The Romans
The Roman cavalry, also known as the Equites, played a secondary role to the infantry: as such Rome was never really famed for her horsemen. However, following a number of defeats by foreign nations that made better use of mounted fighters, the Equites grew in importance and size as the empire expanded and subsequent emperors saw how effective foreign horsemen could be in battle. Typically horses carried skirmishers, archers and scouts.
Cavalrymen in the Empire could be classed into two categories: Romans rich enough to afford their own horses, and subjects of the Empire from regions with existing traditions of horsemanship. Auxiliary horsemen enjoyed a higher rate of pay than conventional legionaries, but were expected to feed and stable their horses with their own money. They traditionally wielded the spatha, a longer sword than the traditional gladius, as short, stabbing swords were useless when wielded from horseback. Auxiliaries commonly wore lorica hamata, a kind of light chain-mail.
Roman Cavalryman (Auxiliary), male human War2: CR 1; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 2d8; hp 9; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 30 ft. (armour); AC 17 (+1 Dex, +4 armour, +2 shield), touch 11, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +2; Grp +3; Atk +2 melee (1d8+1/×3, spear) or +2 melee (1d8+1/19-20, longsword) or +3 ranged (1d6+1, javelin); Full Atk +2 melee (1d8+1/×3, spear) or +2 melee (1d8+1/19-20, longsword) or +3 ranged (1d6+1, javelin); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; AL LN; SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will -1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
Languages: Latin.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +4, Ride +8, Survival +3; Mounted Combat, Ride-By Attack.
Possessions: Spear, longsword, 2 javelins, chain shirt, large wooden shield.
Warhorse, Light: CR 1; Large Animal; HD 3d8+9; hp 22; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 60 ft.; AC 14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +2; Grp +9; Atk +4 melee (1d4+3); Full Atk +4 melee (1d4+3, 2 hooves), -1 melee (1d3+1, bite); Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; SQ Low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2; Str 16, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +4, Spot +4; Endurance, Run.
Possessions: Riding saddle.
Total Equipment Cost: 286 gp (includes the horse).
The sagittarii, or mounted archers, formed another distinctive part of the Roman cavalry. They evolved primarily because so many of Rome's enemies favoured the use of mounted archers. However, they were expensive to equip, and the damp climate of Northern Europe made the use of their composite bows impractical.
Roman Cavalryman (Sagittarius), male human War2: CR 1; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 2d8; hp 9; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 30 ft. (armour); AC 15 (+1 Dex, +4 armour), touch 11, flat-footed 14; Base Atk +2; Grp +3; Atk +2 melee (1d8+1/19-20, longsword) or +3 ranged (1d6/×3, composite shortbow); Full Atk +2 melee (1d8+1/19-20, longsword) or +3 ranged (1d6/×3, composite shortbow); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; AL ; SV Fort +3, Ref +1, Will -1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
Languages: Latin.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +4, Ride +8; Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat.
Possessions: Composite shortbow, 20 arrows, longsword, chain shirt.
Warhorse, Light: CR 1; Large Animal; HD 3d8+9; hp 22; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 60 ft.; AC 14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 13; Base Atk +2; Grp +9; Atk +4 melee (1d4+3); Full Atk +4 melee (1d4+3, 2 hooves), -1 melee (1d3+1, bite); Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; SQ Low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2; Str 16, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +4, Spot +4; Endurance, Run.
Possessions: Riding saddle.
Total Equipment Cost: 358 gp (includes the horse).