D&D General Mounted Archers

[doctorbadwolf]

Reinforcing why, for much of history, cavalry was a rich man's game.

Ya know, it is interesting the difference between cultures where horses that are fit for war are an extreme minority and thus exceptionally expensive, vs cultures like the mongols that fielded hordes of light cavalry on wellbred and well trained horses.

seems like you basically have to center your society on the horse in order to accomplish that?

 

[GrimCo]

Ya know, it is interesting the difference between cultures where horses that are fit for war are an extreme minority and thus exceptionally expensive, vs cultures like the mongols that fielded hordes of light cavalry on wellbred and well trained horses.

seems like you basically have to center your society on the horse in order to accomplish that?

Horses were very different. Golden Horde used steppe ponies which are 120-140 cm tall at withers and weight 250-350kg. Knights in full mail harness used destriers which were 150-170cm tall and weighted 500-650kg. One is bred for self sufficiency and endurance other is for strength and shock combat ( horses were as much as weapon as a lance versus infantry). 700kg of flesh and steel in full charge can do some serious harm when it crashes into something.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Horses were very different. Golden Horde used steppe ponies which are 120-140 cm tall at withers and weight 250-350kg. Knights in full mail harness used destriers which were 150-170cm tall and weighted 500-650kg. One is bred for self sufficiency and endurance other is for strength and shock combat ( horses were as much as weapon as a lance versus infantry). 700kg of flesh and steel in full charge can do some serious harm when it crashes into something.

I mean, yeah, they still ate way more than a human and need more care than any human older than 9 years old.

Now compare Beduin horses, famous for speed and fearlessness, and raised in a harse land where water is an especially highly valued resource.

Either way, you have to center your society on such animals in order to center your military strategy on the use of them.