Mercenary Scythian Cataphracts
Mercenary. Hired from a regional pool, not recruited from a building.
Class: heavy · Category: cavalry · Men per unit: 32
Description
Scythia is frequently mistaken as a nation comprised of primitive nomads from the steppes North of the Black Sea, who simply swept 'civilised' nations like the Macedonians before them with hordes of farmers on horseback with composite bows, like the Huns. This is a completely distorted view: Scythia was a rich land, and one that had conquered countless tribes and empires. Even Greek historians, famous for their arrogance, all agreed that these men were the best horsemen the world had ever seen. The lands ruled by the Scythian chiefs were rich in natural resources, and Scythians raided all over the Eastern lands for hundreds of years, helping to topple the mighty Assyrian Empire and even receiving tribute from the Pharoah! Not bad for a bunch of 'primitive nomads'.
Stats
| Rank in roster | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men per unit | 32 | ██········ 23% |
| Attack | 14 | ███████··· 65% |
| Charge bonus | 32 | █████████· 94% |
| Defence | 35 | ██████···· 57% |
| · armour | 16 | █████████· 90% |
| · defence skill | 15 | ██········ 24% |
| · shield | 4 | █████····· 48% |
| Morale | 15 | █████████· 91% |
| Discipline | Normal | |
| Training | Highly trained | |
| Upkeep per turn | 1,175 dn | ██████████ 95% |
Weapons
| Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 14 | 14 | Charge bonus | 32 | 31 | Type | melee · blade | melee · blade | Damage | piercing | slashing |
Defence
| Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 35 | — | Armour | 16 | — | Defence skill | 15 | — | Shield | 4 | — |
Condition and terrain
| Hit points | 1 | Mount | armoured horse | Ground: scrub / sand / forest / snow | -6 / -1 / -8 / -1 | Charge distance | 40 |
| Formations | Square · Wedge |
Technical stats
| Time between blows (primary / secondary) | 2.5 s / 2.5 s | Extra fatigue in hot climates | 5 | Spacing between men: close / loose | 2 × 4.8 m / 3 × 7.2 m | Default ranks | 5 |
In battle: Good stamina · Powerful charge
Where to hire it
Mercenaries are hired from a regional pool, not recruited from a building. This unit is offered by 1 pool covering 12 regions, at 10,014 dn to hire and 3 experience.
Mercenary pool: Scythia
At least one of those pools sells to any faction that has an army in range, with no faction restriction.
The 12 regions where this unit appears in a mercenary pool
Agathyrsia · Androphagia · Basilike Skythia · Borysthenes · Boudinia-Gelonia · Gerrhoia · Hesperos Georgike Skythia · Hylaia · Kallippidia-Alazonia · Megale Chersonesos · Nomadike Skythia · Notia Basilike Skythia