Removal of encumbrance makes horses not worth while

Yet another issue related to the removal of encumbrance.

Horses also increase movement on strategic map.  That's very important to the way I play.  It allows my faction to spread out over the map.  If a problem arises, horses allow rapid response.  I even use them for archers and mages.

Before: Horses were necessary for every build. Every game I had I would always get mounts because that was pretty much the only way too go.

After: Horses are now in line with what they should be for giving tactical and strategical movement bonus and dodge vs range. I like them much better this way. Horses and Wargs are no longer OP.

Yeah, Horses figure prominently in my rapid reaction stack, so I still find them useful.  And don't they give +2 MP Strategic, whilst wargs only give +1?  A more interesting question might be how balanced are Wargs versus Horses these days.  I should take a look at the 'new' warg stats the next time I play.

Balance is fine, because wargs give + 2 Initiative as an offset for less moves. My archers like their wargs.

Also, Horses are basically free, and horse + charge + extra initiative + finesse with a spear and some leather armour gives you a trooptype you can literally use all game.

Horse are still good and having one of either horses or wargs is essential because the extra movement is so useful. Generally I favour horses over wargs for that reason.

My main issue with the removal of encumbrance is still the fact that you have the "Strength" and "Muscle" traits, both with completely identical effects, but one costing 8 more labor than the other. How does that even make any sense?

You know, honestly, I have fired up an .80 game but I have never even thought to check the tech tree to see how Warhorses have changed.  Bee arr bee!

So Warhorses get +1 Physical Attack.  That's kind of worth it, I guess.

Strength and muscle traits give the same results, a +1.  One is more expensive than the other, (I forget which is which).  But they are not 'identical' in the sense they stack.  This means if you want to train (design) a troop-type with (str?), you have the option to train them with +1, and the option to train them with +2.  If you want the +2, it costs more them a mere x2 of a +1.  In short, if you just want +1, choose the cheaper option.  If you want to intensify your troop to +2, it will cost an extra amount (law of diminished returns).  Hope this helps.

Strength has been removed in 0.85

Muscle has been changed to +1 atk and -1 init

Has the 0.85 patch been released yet?

Also, I dislike the fact that the pool of traits for units is getting smaller, even if some traits were identical.