For the unit type, see Lancers (Unit Type).
Lancers are a type of lancer cavalry in Napoleon: Total War.
Description
These cavalrymen are each armed with a lance, which make them particularly deadly when charging.
The lance is probably among the oldest of cavalry weapons. It gives the user a chance to put all his weight and that of his charging horse into one very sharp point. A lance that can, in skilled hands, be driven right through any enemy. When coupled with the fast pace of their horses, a lancer’s charge is very intimidating. However, if the lancer does not kill his target, he leaves himself vulnerable. A long lance is less use in a melee than a sword, and a lancer is at a disadvantage once the close fighting starts, especially against well-trained infantry capable of forming square.
Historically, many nations used lancers. The French army adopted lancers with some enthusiasm, and Napoleon even included Polish lancers in his Imperial Guard. In India the lance had long been used as a weapon: lancer skills were often practiced by “pegging”, picking tent pegs out of the ground with the lance tip, or “pig-sticking”, the hunting of wild pigs or even wild dogs with the lance.
General Information
Lancers are the standard lancer cavalry for Prussia and Poland. They are slightly inferior to Brandenburg Uhlans and Towarczys, but they are cheaper and may be recruited in an unlimited number. While they aren't as good as Austrian or French lancers, they are serviceable and their charge is deadly. Like most lancer cavalry, however, they have inferior melee and defense statistics, making them vulnerable if bogged down in melee fighting. They are best used attacking enemy forces from the flank or rear, and quickly pulling away from targets that do not break.