War.)So no - your cavalry and your massed infantry is NOT going to overwhelm a dispersed and hidden enemy.  The problem is that your dispersed and hidden enemy is going to be ineffective at projecting any power on the battlefield unless:1 - they have a capability which includes an accurate ranged weapon; and,2- they have a capability which includes a portable weapon capable of dealing multiple deaths at range against concentrated foes ; and 3 - you have a means to control these dispersed troops effectively.When you have those three things, you have the basis for modern squad tactics.  A fireball, a crossbow and a magical means of communication gives you those three things.  With them - your massed infantry and massed horse is going to be so many corpses on the battlefield in the long run.  When you concentrate to project your power - you are going to be outmaneuevered and hammered.  When you bunch up - they hit you hard;  When you advance they melt away, hitting back more effectively at your dense troops then your troops can hit at their disperesed and concealed forces. Because a fireball changes everything.The reason why that happens in a fantasy battle is the same reason we don't use massed formations now in modern warfare.  How much magic is involved on the battlefield?  That's the question.</blockquote>

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