Just wondering how many knights I should have per unit in my army to make it the most effective.

In my opinon 8 or 5

8 is a bad number. It's too large for an effective width, yet it's too small for an effective second rank. If you're attempting a 'hammer' unit, designed to smash into the enemy and force them down you want 9 knights, led by a Knight-Captain (generic captain with lance, full plate, shield, barded warhorse) and full command. Giving them the War Banner won't hurt.

If you're after small flanking units, try 5-6 vanilla knights with just a musician.

If you want a unit that can hurt the enemy and would be useful for flanking, try for 6 with full command...but be wary, as this would need support to be an effective hammer and it a little pricey for an effective flanking unit.

Or you could ignore my advice and play unit you find a size that you prefer.

i'd say 5 with musician as a flanking unit and 10-12 with full command for a hammer unit. I believe 8 is to few as you only get 5 attacks and if you lose one knight you've lost your rank bonus.

why only a musician? the extra attack of a 1st knight would be nice and a standard doesnt serve much in a flanking unit but still......shouldnt u take a full command?

A flanking unit is there to remove enemy ranks, and any causalties are a nice bonus. As such, the extra attack isn't worth the points, and the risk of giving an extra 100 VP if you lose the banner isn't worth an extra +1 CR, especially since you should have an infantry unit to the front with one.

Yup. Also, the musician helps with rallying tests, should something go wrong- like the small unit being panicked.

In my opinion 10 Knightly orders full comand and 10 white wolfs full comand too.
10 Knightly orders in case you get charged by enemy cavalry they can survive and then you will charge with the wolfs. :D

If you take 5 and lose even 1 to shooting then your unit can't take away flank bonus anymore so I'd say 6-8 would be ideal.

You need US5, not 5 models; any unit of more than 2 knights takes away ranks.

knights are US2? I thought they were one...

No, they are US 2.

All cav models are US 2 (incl say ratling guns and jezzails).

I would concur with 6 or 10. 12 is nice, but very pricy (would place 6x2). 12 is great as Bretts too :( Anyway, depends on usage, as with my HE is use both units of 10 and 6, and nothing else... :D

yes, 12 is too pricey. i usually use knights in 6s with champion and musician for flanking units. otherwise i will use 6 with full command and add a warbanner. imagine getting a unit of 5x2 and full command. that would mean 6 s5 attacks and 5 s3 attacks. plus u get +1 for banner and +1 for a rank ( that is provided you haven't been shot down) if on the other hand u take my combi, u get 7 s5 attacks and 6 s3 attacks,and +2 for banner and warbanner. the result should be around the same. just that u are paying more for the first option.
also, that single guy carrying that warbanner is worth 2 CR already, whereas if that unit of 10 knights get cut down or shot down, they'll probably lose their rank bonus already.
also note that if u play a 6x1 instead of 5x2, ur flank will not be as wide, and it will be easier to over-run without getting flank charged back in the subsequent turn.

9 or 12 for bretts and 6 or 10 for everyone else.

If you want a hammer unit then I almost always use 12, though this seems unpopular. That will give me a higher US to get the outnumber bonus after the inevitable wounds that I will hopefully cause. This combined with the griffon banner(i think) will let me win combat on both combat res. and wounds.

As for fast cav. then five I think is best so that I dont have to worry as much about panic from shooting.

-Later