This actually makes dismounted fighters even harder to deal with, since they don't get stuck on walls, and the difference in speed still isn't enough to make it easy to charge them. Dodging them isn't too hard, it is just the keeping it from being ten minutes of chasing each other in circles that is frustrating - usually what ends it is we both end up running into a wall, and the AI seems to have a harder time clearing themselves away from the walls than me. I tend to get in this thing where I'll go round and round in circles on my horse, with the other guy behind me, trying to somehow make up enough distance that I have room to turn, charge, and build up enough speed to get the couched lance going, and have the right angle to actually be able to stick the other guy. They're sort of a royal pain, even on the 1/4 damage ultra-easy default settings. Battles feel like largely a matter of chance to me though - I just sort of randomly ride around clicking on the mouse as I get near the enemy, hoping I kill enough to make a difference.

So, I've only really started with Mount & Blade, but it does look pretty awesome.