Some questions regarding unit settings

[Zakilevo]

1. Why do marshals always keep cavalry units in the back?

I know they don't want to lose cavalry units to archers but what if cavalry units charge first then infantry units follow them and archers finish the rest?
(settings will probably like this:
Cav: Front - Wedge - Aggressive
Inf: Front or Middle - Line - Aggressive
Arc: Middle - Line - Aggressive)

2. If I am attacking an army about the same size with following settings what would happen?

My army's settings 5k CS
Inf - Front - Wedge - Aggressive
Arc - Middle - Line - Aggressive
Cav - Middle - Wedge - Aggressive

Enemies' settings 5k CS
Inf - Front - Line - Aggressive
Arc - Middle - Line - Normal
Cav - Rear - Wedge - Aggressive

[JPierreD]

The cavalry gain a charge bonus for each movement they make before attacking (as in speeding up before charging). That is why they are put in the rear: so when they charge, they do it much harder.

[Zakilevo]

really? I never knew that. should really consider that from now on.

[Shizzle]

The cavalry gain a charge bonus for each movement they make before attacking (as in speeding up before charging). That is why they are put in the rear: so when they charge, they do it much harder.

really? that's new to me as well, though I've been using cavalry forever I thought they're put in the back simply to time their clash with the enemy infantry, so they charge at the same time as your own infantry.

[Anaris]

The cavalry gain a charge bonus for each movement they make before attacking (as in speeding up before charging). That is why they are put in the rear: so when they charge, they do it much harder.

This is not true.

Cavalry gain a bonus for hitting the enemy while they charge.  Cavalry will charge (moving 2 lines in a round) if the enemy is 2 lines away.

[Velax]

People put cavalry in the back because they move faster than infantry, so if you put them in the front they'll attack on their own and get slaughtered (cavalry tend to be greatly outnumbered). If you time them to hit with or after the infantry, it's more likely they'll live.

[De-Legro]

People put cavalry in the back because they move faster than infantry, so if you put them in the front they'll attack on their own and get slaughtered (cavalry tend to be greatly outnumbered). If you time them to hit with or after the infantry, it's more likely they'll live.

Exactly, this way you get the bonus damage of the Cav, without them then getting surrounded by enemy infantry before yours can arrive.

[Chenier]

This is not true.

Cavalry gain a bonus for hitting the enemy while they charge.  Cavalry will charge (moving 2 lines in a round) if the enemy is 2 lines away.

It's been a while since I fought alongside cavalry... does this mean they only move 1 line if the enemy is farther away?

[Bedwyr]

It's been a while since I fought alongside cavalry... does this mean they only move 1 line if the enemy is farther away?

I believe they move two lines unless they can't (troops in the way, will hit enemy in one line).

[egamma]

I believe they move two lines unless they can't (troops in the way, will hit enemy in one line).

If they are set to defensive, I think they only move 1 line.

That may be true only if they are defending the region, I'm not sure.

[Indirik]

Cavalry always move two lines per round, unless they hit something first.

[Velax]

There's also (what I consider to be) a bug, where if the enemy is three lines away, your cavalry will move forward two lines, the enemy moves forward one line and you meet and start close combat without getting the charge bonus.