Steppe Cavalry
Class: heavy · Category: cavalry · Men per unit: 32
Description
When the Scythian horse archers have disrupted the enemy with their clouds of arrows, the job of charging in and breaking up their formations is left to the Scythian Riders -- these are wealthier native Scythians, fast and lightly armoured, but well-trained and experienced warriors. They ride close to the enemy and launch a volley of javelins, and then pull forth their armour-piercing axes and charge with brutal ferocity. Their large shields give them good protection, while their skill at close combat makes them dangerous indeed.
Stats
| Rank in roster | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men per unit | 32 | ██········ 23% |
| Attack | 11 | ███······· 34% |
| Charge bonus | 23 | ████████·· 80% |
| Defence | 27 | ████······ 35% |
| · armour | 8 | █████····· 47% |
| · defence skill | 16 | ███······· 28% |
| · shield | 3 | ████······ 37% |
| Morale | 12 | ██████···· 57% |
| Discipline | Normal | |
| Training | Trained | |
| Recruitment cost | 2,108 dn | █████····· 54% |
| Upkeep per turn | 806 dn | ████████·· 78% |
| Turns to recruit | 3 |
Weapons
| Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 11 | 10 | Charge bonus | 23 | 30 | Type | thrown · archery | melee · blade | Damage | piercing | slashing |
| Projectile | javelin | — | Range | 60 | — | Ammunition | 7 | — | Properties | Thrown | Armour-piercing (counts only half the target's armour) |
Defence
| Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 27 | — | Armour | 8 | — | Defence skill | 16 | — | Shield | 3 | — |
Condition and terrain
| Hit points | 1 | Mount | medium horse | Ground: scrub / sand / forest / snow | -1 / -1 / -4 / -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 | 2 | Spacing between men: close / loose | 2.2 × 5.2 m / 3.3 × 7.8 m | Default ranks | 5 |
In battle: Very good stamina
Who can recruit it
A core roster unit for 10 factions, each able to raise it anywhere they hold the right building:
Aorsi · Arshi · Chorasmia · Iazyges · Kucha · Rhoxolani · Royal Sarmatians · Royal Scythians · Saka · Siraces
Any faction holding one of the provinces below can field it.
Exactly what a settlement must have, route by route (5)
| Building | Also requires | Building | Also requires | Building | Also requires | Building | Also requires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any settlement | Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex · Scythian area of recruitment · not Dahae area of recruitment · Any Government (Dependency, Indirect Rule or Direct Rule) · Tier 2 Colony not built · Requires resource horses or horses supplied factionwide | Indirect Rule | Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex · Tier 1 Colony · Requires resource horses or horses supplied factionwide | Direct Rule | Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex · Tier 1 Colony · Requires resource horses or horses supplied factionwide | Homeland | Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex |
| Any settlement | Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex · Scythian area of recruitment · not Dahae area of recruitment · Dependency or Indirect Rule · Tier 1 Colony not built |
Areas of recruitment
| Zone | Provinces | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scythian | 32 |