"These men ride and shoot as if they were born on horseback."
The skill required to fire a bow from a moving horse is phenomenal. Ancient cavalry archers had to keep control of their mounts with their knees whilst using both arms to fire their bows, which took a great deal of practice and physical strength. Often lightly armoured, horse archers were the ideal skirmish troops as they could quickly reach key areas of the battlefield to harass the enemy, but without getting so close they were forced into melee. Nomadic tribes, such as the Sarmatians and Huns, were renowned for their skilled riders and used horse archers to great effect. The combination of skill and the deadly composite bow, which could puncture straight through armour, made their horsemen the dread of all those they encountered.
Strength and Weaknesses[]
Excellent Rate of Fire
High Ammunition
Good Range
Base Stats[]
Alani Horse Archers
Unit
Number of Men:
80
Morale:
40
Bonus HP:
0
Melee Attack:
15
Melee Defense:
20
Charge Bonus:
15
Reload:
60
Ammunition:
24
Light Infantry
Human
Hit Points:
75
Mass:
90
Very Light Horse
Mount
Hit Points:
110
Mass:
300
Walk Speed:
19,5
Run Speed:
100
Charge Speed:
120
Charge Distance:
75
Weapons and Gear[]
Sword
Melee Weapon
Damage:
36
Armour Penetration Damage:
4
Bonus vs Infantry:
0
Bonus vs Cavalry:
0
Bonus vs Elephants:
0
Building damage:
0.066
Composite Horse Bow
Missile Weapon
Normal Shot
Flaming Shot
Heavy Shot
Whistling Shot
Damage:
37
45
30
12
Armour Penetration Damage:
12
0
18
2
Base Reload Time:
20
34
34
20
Range:
150
150
150
150
Bonus vs Infantry:
0
0
10
0
Bonus vs Cavalry:
0
10
0
0
Bonus vs Elephants:
0
10
0
0
Special Effects:
Heavy Armour
Armour
Armour:
20
Abilities[]
Rapid Advance
Target:
Self
Initial Recharge:
0
Active Time:
30
Recharge Time:
210
Improved unit movement speed over an extended period.
Rapid Advance (30s):
+50% Speed
Attributes[]
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.
Rapid Advance
Hide (forest)
Fire Whilst Moving
Parthian Shot