Which faction will have the best Cataphracts in Rome II ?

[Mithridates II the Great]

Hi ,

As you know , there are at least 3 factions ( Seleucid empire , Armenia and Parthia ) that will have cataphracts in the game . The question is that , will there be any differences between them ? If yes then which faction will have the strongest and fastest ones in the game ?

[Antiochus]

Why you didn't add poll? It will be better.

[Mithridates II the Great]

Why you didn't add poll? It will be better.

Tbh , I don't know how to do it

[Grimbold]

If memory serves me, Pergamon also had cataphracts, but probably Parthia will have the best ones.

[LaLaLand]

Well out of all the factions focusing on Capatracts, none of them have combat records that are particularly stellar :

[Anna_Gein]

I would prefer if cataphract unit were cataphract unit and not see factional variant the way we saw takeda cavalry previously. Experience of the specific unit, technology unlocked and law/training instruction should enable more differences but these differences should be based on campaign decisions and not arbitrary choice made by CA.

Well out of all the factions focusing on Capatracts, none of them have combat records that are particularly stellar :

Your point ? The same goes for all factions focusing on classical hoplite. In fact contrary state with cataphract tradition (and not capatract) classical hoplite never allowed their state to remain regional powerhouse for a long time.

[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus]

As a factuion which relied allmost only on Horseman in their Army it should be definitly Parthia, because they had a clear focus on it to develop new techniques. For the Seleucids it was only a subunit and not usually not the battle winning unit. Armenia was ruled by Arsacids the longest time and i guess since than they had similar cataphracts than the Parthians.

[neoptolemos]

Well the Seleucids had typical cataphracts like Parthians (composed by Persians/Medes recruits and nobles presumably) , heavy cavalry (Greek companion cavalry) and hellenistic cataphracts (the Greek adoption of the cataphracts).
I can see reasonable giving Parthians and Armenians an edge on cataphracts but it was the Sassanids who had made some really advantages on the whole cataphract concept.

[Karnil Vark Khaitan]

The late roman army had the best ones. They used them up to the Middle Ages!

[neoptolemos]

The late roman army had the best ones. They used them up to the Middle Ages!

Well the cataphract in the Roman army is indeed a remarkable example of longlivity of the concept.
However the Roman cataphracts had different roles and were influenced by different enemies the Roman faced.
The Nikephorean cataphract was in fact the heaviest cavalry in history until the coming of full plate renaissance knights.

[HigoChumbo]

What a dumb question...

The Iceni, of course.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Sorry, couldn't resist

[Stath's]

Baktria also had cataphracts.

I guess they all would be of equal strength.

Would the mounts play a role? Those Nisean ones must have been exceptional. Maybe a unique resource at that province.

[|Sith|Galvanized Iron]

I suspect that the Suebi Berserker Cataphracts will be the strongest:

[Shamshir]

The Parthians should have the best cataphracts. Theirs were unrivaled until the rise of the Sassanians. Not being biased, this is just what I've read in history books.

[neoptolemos]

The Parthians should have the best cataphracts. Theirs were unrivaled until the rise of the Sassanians. Not being biased, this is just what I've read in history books.

Care to provide these books or the references?

[Shamshir]

Care to provide these books or the references?

I'm not sure which one of the following books, but there you have them:

Sassanian Elite Cavalry by Kaveh Farrokh, Shadows in the Desert by the same author, Maria Brosius' The Persians, Steven R. Ward's Immortal.

(I guess I should prepare for yet another pointless historical debate )

[Ichon]

Parthian cataphracts were based on experiences fighting Sarmatians and Scythians combined with good arms industry of Persia which allowed Parthians to field high numbers but overall those 3 are probably the most armored and riding the best horses so despite armor stamina might still be ok though speed should definitely be lower.

Seleucids, Pontus, Armenia did use many mercenaries but also equipped some of their own troops in a cataphract style which seems more lightly armored than further east with often just front part of the horse armored and not full suit of scale over the rider but good armor that leaves knees bare. CA actually seems pretty good on this from released pictures. As for effects in battle the more lightly armored cataphracts might be slightly more mobile with faster turning radius and overall speed as well handling slightly better in rough terrain at the cost of lower armor value but tiny bit higher melee defense.

[achilles-91]

it would be good if this is a pool

[Sharpe]

it would be good if this is a pool

The water's fine.