Alani (Empire Divided) Shock Cavalry

Noble Steppe Cataphracts

Perhaps less skilled than the eastern cataphract, but certainly more ferocious.

The Sarmatians, a western group of steppe peoples, occupied the area north of the Black Sea, bordering Dacian and Germanic lands. They roamed this region as they pleased, and had a fierce reputation as cavalrymen almost without equal. The Sarmatians were always horse archers by inclination, but their cavalry gradually adopted heavier and heavier armour as the centuries passed, eventually wearing heavy suits of scales, like the famed cataphracts of the east - even their horses wore full suits of scale armour. Despite this shift towards lances and shock cavalry tactics, Sarmatian riders still used their fearsome compound bows. With each man carrying a kontos, a long two-handed lance, they could smash through almost any enemy foolish enough to stand against them.

Abilities

Noble Steppe Cataphracts

• Trample
  Charges are more effective for an extended time.
  Charge bonus
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

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

Noble Steppe Cataphracts

• Very good charge
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Weak in prolonged melee
• Good morale

Alani (Empire Divided) Units
General (3)
1.Alani Royal Horses
2.Noble Steppe Cataphracts Bodyguard
3.Steppe Cataphract Archers
Melee Infantry (5)
4.Alani Axemen
5.Alani Swordsmen
6.Armoured Axe Warriors
7.Armoured Steppe Warriors
8.Steppe Warband
Melee Cavalry (9)
9.Alani Axe Cavalry
10.Alani Horsemen
11.Alani Nobles
12.Alani Riders
13.Alani Royal Horses
14.Alani Royal Horses
15.Steppe Cavalry
16.Taifali Cavalry
17.Sarmatian Light Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (7)
18.Alani 'Amazonian' Archers
19.Alani Horse Skirmishers
20.Alani Noblewoman Archers
21.Steppe Cataphract Archers
22.Steppe Cataphract Archers
23.Steppe Horse Archers
24.Steppe Horse Skirmishers
Shock Cavalry (5)
25.Armoured Steppe Lancers
26.Noble Steppe Cataphracts
27.Noble Steppe Cataphracts Bodyguard
28.Noble Steppe Lancers
29.Steppe Lancers
Field Artillery (2)
30.Steppe Ballista
31.Steppe Bastion Ballista
Special (1)
32.Steppe War Dogs
Admiral (2)
33.Heavy Raider - Armoured Steppe Warriors
34.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Slingers
Melee Ship (4)
35.Assault Raider - Steppe Warband
36.Heavy Raider - Armoured Steppe Warriors
37.Heavy Raider - Armoured Steppe Warriors
38.Medium Assault Raider - Alani Swordsmen
Missile Ship (3)
39.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Slingers
40.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Slingers
41.Missile Raider - Steppe Slingers