"A balancing paradigm I often look at is Starcraft": Total War: Medieval 3 won't lean too hard on rock-paper-scissors combat, says creative director

Creative Assembly's Total War games offer up a wide spread of factions, from rampaging Gauls to furtive and disgusting Wood Elves, but they're all a little beholden to the ancient game of rock-paper-scissors: spears beat cavalry, cavalry beat swords, swords beat spears.

I think Creative Assembly generally do an impressive job of softening that triangular countering logic by means of terrain considerations, flanking, morale and other supporting mechanics. Cavalry won't necessarily beat swords...