If HA are so OP why aren't there more of us? On any server with 100 people, you usually only see a max of 3 horse archers on one side. Often only 2, sometimes 1. I've never seen more than 3 on one team on a 100 person server.
That suggests to me that the build is either requires more skill, or so dedicated people can't be bothered with it.
Horse taking up 1 slot is not a good idea. HA need that number of arrows to do anything. On an infantry with good athletics, bunny hopping around, I can guarantee that if they are armoured, I can easily waste all 3 quivers trying to kill him. Bunched infantry is our friend. And single rambo cavalry are also our friends. You will completely destroy any average HA and it would be pointless unless you are one of the best. Even then it would add difficulty. Plus you would screw over other cav builds.
Berethorn, you said earlier than an HA can shoot 12 arrows in 30 seconds. I'd love to see a demonstration of a moving HA doing this and actually hitting something
As for the other person earlier who said they shoot stationary as well as foot archers. That's because you're stationary
The penalty only kicks in when moving, and that penalty is really a bitch. On an open map you will be riding at full speed (if only to avoid arrows and other cav), even on many closer maps riding at full speed, or at least manoeuvring a lot is a required in order not to die. Doing this, whilst shooting and avoiding threats (even obstacles) makes it very difficult to kill people. Only bad HA stay stationary. I very rarely go stationary, if only to kill an archer who is putting arrows in my horse from a distance (near impossible when moving except for luck). Furthermore, the amount of close maps and infantry maps makes it also hard, as HA are near useless as footmen, except if you can find a good spot to hide and pop out to shoot every now and then.
To Kafein: You're talking strictly 1 on 1. Against a shielder an HA is balanced out by the fact they can't shoot through the shield. Yes bumping helps this, but only if you're good enough to bump and take the shot, without the shielder loljumpslashing. Fact is, as I stated above, it's rare to find more than 3 HA on one side (even when GK are all on the same team we only have 3 HA) and so it's rare that you get 1vs1 situations. Fact is, against more than 2 archers it's very difficult for HA.
I know you will say balancing 1vs2 is not balance. But I think it's balanced by the fact there are 10x more archers on servers than HA, 10x more infantry and 10x more other cav variations. If you nerf HA, you won't see any at all. But then that might be your goal
I'm really waiting for solid arguments coming from HA explaining how their class is balanced.
All i've seen at the moment is "It's hard, try it, you'll see, we need rewards for playing dedicated class" and "HA got malus on horse, in terms of accuracy usually" (= to what i'll answer HA do more point blank shots than archers who NEED a good accuracy, if an archer fails his shot, he's in trouble. If an HA misses his, he'll do it again. And again.)
Then make it your imperative to shoot down that HA before he does any real damage if it's so 'OP'. The same way I make lancers my targets because I know the better ones can do a lot of damage to my team. But I bet you don't simply because they aren't as OP in reality and the majority aren't actually game changing. There are only 2-3 good ones in the whole of the EU cRPG servers. Whereas there are far more good infantry and cav.
Archers should have high athletics. It's up to foot archers to stay aware and realise if anything is bearing down on them and so run away. I used to do so as a foot archer all the time. The only explanation for getting caught of guard is the fact you weren't paying attention.
As for the person earlier who said HA should be forced to use first person
I'm not sure how many HA actually do, but I know I do simply because shooting from any other perspective is weird. Probably explains why I get lanced from the side so much lol. Or run into stuff a fair amount. But I hate 3rd person view. Weirds me out.