Elite Scara Guard

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A Knight ther was, and that a worthy man,That fro the tyme that he first biganTo ryden out, he loved chivalrye,Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye.	
	
— Geoffrey Chaucer, Cantebury Tales
==In game==
Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics	Elite Scara Guard — Vital statistics
 	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings	
Heavy cavalry, with powerful attack, exceptional armour, but far more limited mobility compared to more agile medium cavalry or horse archers.
*Strong versus light and medium infantry; light cavalry.
*Weak versus heavy infantry; buildings
Prereq: 	Build time 	HP 	LOS 	Attack 	Attack speed 	Movementspeed 	 	 	 	
* 	16.3s(245t) 	145 	7 	19 	5.9s(35t) 	38 	 	 	 	
Cost 	Cost 	Cost 	Created from 	Armour 	Weapon range 	Specialty 	Specialty 	Specialty 	 	
Base 	Ramp 	Pop 	Created from 	Armour 	Weapon range 	Specialty 	Specialty 	Specialty 	 	
:: 40: 40: 10 	
:: 3 	1 	 	6 	Melee 	
*Bonus damage versus light infantry.
*Defensive bonus versus Archers.
*Can "charge" enemy units.
*Attack penalty versus camel cavalry and elephants.	
*Bonus damage versus light infantry.
*Defensive bonus versus Archers.
*Can "charge" enemy units.
*Attack penalty versus camel cavalry and elephants.	
*Bonus damage versus light infantry.
*Defensive bonus versus Archers.
*Can "charge" enemy units.
*Attack penalty versus camel cavalry and elephants.	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===Overall strategy===
By far the most powerful of Frankish units, the Elite Scara Guard can now be best described as genuine shock cavalry. They are no longer armed with axes as Scara Cavalry units are, but are instead outfitted with lances, as well as a good deal of heavy scale armour.
Like many Turkic cavalryman which the Franks have had experience in fighting further east, the Elite Scara Guard does not rely on the use of heavy armour (as Sogdian, Roman or Chinese armies do), but instead uses superior horsemanship, better mounts and training (they are after all a guard unit for kings!) to outwit and eventually out-hit opponents. For this reason, the Elite Scara Guard has a strong propensity for being superior to most light cavalry units in hand to hand combat, but must learn to close in for the kill. Against heavier shock units, such as Cataphracts, they are often deficient in armour and for this reason must learn to avoid superior foes, sheltering behind walls of spears should trouble come knocking with a mailed fist.
==History==
The Scara was a group of elite Frankish warriors, all mounted on horseback, and which served as bodyguards like many other cavalry units in contemporary cultures, such as the Persian javan or the Roman Scholarii. Historical opinion differs greatly on the quality and role of Frankish cavalry in the early mediaeval period. Sources indicate that in the old Frankish kingdoms, two horses were worth one sword. This either meant that mounts in the Frankish imperium were in abundant supply (that melee cavalry could then be implemented) — or simply of depressing quality. Recent investigation, however, suggests that most Franks fought as mounted infantry as did the Norse, using horses to garner a strategic advantage (by moving quickly across large areas) as opposed to a tactical one (by fighting from horseback).
category:melee cavalry
===References===
*DeVries K et al; Battles of the Medieval World; (2006 4th ed), Barnes & Noble
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category:Heavy cavalry
category:Melee cavalry
Category:Franks
Category:Swords of the Prophets unique units