foot bow, powerbow and crossbow

[SteveO]

I would argue (guess I am arguing ) that charges from these sorts of cavalry are unlikely to be repelled by either the unprotected or protected crossbowmen available to contemporary Song armies under the current classifications and rules.

But should they from the available historical evidence?

[Hayung_is]

I would argue (guess I am arguing ) that charges from these sorts of cavalry are unlikely to be repelled by either the unprotected or protected crossbowmen available to contemporary Song armies under the current classifications and rules.

But should they from the available historical evidence?

Basically, yes. https://dragonsarmory.blogspot.com/2024/07/unit-heavy-song-crossbowmen.html

Song frequently fought Jin and Mongol forces which utilised large amounts of cavalry and particularly shock cavalry and cataphracts. The Song solution was massed blocks of crossbowmen using volley fire who were trained to stand and fire against charging cavalry. Yue Fei added to this strategy by having dedicated 'horse choppers' with large swords.

Chinese armies fielded large proportions of ranged units (ie. more than one or two TuGs) and the Song seemed to lean into this even more heavily.
The Song resisted the Jin and later the mongols for several decades of ongoing conflict.

Fielding the kind of proportion of ranged TUGs a historical song army appear to have is a recipe for getting steamrolled by shock cavalry (of any flavour).

[badhabum]

Fielding the kind of proportion of ranged TUGs a historical song army appear to have is a recipe for getting steamrolled by shock cavalry (of any flavour).

Not if you use the "spear protection" characteristic and perhaps some FARM first rank options or something like that

[badhabum]

I wonder if to help skirmishers to be more efficient ( all shooty guys all shooty weapons ) , enable them and foot well any TUG  shooty to shhot at long range vs charging UGs by activating them would not be a first positive step and second to introduce the flank and rear firing effect or a colour upgrade if the shooting is a flanking fire (ncluding if the path of charge will present the flank during the move ) . That would make bows on the flank much more efficient. Shield cover should also not be all-round but frontal unless in ORB formation . That would perhaps balance things and make skirmishers more useful