When doth I thrust-ith?

[r4mmr0d]

I've transitioned to a rouncy-riding, level 22 heavy lance user.  It's been fun (except jousting against high tier horsed, heavily armored cav) but i'm not actually sure when i should be couching a lance.  It seems like i'm more accurate and have more damage potential when i'm thrusting.  What is the consensus?


edit: BTW do you get a speed penalty for using heavy lance with shield?

[Jarlek]

I've transitioned to a rouncy-riding, level 22 heavy lance user.  It's been fun (except jousting against high tier horsed, heavily armored cav) but i'm not actually sure when i should be couching a lance.  It seems like i'm more accurate and have more damage potential when i'm thrusting.  What is the consensus?


edit: BTW do you get a speed penalty for using heavy lance with shield?

You get a speed penalty for using a polearm (or 2h) on horse AND you get a speed penalty for using it with a shield. BUT these don't stack so on horse it's the same with or without a shield, but on foot you would be faster with the shield on your back. Then again you would get more range with the shield so keep that in mind. Also arrowcover, derp xD

About couching. It works against people with short weapons. So if they have a katana or bec de corbin or any 1h, you should be able to safely couch them. It might be a bit hard at first since it's not that easy to control. Also note that a lot of people like to jump around if they notice you couching them. The smart people will jump AWAY from you, but there are some silly people who jump TOWARDS you to try to stab you first. This works if you have the lance aimed too far down, so always keep it a bit up and be ready to move it slightly to the sides.

Also you are MORE accurate and have MORE range when Thrusting, but couching deals more damage. It used to always 1hit anything, but lately I've been couching people and they have survived. Weird.

Another note. Don't couch that much with the heave/normal/light lance. They are meant to be thrusting and are too short to properly couch with. It works on people who haven't spotted you and shielders, but be warned that they could be "faking" it and turn around and stab at the last secound. With a great lance you can safely couch anyone without a pike/long spear/halber/bill/shield and spear.

EDIT: One thing I want to say that doesn't have that much to do with couching. When you see an ally fighting against an enemy and you want to help. DON'T couch or thrust! Your best option would be to BUMP the enemy so your ally gets in a free hit. I have seen way too many cav who instead wants the kill themself and usually ends up with a) missing the enemy, b) missing the enemy and bumping the teamate, giving the ENEMY a free hit, c) missing the enemy hitting the ally thus teamkilling/teamdamage or d) one or both of them accidentaly hit you and you die or get dehorsed.

[Torben]

on a rouncey a couched lance doesnt have the proper speed bonus to 1h everything.  i would use the couching for killing horses that are crossing your way if unaware,  other than that against people blocking down that u know u can take.  otherwise u should train youre headshot thrusting,  as that is the way to go since the new armor mechanics made life harder for us

[r4mmr0d]

Thanks for taking the time to reply guys.  I think i have everything i need to know now!

[Smoothrich]

Couch anytime its off cooldown and you have good terrain for a speed bonus, it does way more damage then a thrust.  Especially the first 2 minutes of a round, couch everyone to get 1 shot kills right off the bat.  If you don't couch someone within the first 30 seconds of a match for first blood you are doing something wrong as cav.

If they don't notice you coming, you really oughta couch. 

[BADPLAYERold]

If you do a couch right you can outrange anyone who doesn't have a weapon like a pike (English bills, swedish halberds ect) I would say around 70% of my cavalry kills are couches you just have to aim to the far right of you and turn your horse not your mouse when 'aiming' at them

[Jarlek]

If you do a couch right you can outrange anyone who doesn't have a weapon like a pike (English bills, swedish halberds ect) I would say around 70% of my cavalry kills are couches you just have to aim to the far right of you and turn your horse not your mouse when 'aiming' at them

The greatswords. They outrange you unless you got a great lance or any other of the couch only. You CAN do it properly with the heavy lance, it is long enough for it, but if the enemy times it well enough they can outrange you. The stab is more safer than, but against people with shorter weapons. Go ahead. Couch away!

[Kafein]

on a rouncey a couched lance doesnt have the proper speed bonus to 1h everything.  i would use the couching for killing horses that are crossing your way if unaware,  other than that against people blocking down that u know u can take.  otherwise u should train youre headshot thrusting,  as that is the way to go since the new armor mechanics made life harder for us

This. Poke in the head works as well, if not better than the couched lance, and it's safer. Every cav knows about people that look like they didn't spotted you then turn at the last moment.

[Penitent]

Tip: go into 1st person view when you couch.  Then go back to 3rd when you pass your target.

Does wonders for me!

[Torben]

Tip: go into 1st person view when you couch.  Then go back to 3rd when you pass your target.

Does wonders for me!

but... why?

[Penitent]

but... why?

You can aim the lance much better...if the target sidesteps or jumps, you can move the lace point right into their belly.  First person lets you see exactly where the point is going in.  Try it!  You have a much better view without being blocked by the character model/horse/lance shoulder.

stay on target....BLAMO!

[Torben]

You can aim the lance much better...if the target sidesteps or jumps, you can move the lace point right into their belly.  First person lets you see exactly where the point is going in.  Try it!  You have a much better view without being blocked by the character model/horse/lance shoulder.

stay on target....BLAMO!

i mean why be in 3rd person view?  all cav i know is always in 1st person

[Torp]

im always 3rd for better overview

[Corrado_Decimo]

im always 3rd for better overview

same.. back in warband beta days, i used to play first person too... but once i got used to 3rd, i just have the same first person aim with the wider fov of third person.

If you don't couch someone within the first 30 seconds of a match for first blood you are doing something wrong as cav.

oh wow... so if you don't kamikaze alone under heavy ranged spam, just to score the "first blood" (where if you're lucky enough you'll retreat from the hotzone with the horse at 10% hp) you're doing something wrong?

Cav is not made to mindless frontal charge or spawn kill.. cav is made to primarily to support infantry, intercept other cav, to keep enemy inf/cav busy.



oh i see.. LLJK..

[Smoothrich]

same.. back in warband beta days, i used to play first person too... but once i got used to 3rd, i just have the same first person aim with the wider fov of third person.

oh wow... so if you don't kamikaze alone under heavy ranged spam, just to score the "first blood" (where if you're lucky enough you'll retreat from the hotzone with the horse at 10% hp) you're doing something wrong?

Cav is not made to mindless frontal charge or spawn kill.. cav is made to primarily to support infantry, intercept other cav, to keep enemy inf/cav busy.



oh i see.. LLJK..

You are simply proving my point. You are doing something wrong as cav.  Me or other veteran NA cav players usually get the first 5 kills every match, all couches, then proceed to kill everything else, nearly every round.  Charging head on or into ranged spam is just being bad at the game.  You out lance a cav or two then couch some guy AFK running to the battle, loop to the spawn to kill all the AFK's and late spawners, then go and couch some more on your way back to supporting infantry, then you just steal kills with lance thrusts in the backs of people dueling, and murdering every exposed archer.  There you go, master cav tactics