Troop
Standing force of landed gentry fighting for pay and prestige. They spar regularly with each other to train in the use of their weapons and maintenance of their armor. A unit of cavalry, of at least a platoon size, usually part of a larger army. This is a volunteer force recruited from the upper classes and paid a reasonable wage. Desertion is punishable by death. They are expected to train and drill every morning and uphold the code of chivalry. Can be removed from service for violations of the code of chivalry or for serious transgressions against the gentry or clergy.
Composition
Manpower
Consists of approximately 120 horsemen, led by an Esquire. Made up of four squadrons of 30 men, led by hobilars.
Equipment
Riders wear medium armor consisting of a helm, usually kettle or barbute, and either a hooded hauberk or heavy gambeson, with greaves and poleyns. Common shields are medium, steel plated wood, strapped, round or heater.
Armati wear heavy armor consisting of a helm, usually great helm or bascinet, and brigandine or cuirass with light hauberk or gambeson beneath. Pauldrons, rerebrace, couter, and vambrace, steel mittens, hose and chausses, tasset, with leather boots and cuisses, greaves with poleyns, and sabatons affixed. Common shields are small, steel plated wood, boss gripped round, or strapped heater.
Weaponry
They carry a lance or spear primarily. And as a secondary weapon most carry either an arming sword or long dagger (stiletto, rondel, or bollock). Tertiary weapons can include a smaller dagger, knife, hand axe, or hammer.
Vehicles
As a primarily mounted unit, these men serve on horseback. They have several types of horse, from the rouncey, an all-purpose horse used for burden, riding, and war to the charger, a cavalry horse trained for battle. Mostly castrated male horses called geldings.
Tactics
Common offensive tactics include slow advance in line and charging in a wedge. They normally cover the flanks for cohorts of footmen. Their main purpose is to disrupt the lines of footmen.
Logistics
Logistical Support
Highly mobile force of all horsemen, their baggage is mostly kept on their horse. Communal coaches can be used when that proves insufficient.
Auxilia
Common men with no formal training conscripted to fight as part of their servile obligations to the nobility for defense of the realm. These forces are generally footmen and bowmen.
Upkeep
On average Esquires earn 22, Hobilars earn 18, Armati earn 15, and Riders earn 12. Horse fodder is 1.5 per day. Being generally well armored, they also require more support than standard troops. From linksters, armorers, and heumers, to lancers, turniers, cutlers, grinders, farriers, and saddlers, there is a lot of support that accompany these units.
Recruitment
Recruited from the landed gentry of the estate system. Every recruit must be able to provide their own weapons, armor, and horse.
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