"The thundering of hooves is the sound of Death himself."
Developed during their early part of the 1st century AD by the eastern empires of the time, the ‘kontos’ lance was at least four metres long. Designed to be used by cavalrymen, it was initially fielded by the cataphracts and clibinarii of Parthia and its successors, the Sassanid Persians. In fact the Parthian cataphracts who annihilated the Roman army at the Battle of Carrhae in 55BC may also have used an early version of the kontos. Literally as long as a bargepole, from where it gets its Greek name, a kontos was generally used two-handed whilst its wielder controlled their horse using both knees to indicate speed and direction. Later on, Rome faced this deadly new cavalry weapon again at the hands of the brutal steppe nomads who raided its borders during the 3rd century AD. As a reaction to having faced lance-armed warriors and come off worse, the Romans soon had their own version, spelled ‘contus’. The contus lance was still in use 1,000 years later by the Roman Empire’s successors - the Byzantines in the east and the Germanic peoples in the west.
Strength and Weaknesses[]
Excellent Charge Bonus
Excellent Armour
High Health
Base Stats[]
Sarmatian Cataphract Lancers
Unit
Number of Men:
80
Morale:
60
Bonus HP:
-40
Melee Attack:
35
Melee Defense:
15
Charge Bonus:
260
Reload:
0
Ammunition:
0
Very Heavy Infantry
Human
Hit Points:
105
Mass:
175
Very Heavy Horse
Mount
Hit Points:
165
Mass:
770
Walk Speed:
16,5
Run Speed:
45
Charge Speed:
100
Charge Distance:
75
Weapons and Gear[]
Elite Lance
Melee Weapon
Damage:
3
Armour Penetration Damage:
7
Bonus vs Infantry:
0
Bonus vs Cavalry:
20
Bonus vs Elephants:
0
Building damage:
0.033
Oval Shield
Shield
Melee Defence:
10
Armour:
30
Missile Block Chance:
40
Cataphract Armour
Armour
Armour:
50
Abilities[]
Wedge
Target:
Self
Initial Recharge:
0
Active Time:
N/A
Recharge Time:
N/A
The unit moves into a wedge-shaped attack formation.
Assemble (5s)
Form Wedge:
+10 Melee Attack
+50% Charge Speed
+15% Charge Bonus
-100% Missile Block Chance
-25% Speed
Frenzied Charge
Target:
Self
Initial Recharge:
Active Time:
0
Recharge Time:
30
Increases the effectiveness of the unit's charge for an extended period.
Frenzy (30s):
-15 Melee Defence
+20% Acceleration
+10% Charge Speed
+25% Deceleration
+25% Charge Bonus
Unbreakable
Fatigue (1s):
+100% Fatigue
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.
Scare (everyone)
This unit frightens all enemy units.
Immune to Fear
This unit is immune to the fear effects of scary units.
Wedge
Frenzied Charge
Disciplined
Hide (forest)
Scare (everyone)
Immune to Fear