Topic: Attacking with a chariot

[rdanhenry]

Chariots pulled by bears or dinosaurs are always nice. If nothing else, they tend to intimidate the regular infantry. And once spear formations are mastered, the key to victory with any form of cavalry is getting the infantry to break formation. (Good archers taking advantaged of the massed target can be one way. In a fantasy setting, area effect spells also tend to work against tight infantry formations, making cavalry all the more effective.)

[Marc R]

I dunno, the math of unbreakable squares was never put to the test of a triceratops charge. . .lower slung than an elephant, hard to stab up. . .strap some armor over the face and frill. . .might actually be able to plow into unbroken infantry and smash through the way a tank could.

At 12 tons, likely could pull a hella big chariot too.

[Usdrothek]

Boudica's chariots only did anything to the Romans because they were caught by surprise while marching in column. The chariots could punch through thin, barely defended lines and get out the other side, or throw spears and turn away without retaliation.

When the same chariots faced a prepared legion massed for battle, they were totally ineffectual. The Romans could stand behind their solid shield wall and the horses would shy away from the line, making a breakthough impossible and any thrown spears did little, if anything to the Roman infantry.

In that decisive battle, the Britons lost a reported 80,000 men to the Roman's 400. Thats a terrible loss by any standards.