so with the -1 to hit penalty for moving was wondering what people made of horse archers in the current rules.

been thinking of including 6 haradrim riders with poisoned bows but with shoot value 4+ to begin with and low defence not so sure it would not just be better to get some regular archers for cheaper instead?

so this is probably aimed more at you Rohan types but indeed what is the best use of these kind of units? (was thinking hit and run, as in go up the board one turn then shoot the following then flee if need be? drawing people away, also easier to get behind people and try and shoot down banners/captains etc.)

I think they're mostly for kiting and taking pot-shots at targets of opportunity. The -1 modifier to shooting is balanced by your improved positioning, so you can avoid in-the-way rolls.

RoR are very over powered if you don't use the Grey Company or Harad foot archers as they all stand in a line and fire for a few turns, then move back and shoot every other turn. Then when they get to the back o the board, they charge in and mash you.

In short, yes, they are worth it most o the time.

i would say they are often worth it as their speed can be very useful, especially in games where you are trying to capture an objective, remember the worth of an archer is not just in their shooting, they can fight well as well, so mounted archers can be flung forward near the end of a battle.

so yes i think they are worth it.

and (slightly off topic) for a very interesting reflection on the use of mounted archers take a look at the Battle of Carrhae (good article on wikipedia).

A combination of parthian cataphracts and horse archers inflicting one of the worst defeats on a Roman army....

If you take heavy inf (D6) or your own cavalry, you can maul them pretty fast, and they won't do enough damage to your troops. Heroic March helps alot.

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"... Telchar wrought it in the deeps of time."
-On Andùril, The Lord of the Rings