[quote="nikgaukroger]Cavalry cost does seem to be a consistent theme - I'm not totally surprised since they are, on the whole, beneficiaries of a number of suggested points reductions; their base costs and some capabilities that are common to Cavalry. [/quote]
Too bad nobody predicted that might happen.
Would help if people could suggest roughly what they think would be reasonable for various common Cavalry types so we have a feel of how people value them.
Well, when you're designing a point system you need a baseline for comparison. So let's go with the vanilla 4/2 average pike/musket 6-pack at 42 points (we'll assume they are costed correctly, because you have to assume that -something- is costed correctly).
So...
4 stands of Cavalry-Average-Unarmored-Bow-Sword cost 40 points under the old system, 28 points under the new system.
My experience in the old system was that they were garbage (and they stood out as such in a Polish army, which had a lot of troops that didn't work particularly well)... for around 40 points I'd be better off with another pike/shot unit in almost all circumstances... if I badly needed a second-line mounted unit, I'd be better off with Horse Average Pistol Pistol in almost every circumstance.
Under the new system, their value is a lot higher. Average is more viable, Unarmored is more viable, and the FOG2 style cavalry evasion gives them some decent flexibility as skirmishers.
All in all, they would still be a reasonable buy at 36 or 40 points.
The problem is... how to get them there?
Taken individually, most all of the point reductions for cavalry are pretty well justified. The original assumption that the benefit FOG1 evasion capability outweighed the drawback of the morale penalty vs firearms was clearly incorrect. Even with the new evasion ability it's probably a wash, or at best worth a point. Melee Sword is inferior to melee pistol. The only discount that might be too much is dropping the bow from 2 to 1... but once again, like with the carbine, missile capability is a lot more powerful on troops that can evade than those that can't (I believe I suggested before that the carbine was probably worth 1 point for horse, but 2 for cavalry).
Still, adding 1 to the base cost and 1 for the bow may be reasonable
4 Cavalry Unarmored Average Bow Sword = 36 (instead of 28)
4 Cavalry Armored Average Bow Sword = 44 (instead of 36)
4 Cavalry Armored Superior Bow Sword = 56 (Instead of 48)
Additional note: I'm not sure that light horse particularly need a point increase though...