<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>eastern chariot scythed</full_name><dictionary>eastern_chariot_scythed</dictionary><category>cavalry</category><class>heavy</class><voice_type>Heavy_1</voice_type><soldier><name>eastern_chariot_crew</name><soldiers>10</soldiers><extras>10</extras><mass>1</mass></soldier><mount>pontic scythed chariot</mount><mount_effect>elephant -4, horse -2</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, frighten_foot, can_run_amok, power_charge</attributes><formation><side_spacing>7</side_spacing><front_spacing>9</front_spacing><loose_side_spacing>15</loose_side_spacing><loose_front_spacing>15</loose_front_spacing><ranks>2</ranks><formations>square</formations></formation><stat_health><hit_points>1</hit_points><animal_hit_points>2</animal_hit_points></stat_health><stat_pri><attack>10</attack><charge>50</charge><missile_type>no</missile_type><range>0</range><ammo>0</ammo><weapon_type>melee</weapon_type><tech_type>blade</tech_type><dammage_type>slashing</dammage_type><sound>sword</sound><min_delay>0</min_delay><lethality>1</lethality></stat_pri><stat_pri_attr>area, ap, launching</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>10</attack><charge>50</charge><missile_type>no</missile_type><range>0</range><ammo>0</ammo><weapon_type>melee</weapon_type><tech_type>blade</tech_type><dammage_type>slashing</dammage_type><sound>sword</sound><min_delay>0</min_delay><lethality>1</lethality></stat_sec><stat_sec_attr>area, ap, launching</stat_sec_attr><stat_pri_armour><armour>20</armour><def_skill>8</def_skill><shield>0</shield><sound>metal</sound></stat_pri_armour><stat_sec_armour><armour>14</armour><def_skill>5</def_skill><sound>metal</sound></stat_sec_armour><stat_heat>3</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>-6</forest><snow>-3</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>6</morale><discipline>impetuous</discipline><training>untrained</training></stat_mental><stat_fire_delay>0</stat_fire_delay><stat_food>60, 300</stat_food><stat_cost><turns>1</turns><cost>3500</cost><upkeep>875</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>100</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>140</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>3500</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>carthage</ownership><description><name>Harmata Drepanephora (Scythed Chariots)</name><short>Scythed chariots are fearsome devices, covered in scythe blades to cut down any infantry foolish enough to stand still when charged.</short><long>Elite
Impetuous
Can Run Amok
Frightens Infantry

A scythed chariot is simply a war chariot with spinning blades extending out a meter on both ends of the axle. The Drepanon Harmarnithres is meant to devastate infantry formations, but it is best used against closely, packed lower class infantry in open terrain. A successful chariot charge will not only kill men, even more importantly, it will disorder their ranks. Hence, if quickly followed up with other troops the chaos the chariots creat can be exploited. However, if the chariots lose momentum or face abundant skirmishing infantry they will be in serious trouble. These vehicles do not come cheap, requiring a team of horses from the royal stables and attendants to maintain and see to the safe transport of the vehicle. The lack of springs makes chariots unsuitable for use in rocky terrain, where they could easily overturn or break.

Historically, the short recurved horsebow put an end to the one of the chariots’ original roles in combat as a moving missile platform: each chariot archer required two horses, while two horses would serve two mounted bowmen, an effective doubling of firepower. Hence other uses of the chariot, such as shock and disruption, became emphasized. The old Persian scythed chariot was pulled by a team of four horses and manned by a crew of up to three men, one heavily armoured driver and two warriors. It was on this model that later states, such as the Pontic kingdom based their own.</long></description></unit>