Massagetae Missile Cavalry

Saka Cataphract Horse Archers

Heavy armour and arrows guide these skilled horsemen to victory.

Far from being simple, ignorant barbarians, the various steppe tribes had a great cultural wealth. Living in an area stretching from the Caspian Sea to the northern shores of the Black Sea; the Greeks called them 'Scythians' and the Persians 'Saka', while a western group became known as the Sarmatians. Wearing trousers marked them as barbarians as far as the Greeks were concerned, before their tall, pointed caps and swarthy appearances were even considered. Looks apart, they were, however, exceptional horsemen, highly-skilled with composite-recurve bows and deadly hand-to-hand fighters. Grave goods suggest that Scythian women were as warlike as their men, and probably fought alongside them in battle. This may well be the origin of the Greek myths of Amazon warrior women.

Abilities

Saka Cataphract Horse Archers

• Cantabrian Circle
  The unit fires whilst riding in a circle.
  Harder to hit, reload skill
• Precision Shot
  Improved missile weapon damage for an extended period.
  Missile damage
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Resistant to Fatigue
  Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Fire Whilst Moving
  This unit can fire when mounted and moving.
• Parthian Shot
  This unit can fire all around and not just in-front of itself.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

Saka Cataphract Horse Archers

• Long range
• Fast rate of fire
• Fast moving
• Good damage but low armour penetration
• Very weak in melee
• Poor morale

Massagetae Units
General (3)
1.Noble Horse Archers
2.Steppe Noble Lancers
3.Saka Cataphracts
Melee Infantry (1)
4.Young Axes
Missile Infantry (1)
5.Steppe Archers
Spear Infantry (2)
6.Steppe Spearmen
7.Tribesmen
Missile Cavalry (5)
8.Armoured Horse Archers
9.Steppe Horse Archers
10.Steppe Horse Skirmishers
11.Noble Horse Archers
12.Saka Cataphract Horse Archers
Shock Cavalry (5)
13.Steppe Armoured Lancers
14.Steppe Lancers
15.Steppe Noble Lancers
16.Saka Cataphracts
17.Saka Noble Armoured Lancers
Field Artillery (2)
18.Steppe Bastion Ballista
19.Steppe Ballista
Admiral (2)
20.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Archers
21.Heavy Raider - Steppe Spearmen
Melee Ship (4)
22.Medium Assault Raider - Young Axes
23.Persian Assault Teteres - Steppe Spearmen
24.Heavy Raider - Steppe Spearmen
25.Assault Raider - Tribesmen
Missile Ship (3)
26.Greek Missile Penteres - Steppe Archers
27.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Archers
28.Missile Raider - Steppe Archers
Artillery Ship (1)
29.Roman Light Artillery Quinquereme - Eastern Ballista (Ship)