OCMOD3 changes several key factors.

(1) Units have far more life points or hit points. For example, the average infantry unit has 300 hit points. The average cavalry unit has about 500 hit points.

(2) Cold steel damage is higher per blow but blows (cuts or thrusts) are slower.

(3) Musket ball damage is higher but muskets reload much slower.

(4) Musket balls can kill in two ways. First, the chance of a head-shot is much higher and increases at closer ranges. A head-shot gives an instant kill. Second, the shot power causes incremental damage. A 30 shot power musket would have to put 10 shots in to kill a 300 hitpoints ifantry unit. However, chances are a headshot would kill the unit first.

(5) A 60 shot power musket would need 5 shots to kill a 300 hitpoints infantry unit.

(6) As shot powers rise from upgrades, they start to provide increasing supplementary kills to the headshot kills. This really does make a difference in bigger battles. Also, a poor shot power musket formation will rely on only headshots at maximum range for relatively poor kill rates and will only get good kill rates at close range - near the minimum range. But a good shot power formation will get significant supplementary kills at maximum range and so it will still be reasonable engaging at a longer range. A good shot power formation will be devastating at close range if it fires a full formation volley.

(7) Cavalry should not charge an infantry formation head-on if that formation has not fired. If they do so charge, the cavalry will die like flies in most cases. It is much better to engage musket infantry with musket infantry, force the enemy formation to fire a volley, and then to charge cavalry in while they are reloading. These tactics work well. The cold steel cavalry can then get in close in numbers and do their work.

(8) The fire RATE upgrades in the academy are very important for muskets. Make sure you get them. Make sure you get fire POWER upgrades in barracks and stables and then get the extra fire POWER upgrades in the academy.