Indian Chariots are a type of heavy cavalry unit available to the Indians in Rome: Total War: Alexander.
Description[]
Chariots, especially of the scythed variety are a weapon of terror able to carve corridors of ruddy-tinted death through enemy formations. As well as numerous small spikes on the rims, each wheel carries a large blade mounted centrally which spins wickedly with the axle. Though determined spearmen will eventually stop them, they will pay a heavy price to do so with many survivors left to face life shorter by a foot or two - or even a whole leg! To ride such a contraption is to feel invincible, and so chariot units are best used to crash into enemy formations at speed though they are often indiscipline and wont to charge in without orders. Also, when such confidence is shaken it can turn to terror causing the chariots to run amok, often wreaking havoc in their own lines. Each chariot is pulled by powerful horses, and is gaily decorated in the Indian manner - almost certainly of some comfort to the man unfortunate enough to find himself in its path!
Tactics[]
Chariots were still big in the eastern world at the time of Alexander. The Indian Chariots are not quite as good as their Persian Scythed Chariots counterparts, but still have extremely good melee attack stats, even better than Macedonian Companion Cavalry, Thessalian Cavalry or Persian Mercenary General's Bodyguard and Eastern General, very good cavalry units. However, where all chariot units are let down and prevent them being great is their defence. They've no shields, the chariots are unarmoured and the chariot riders are also pretty defenceless, having less defence than even Barbarian Peasants. All chariot units are effectively glass cannons.
Stats wise they're a mixed bag. While not as bad as the Persian General's Bodyguard, the final chariot unit, they're not as effective as Persian Scythed Chariots in terms of melee attack or morale, though they're equal in defence with a while 1 defence point! Their charge is also not too great, compared to their Persian counterparts or even other cavalry and even some infantry who has a better charge! Their melee attack is unrivalled though, like other chariots, but their vulnerability is what holds them back.
Indian Chariots are very much glass cannons, with very good melee attack but absolutely no defence. They're a type of cavalry unit, so are best used on the flanks, possibly supported by other cavalry units such as Indian Light Cavalry or Indian Medium Cavalry. Chariots are not a main line or even flanking unit like cavalry, since they are very weak. They're best at flanking and picking off lighter armoured units such as Barbarian Peasants or missile units like Persian Mardian Archer and Macedonian Cretan Archers. They are not good on their own, as an enemy cavalry unit, even a light cavalry unit like the Persian Barcanian Horsemen will be able to run them down and break them in a few seconds with minimal losses to themselves. Chariots require a lot of micromanaging on the battlefield to stop them getting caught up in melee with cavalry and infantry units. They're best on the flanks with other horsemen to either charge into isolated, distracted light infantry and missile units to get some easy kills or run down fleeing enemy units to either kill them all or prevent them regaining morale and coming back to the fight. They will loose to nearly every unit in a straight fight, especially cavalry, though their passive ability to scare enemy infantry may come in useful for charging into the rear of enemy lines.
Gallery[]
