Charioteers (Gnoll Pargon) Ancient engines of death

After reading Claudius the God and accounts of ancient barbarian-like charioteers I decided to add them to my campaign, but not to the humans, surely someone would have mentioned it before now. Chariots are unsuitable for PCs as they tended to be 4 man teams revolving around a single warrior, two out-runners to provide flanking, scouting and to cover withdrawals, a driver and finally the Charioteers.
Also the fact that gnolls are 7 1/2 tall but have no benefits from this annoyed me

Gnoll Paragons
Background:
This world has the human barbarians driven out of their homelands by humanoids (gnolls and goblins mostly) who came in numbers from another world. The human barbarians have no experience in mounted combat, and were driven like sheep before the might of the Gnoll Chariots.
Characteristics:
Teams of four comprise a chariot, 2 1st level out runners, a 2nd lvl driver and a 3rd level Charioteer – (additional levels of fighter/ranger for heroic charioteers). Historically charioteers used javlins, but Im consdering considering Large Long Bows (d10)
Chariots are pulled by Large Hyenas (4-5HD) and provide cover and height advantage, for the riders. The railings keep the occupants from falling out. Archers take normal penalties for firing from a moving chariot. The hyenas pulling a chariot have +2 AC and –2 to attack while in traces. Gnoll Paragons frequently max out ride (chariot) for the first 2 levels score 6-10 depending on int. and dex.

HD d8
Class Skills: Ride(chariot), Balance, Climb, Craft, Handle Animal, Listen, Spot, Survival,
Skill Points: 4+int mod
Weapons & Armor: Martial weapons, and Light/medium armor.
BAB: as Fighter
Saves: good Fortitude and Reflex
Level 1 – Fast movement +10 to running only in medium armor or less
(for the out runners)
Level 2 – Powerful Build (allows large weapons, +4 vs. trip, grapple etc.)
Level 3 – Mounted Archery +2 Con, +2 reaction bonus to Gnolls and Flinds
(gnoll’s normally have higher str but this is not a str based fighter and the
(powerful build adds as much damage as you could want.)
Comments?
Any one know what charioteers used as backup weapons?

I'm not an expert on this, but I do have a few tidbits of info. on chariot's.

1. Smallest war chariot was a 2-person team (a driver and a archer/artilltary person).
2. They mostly used shortbows and javilans.
3. Armors worn were scalemail and/or breastplate (for the nobles and commanders mostly)

For melee weapons, it was likely shortswords, etc.

Although the archery idea is cool, the main disadvantage of using javelins(running out of ammo quickly) is eliminated with the chariot. It would be cool if they used javelins for closer attacks and the bow for more ranged attacks. I would agree that a shortsword and shield would be good for melee.

~hf

Celts, Romans & Egyptians

I associate chariots with Celts, Romans & Egyptians. I think the celts mostly rode them into battle, then fought on foot.

The character I'd be worried about on a chariot would be a mage. If you could cast from a chariot close to troops then be whisked away to prepare another spell it might be deadly.

I like the idea of shortbow or javalin. Driver & chariot underlings might use javalins as spears working to protect the charioteer.

Nice idea.

Sigurd

Thanks for the Ideas I went with shortspears for backup weapons you
loose range, but you can use them in melee, and shortbow (large) as the primary weapon- I like the breastplate for the charrioteer.
In Claudius the God the celtic charriots are used by the charrioteer, but serve as transport for the out runners, who dismount for battles. The description of Assyrian charriots said that the charriot was used as command center for several hundread troops, but this was late in warfare, I think it saw more use earlier.

Sample Team
Out-Runners
HD 3d8+3 (17 hp), Speed: 40, AC 16 (studded leather armor & shield)
BAB/Grapple: +2/+4 Battle Axe +4(d8+2)or short bow +2 (d6)
Saves +4/+2/+0 Listen +6, Spot +7, Alertness, Power Attack
S-15, D-10, C-13, I-8, W-11,Ch 8

Driver
HD 4d8+8 (27 hp) spd 40. AC 14(18 in chariot)studded leather BAB/grapple: +3/+8
shortspear +3 (1d8+1) or Whip +4(d4+1) Saves +6/+3/+0 Ride(chariot) + 10, Handle Animal +5, Spot +4, Listen +4, Mounted Combat, Animal Affinity SQ Powerful Build, Darkvision 60 ft.
S-13, D-10, C-14, I-10, W-11,Ch 8

Charioteer
HD 5d8+15 (41 hp) spd 30 AC 22 (+1NAC,+5Breastplate, +2dex +4 cover)
BAB/grapple: +4/+13, Compound short bow +4str +6(d8+4)
or shortspears +6 (d8+5)or melee +9 (d8+7); Saves: +7/+5/+1, Ride +9, Spot +5, Listen +6
Alertness, Point Blank Shot, Mounted Archery(B) SQ Powerful Build, Darkvision 60’
The charioteer carries 3 shortspears, but will only throw 2
S-20, D-14, C-16, I-8, W-11,Ch –8

The listed driver and outriders are both professionals and do not seek to advance from their current rolls. The Out-runners would take fighter levels and the Driver ranger levels instead of becoming charioteers themselves. Charioteers in training would use higher stats but have only a +8 ride skill