I've been off for a couple of days, I've just had a quick look all post, and its just funny how people complain about HA so much and about what we are asking. I am assuming most people haven't even looked at my video to have a decent understanding of what we are talking about.
Bonze, I've gotten much more than 20 kills as HA, i will assure you, those 20 kills are not of full health people, and probably a lot are bumping and sideweapon. And peasants.
Also, most best melee players will survive a HA one to one, it only takes some awareness and understanding of the HA class (not hard if you actually look at it with a bit of brains)
As usual, most people here complain about HA with really baseless arguments and limited experience on the class, it weaknesses and strength. Furthermore, good players doesn't mean the class is balanced, many of my clan mates can get a decent score on peasant gear, that doesn't mean peasant gear is OP.
Horse Archery needs a buff, right now, it takes easily over 8 arrows (not bodkin, too expensive to upkeep, but still over 5 of them anyway) to kill anyone of decent armor, landing those arrows at speed is already very hard, as player skill is totally ignored by huge reticules...
Also, because of the hate of people for HA, the HA WPP penalty means we are underpowered on foot, which means all small anti cav maps, rageball, DTV, siege and any strat battle without horses. That is most of the game.
HA should be buffed in order to be balanced, or allowed to have different builds for all game types but battle... or removed, which would mean a skill and attribute point reset for all people with HA skill and all loom points given back.
Lessing - I would love to play on a ranged only server, it would be fun, but im insane that wat :-P
About upkeep, the problem with upkeep is that HA pay for the increased archery upkeep, but we already carry most cost than many melee players, and HA delaying is just as bad as campers. I personally will not delay if I dont have a chance, unless i really wanna get one player. I will usually change to sword or stand still to be killed.
To reply to one of jokers all post - A game mode where HA was worth using but its not kill all only would be great, right now HA is nerfed only cos people in battle cry about it. I cant remember the last time someone that only played siege cried about HAs