Ala

In game

Ala — Vital statistics
	Roman unique heavy cavalry unit which replaces Lancers and Armoured Cavalry. Cheap to create and capable of good speed and flexibility, and has anti-melee defence against horse cavalry. Strong versus light infantry, light cavalry Weak versus heavy infantry
Prereq:	Build time	HP	LOS	Attack	Attack speed	Movement speed	Upgrades to
	16.3s (245t)	245	6	19	1.6s (25t)	36	Clibanarii
Cost			Created from	Armour	Weapon range	Specialty
Base	Ramp	Pop
: 50; : 60	: 1; : 1	1		4	Melee	Bonus damage versus light infantry. Defensive bonus versus Archers. Attack penalty versus camel cavalry and elephants.

Overall strategy

Camels may have been imports or war booty from invaders, but there is nothing in Egyptian history to suggest that the tactics of a foreigner are taboo. If the sons of Seqenenre Tao and Ahhotep refused to eschew the use of Hyksos chariot tactics, why should the Ptolemies avoid the use of Arabian camels in warfare?

In Warbirth, Ala are this idea of adaptation in essence thus put into practice, providing the Egyptian faction with a powerful late-game medium cavalry unit that is ideal for punishing cavalry civs, while allowing other Egyptian units - namely, their artillery and mercenaries to then seize the day. Their (relatively) cheap cost, and their good defensive parameters (not to mention horse cavalry's aversion to coming near them) make Ala a veritably valuable asset in the Imperial Era when so many other factions are starting to recruit more and more cavalry units. They aren't as efficient as traditional light cavalry units when they perform forage, reconaissance, and raiding, but in vast numbers they can be used to overwhelm super-heavy cavalry (such as the much-dreaded Sassanian Persian Grivpanvar), and have enough speed to run away from units such as fast horse archers (like the all-new Turkish Archer mercenaries that can be expected from factions such as Rome or China), leaving your Composite Bowmen to instead function as a deterrent against them.

Use these units how you want, since they are a form of medium cavalry but always be wary of heavy infantry types, such as Persian Athanatoi or Chinese Changmao - in fact it can be argued that the most dangerous units for Ala are the Persian Daylamiyan, so your camel companies shouldn't be sent into battle without support, unless as either a last-ditch effort, or as a lightning blitz on an unprepared foe.

Unit summary

• Ala are an effective medium cavalry unit that is versatile enough for use in many situations.
• Ala are often best used to support other units (eg artillery) but need backup if facing enemy anti-cavalry measures.
• Units with good armour piercing damage or with a strong anticav bonus are best used against Ala.

See also

• Lancer
• Armoured Cavalry
• Equites

Notes

Originally "Royal Companion" in original mod.