Alani Pretenders (Empire Divided) Shock Cavalry

Noble Steppe Lancers

Very few can withstand an attack by these heavily-armoured noblemen.

Developed from the cavalry skills of their ancestors, the steppe lancers of the Scythian, or Saka, tribes and the Sarmatians were a type of heavy cavalry comparable to their Hellenic counterparts. They wore scale armour to protect themselves and their mounts, and used a long lance known as a kontos. This enabled them to deliver devastating charges in a fashion comparable to the Alexandrian Companion cavalry. The scale armour was made from horn, or later metal, and allowed the wearers to run down their western counterparts. They were still vulnerable to dense pike or spear-armed formations. Archery provided a solution: sustained volleys from skirmishing foot and horse archers were used to thin and spread out the enemy. At the Battle of Carrhae in 53BC, the tightly-packed Roman infantry were forced to spread out by Parthian archers, which enabled their cataphracts to charge and break an overconfident Roman force four times their number.

Abilities

Noble Steppe Lancers

• Draco
  Reduces the effectiveness against mounted units of any nearby enemies for an extended time.
  Bonus vs cavalry, bonus vs elephants, bracing

Attributes

• 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 Lancers

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

Alani Pretenders (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