https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/issues/8847

I think Fertile Crescent Game will be a good inspiration and Pharaoh ( Total War)        

I thought of several ideas, like defeating the crew to capture the ship. This would work for ships. 

agree sorry I don't think I understand this part. I thought I remembered their attack got nerfed but I'm unsure. The war horses tech only gives them more health. The HP nerf makes sense and I like it. That's why currently players with a not-so-perfect spam of less than 40 champ cav actually loose fights. But this applies to all champ cav equally. I tested it some time ago and cataphracts quite reliable win with a large numbers of survivors against other champ cav and the +2 resistances help against infantry too.

this is because they have extremely high population efficiency, and their speed makes them hugely survivable. when combined with the HP nerf, they essentially have the same resistance. When you factor in the change to nissean war horses, its a net reduction in resistance actually.