Damsels and Horses:
An ideal combination!
Games Workshop released it's Bretonnian Damsels in sets of 2. Smart move!
Because nobody actually should use the Damsel on foot. The mounted model is almost always better.
Why?
Read the article! I will tell you.
You have decide you need a Damsel so I leave the base cost of her out.
I will only look if she is better on horse or on foot.
If mounted she can join a unit of knights, so you could make the unit 1 model smaller. Since even the cheapest knight cost more then a warhorse even a barded one.
Joining a knightly unit could give her protection against most conventinal mage-hunting techniques.
She gives the knightly unit Magic resistance in return..
Give her the Mane of the Purebreed and she could bolster a unit combat potential considerably
So where should you place her? Well in the most expensive unit of knights. Obvious she cannot join Pegasus Knights due to the rules. Well look at the cost and the cost per model she protects.
Grail Knights are an obvious choice but if you happen to have a unit of 3 GK and a unit of 15 KotR. It's obvious the KotR are more expensive as a unit and thus should be the obvious choice.
Even if she is going to join an infantry unit a horse gives her better protection and better mobility.
Mobility to avoid combat, and protection if she can't avoid combat. Damsels shouldn't be in combat if it can be avoided..
To expensive without adequate protection.
Now a further question use a barded or unbarded horse?
Well most of the time she is protected by the knights but if the unit has less then 5 Rank&File she will might get shooting hit. So protection by barding could be a good idea, but the protection is marginal.
If you want to cast spells with LOS requirement she needs to be in the front rank in most cases..
If you charge next turn she is going to be in combat..Well this is open to personal preferences and style.. but make a decision based on facts..
One wound and you already lose half of her points to the enemy.
Take insurance or not? That's the question :D
So why should you ever want to use A damsel on foot?
Well there are a few reasons:
Fluff, background story what ever you call it, if you her on foot because of that use her that way.
If you want her to hide for example in a wood, she is better used on foot..(verdant heart)
If you like the model on foot and want to use her, well go ahead.
You have found another specific way she is more useful on foot then on a horse?
(Tell me, tell me about it I want to know!)
Conclusion:
A damsel without a horse is a bad decision, but you make the choices!!
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