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HomeHome / Divide et Impera / Basileioi Skythai / Units / Skythioi Basilikoi Somatophylakes
Skythioi Basilikoi Somatophylakes Basileioi SkythaiBasileioi Skythai Missile Cavalry

Skythioi Basilikoi Somatophylakes

(Royal Scythian Bodyguards)

In a few words, these are the finest cavalrymen in the West, taking into account the western Scythians, from the Pontic Steppe to Thracian and Germanic lands. These elite nobles are not only skilled with their kontos lances, but are more versatile warriors, using bows, longswords and sagaris axes.

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.

Skythioi Basilikoi Somatophylakes

Unit Name

Skythioi Basilikoi Somatophylakes

Main Unit Key

Scy_noble_bodyguards

Land Unit Key

Scy_noble_bodyguards

Naval Unit Key

barbarian_transport

Soldiers

120

Category

Cavalry

Class

Missile Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost

2717

Recruitment Cost

2717

Upkeep Cost

543

Missile Damage

11

├ Missile Weapon

cbow4

├ Projectile

cbow4

├ Missile Damage

11

├ Missile Ap Damage

0

└ Base Reload Time

11

Accuracy

20

Range

170

Reload

32

Shots Per Minute

8

Ammunition

15

Melee Attack

44

Weapon Damage

9

├ Melee Weapon

alance4

├ Weapon Damage

9

├ Weapon Deadliness

0

├ Armour Piercing

Yes

├ Bonus vs. Cavalry

0

├ Bonus vs. Elephants

0

└ Bonus vs Infantry

2

Charge Bonus

35

Melee Defence

48

├ Base Defence

32

├ Shield

none

└ Shield Defence

16

Armour

24

├ Armour

carm12

├ Armour Defence

24

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

20

├ Man Entity

medium_heavy

├ Man Health

20

├ Bonus Hit Points

0

├ Mount

saka_horse_half_cataphract

├ Mount Entity

rome_horse_heavy_shock

└ Mount Health

0

Base Morale

60

Abilities

Skythioi Basilikoi Somatophylakes
  • Stamina (poor)
    Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.
  • Cantabrian Circle
    The unit fires whilst riding in a circle that increases reload skill
  • Flying Wedge
    The unit assumes a wedge formation that increases charge speed and bonus
  • Concentrate Fire
    The unit fires its missiles towards a spot causing damage to everyone in the area of effect

Attributes

  • Disciplined
    This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
  • 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
Skythioi Basilikoi Somatophylakes
  • Long range
  • Fast rate of fire
  • Fast moving
  • Good damage but low armour penetration
  • Very weak in melee
  • Poor morale
Requires Buildings
Skythioi Basilikoi Somatophylakes Lv. 0 Stables
Stables
(rom_BARBARIAN_enclosure_stables_3)
Level 2
Skythioi Basilikoi Somatophylakes Lv. 1 Horse Ranch
Horse Ranch
(rom_BARBARIAN_enclosure_stables_4)
Level 3