Speed of horse vs. chariots

[lelouchx99]

I was thinking about chariots. Are they faster than a single horse with a rider, or perhaps 2-4 horses carrying a carriage with a couple of people? Any ideas? Also, what is the purpose of chariots anyways? Is it mainly used for transporting troops over long distances or warfare?

[Caesar Augustus]

I would say that a horse with a rider is probably faster over a shorter distance due to not pulling the weight of the chariot, so for game purposes cavalry should be faster than chariots. At least in my opinion anyway. Of course though, this would be relative to the number of horses.

As far as chariot usage is concerned, in some cultures warriors travelled to the battlefield via chariot and then dismounted and fought on foot, but other cultures would have archers on a chariot for uses similar to how horse archers were used. Then there were also scythed chariots which had blades mounted on the wheel hubs which would plow into densely packed infantry formations and cause alot of damage.

Hope this clears things up a little

[Pat89]

I would say that a horse with a rider is probably faster over a shorter distance due to not pulling the weight of the chariot, so for game purposes cavalry should be faster than chariots.

Though I could also imagine a horse dragging a chariot could be more comfortable for the horse - and so make it run faster - because it has nothing on his back. Especially if the guy on his back is (heavily) armoured...

[Gomer]

Though I could also imagine a horse dragging a chariot could be more comfortable for the horse - and so make it run faster - because it has nothing on his back. Especially if the guy on his back is (heavily) armoured...

Well I'd think that a horse carrying one man (given he is lightly armoured) would be faster than a chariot. Chariot horses have to toe a heavy chariot with two or three men on it. That is probably heavier than a single armoured man on its back.

I'd say heavily armoured cavalry would be slower than a chariot and would tire quicker. But I cannot see light cavalry being slower than chariots. Its like comparing trotters and horses at the races.

[Caesar Augustus]

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have come out with a flat statement like that lol.

What I mean is that light cavalry (and especially light skirmisher cavalry) would probably be faster over a shorter distance, whereas heavy cavalry (and definitely cataphracts) would be slower.

But then you've got to consider the weight of the chariot and the number, plus that of the people inside the chariot (i.e. 1 driver and probably a couple of archers). So it's really a bit of a tough one

[Titus Maximius Thongus]

would would happen if massed infantry formations held their ground, locked shields and presented a wall of spears to a charge of chariots?

[Caesar Augustus]

I'd imagine that a head on charge by chariots would probably end very badly in that situation. However, if used against lighter troops the situation would be reversed. At least, that's what common sense dictates to me.