I can't believe I have to explain this. Yes, their maximum speed is higher than that of infantry. However, horses take ages to make turns, even at standstill. they also take a lot of time to accelerate and decelerate. In all these things that, unlike speed, are actually relevant to direct fighting, infantry has a huge advantage.
I played cav you know, so I know too how fast horses turn, and I tell you, your opinion that it is nearly impossible to navigate around and get yourself in favourable position to strike (not to mention with a longer weapon and at higher speed), is completely false. If you cannot do it, then train harder.
Good archers will not aim at your shield, but your horse's head or rear. Infantry will hit the horse's legs.
Maybe you dont realize that most of the archers on c-rpg cant even hit a horse. Most of them have problem to calculate how much will the arrow arc in flight, let alone shooting a horse.
No horse is meant for frontal charges. Even a plated charged can only withstand a few hits in the legs.
If you want to turn this into realism discussion, you must also realize that speeding horse that is hit in its leg while in gallop will fall over and there is high chance that it will break its neck. Regardless of that, hitting an armored horse in its leg while it is running is pretty hard.
Pro-tip : no cav worth his salt is charging head-on. Due to the crippling weaknessses of cav in open combat, most dedicate themselves solely to hunt unaware enemies, because that's the only thing that will not get your horse and yourself killed instantly.
I disagree, but my disagreement comes from fact that cav players in this game cant execute head on cavalry formation lance charges.
In cRPG the lancing angle is equal to the couched lance angle, 70 degrees iirc. Anything slightly to the left or right cannot be hit.
I didnt know that you are talking about couching angle. As far as I know, you can also use lance normally using LMB.
It's just making easier something that was already easy. Cav doesn't make you invicible, rather the opposite.
Yeah well playing cav requires you to change your tactics. you must be oportunitist, you must take an advantage of your speed and play cautiously.
Do that, and you will prosper.
EDIT: By the way, I would also like to see the back muscle spasm of the cav fixed. I agree that suddenly turning your back 30 degrees makes it hard to aim, and it is one of my main problems playing this class.