I'd really like to have a discussion about Horse Throwers (HT's) and more particularly the HT's place amongst other ranged cavalry. I'd also like to get some feedback from other players who have given the class a legitimate try. I haven't done any number crunching nor do I have a clear idea of what I'd like changed, I just want to have a discussion about my favorite underused and unappreciated class. Maybe you already have some ideas that you'd like to share or maybe you think it's fine how it is. I'd like to know either way. It's not a popular class and certainly one I've received a lot of verbal abuse and team wounds for playing. Please leave your "fuck ranged cav" comments at the door.
Personally, I've really wanted to make this class my thing. I've been playing this mod for what seems like a long time now and I've tried just about every combination of stats and proficiencies available. The one class that still strikes me as being particularly unbalanced and unloved is the Horse Thrower.
Sure it's inaccurate (it should be) and there is a low amount of ammo. These things don't bug me, I think both cons are important in keeping throwing balanced. What does bug me is my damage and over all inefficiency I feel in comparison with a Horse Xbow (HX) player of similar skill level. As a HT I feel like an incredibly gimped HX, especially when fighting against one. Throwing should be the most damaging projectile and the only time a horse thrower is going to do considerably more damage than a HX is when a throw gets the speed bonus from a horse coming in their direction. Besides that, from my playing experience, a HX can cause more damage overall because it's projectiles don't suffer from the same speed malus as throwing projectiles. Too many times have I filled a medium armoured lancer with 2 MW throwing lances (or 4 MW throwing spears) only to have them still joyfully lance-ploughing my team because of the over the top speed malus. This probably wouldn't be a problem for me because I understand the potential OPness of throwing without the speed malus. What makes it an issue is HX's not having a severe malus of their own.
Horse Xbows get more ammo, much greater accuracy, and a superior build which allows for a much higher riding skill, more weapon proficiency points, and more horse archery skill. Combine this with the lack of an xbow stat and it's no wonder I'm so incredibly frustrated when fighting HX. Hell, sometimes when I play HA it feels the same way but I'm personally content with the state of Horse Archers. I guess this is turning into a NERF HORSE XBOW thread, but if I feel like that's been a popular sentiment for some time... at least in NA_1. There's good reason for it.
I don't think that HX should be removed or nerfed into the ground, nor do I want to see HT buffed out of it's current niche. What I want, I think, is to not feel like I'm handicapping myself because I've chosen to play a class that isn't widely loved and/or abused.
That's enough out of me. What does Crpg think? I'd appreciate any constructive feedback. Thanks.