Parthians
The Parthian Empire controlled much of the Middle East from the 3rd Century BCE until the 3rd Century CE. During that time it was one of Rome's most powerful enemies, preventing it from expanding eastward into Asia. The Parthian Empire produced expert horsemen, using light and heavy cavalry to devastating effect -- and as such this article really could not ignore them.
The tactic for which the Parthians was most famous was the 'Parthian shot': a manoeuvre in which horse archers would feign retreat, turn back to face their enemies and loose arrows. The chief advantages of these archers was their relative cheapness and manoeuvrability. They did not require much in the way of armour as they were not expected to engage the enemy at close quarters: their tactics involved firing and retreating out of the range of the enemy's arrows. Similiarly, lances, swords and heavy maces were simply unnecessary. Because of this, the archer's steed carried little weight and so cheaper, lighter horses -- even ponies! -- could be used.
Parthian Horse Archer, male human War1: CR ½; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 1d8; hp 4; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 11 (+1 Dex), touch 11, flat-footed 10; Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk +3 melee (1d6+1/19-20, short sword) or +3 ranged (1d6+1/×3, composite shortbow [+1 Str bonus]); Full Atk +3 melee (1d6+1/19-20, short sword) or +3 ranged (1d6+1/×3, composite shortbow [+1 Str bonus]); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; AL LN; SV Fort +2, Ref +1, Will -1; Str 12, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
Languages: Parthian.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +3, Intimidate +3, Ride +4; Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat.
Possessions: Short sword, composite shortbow (+1 Strength bonus), 20 arrows.
Pony: CR ¼; Medium Animal; HD 2d8+2; hp 11; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 40 ft.; AC 13 (+1 Dex, +2 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 12; Base Atk +1; Grp +2; Atk -3 melee (1d3, hoof); Full Atk -3 melee (1d3, 2 hooves); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft.; SQ Low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +0; Str 13, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 4.
Skills and Feats: Listen +5, Spot +5; Endurance.
Possessions: Military saddle.
Total Equipment Cost: 118 gp (includes the pony).
Mounted archers were renowned for their skill, but even they were not feared as much as the cataphracts: the heavily armoured cavalry.Cataphracts were used in many nations in Eastern Europe and the Middle East up until the Middle Ages. Their equipment varied from nation to nation, but in general they wore mail, lamellar or heavier armours, and wielded bows, lances and a sword or other side-arm. These weapons would be wielded in that order -- firing on the enemy at range, then charging with their lances, and then setting about their enemies with other melee weapons. Parthian cataphracts on the whole refrained from using shields, relying instead on their heavy armour, keeping their hands free for firing their bows and controlling their steeds.
Parthian Cataphract, male human War2: CR 1; Medium Humanoid (Human); HD 2d8; hp 9; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 20 ft. (armour); AC 16 (+0 Dex, +6 armour), touch 10, flat-footed 16; Base Atk +2; Grp +3; Atk +3 melee (1d8+1/×3, lance) or +3 melee (1d8+1, heavy mace) or +3 ranged (1d6+1/×3, composite shortbow [+1 Str bonus]); Full Atk +3 melee (1d8+1/×3, lance) or +3 melee (1d8+1, heavy mace) or +3 ranged (1d6+1/×3, composite shortbow [+1 Str bonus]); Space/Reach 5 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. w/ lance); AL LN; SV Fort +2, Ref +1, Will -1; Str 13, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 9, Cha 8.
Languages: Parthian.
Skills and Feats: Handle Animal +4, Intimidate +4, Ride +7; Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat.
Possessions: Lance, heavy mace, dagger, composite shortbow (+1 Strength bonus), 20 arrows, splint mail.
Warhorse, Heavy: CR 2; Large Animal; HD 4d8+12; hp 30; Init +1 (Dex); Spd 35 ft. (armour); AC 18 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural, +4 armour), touch 10, flat-footed 17; Base Atk +3; Grp +11; Atk +6 melee (1d6+4, hoof); Full Atk +6 melee (1d6+4, 2 hooves), +1 melee (1d4+2, bite); Space/Reach 10 ft./5 ft.; SQ Low-light vision, scent; AL N; SV Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +2; Str 18, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6.
Skills and Feats: Listen +5, Spot +4; Endurance, Run.
Possessions: Scale barding, military saddle, bit and bridle.
Total Equipment Cost: 999 gp (includes the horse).