Post by Administrator on Aug 19, 2008 22:09:55 GMT -5
Heavy Peltasts
missile infantry | 40 Men
Expert at Hiding in Forests
Can Hide in Long Grass
Sapping Ability
Heavy peltasts are skirmishers, but carry large oval shields into battle. This added protection makes them suitable for standing in the main battle line, as well as for flanking and screening duties.
Their javelins are intended to thin the ranks of approaching troops, weakening their morale just before battle is joined. They also carry short swords for when they are asked to engage in close combat.
A heavy peltast’s shield (the thureos), is made from wood covered in leather. While this confers reasonable protection, when confronted with heavy infantry or practically any form of cavalry, these troops should not be expected to stand for long. Like other peltasts, this unit is well suited to using ambush tactics.
**********************************************************
Hoplites
spearmen infantry | 40 Men
Hardy
Sapping Ability
Can Form Phalanx
The basis of nearly all military power in Greece once revolved around the hoplite. Operating in phalanxes, or tightly grouped blocks, these men are a powerful force against infantry or cavalry.
Hoplite tactics are simple: formations generally approach the opposing army in normal order, and then close ranks into the phalanx so that each soldier is protected by overlapping shields. Then it is simply a matter of closing with the enemy as quickly as possible to decide the battle. Well trained, these troops have great stamina, and are some of the most effective soldiers in the known world.
Hoplites generally supply their own equipment, so are not drawn from the poorer sections of society. They wear a hardened leather cuirass breastplate, and carry both a round shield (the hoplon) and a thrusting spear. This spear has a bronze butt-spike to plant in the ground (bronze is not prone to rusting like iron), which doubles as a weapon if the pike shaft breaks.
**********************************************************
Armoured Hoplites
spearmen infantry | 40 Men
Superior
Hardy
Can Form Phalanx
Sapping Ability
Armoured hoplites are an elite among Greek soldiery, carefully selected and given the best training to make them superior spearmen. Each of them is equipped with good body armour, greaves and a helmet and carries a large round shield, the hoplon that gives this kind of soldier the name of hoplite. Each man is also armed with a formidable thrusting spear called the xyston and a sword. They are usually employed as solid, close-packed groups of men, presenting a wall of spear points to the enemy. In phalanx formation, they use weight of numbers to batter into enemy formations.
They are vulnerable to flank and rear attacks, and ideally need some sort of light supporting troops to screen them as they approach the enemy.
**********************************************************
Spartan Hoplites
spearmen infantry | 40 Men
Beyond Elite.
Disciplined
Very Hardy
Can Form Phalanx
Sapping Ability
Spartan hoplites are trained from infancy to be nothing but soldiers. They are perfect soldiers and nothing else. All of Spartan life is spent training for war. Weaklings perish soon after birth; youths are taught to thieve and terrorize the slave class to harden them; young men are taught nothing unless it has something to do with the arts of war - even music and dance are there only to help keep step when marching and obeying orders.
The result is a man who thinks nothing of danger, expects to win, and creates a sense of dread in his opponents.
Spartans fight in the traditional fashion as hoplites, carrying a long thrusting spear and the large round hoplon shield, and as a phalanx: a close-packed mass of men moving as one to crush their enemies.
If they have a weakness it is that they are hide-bound traditionalists, and the once-mighty state of Sparta has not moved with the times.
**********************************************************
Militia Cavalry
missile cavalry | 27 Men
Can Form Cantabrian Circle
Militia cavalry are javelin-armed mounted skirmishers who can strike quickly and be gone in the time it takes a more ponderous enemy to react. They do not wear armour, but do carry shields and swords so that they can fight in hand-to-hand combat should the need arise. They are, however, best used to dash in and harass a mass of enemies, such as heavy infantry who cannot hope to catch them. They are not ideally suited to fighting other skirmishers - many of their javelins will be wasted against targets who can dodge, after all - but they can be very useful in harrying fleeing enemies and driving them from the field.
**********************************************************
General's Bodyguard
heavy cavalry | 12 Men
Elite
Disciplined
Hardy
Inspires Friendly Units
This general has a bodyguard of loyal spear-armed and armoured cavalry to accompany him onto the field. Armed with spears, these men are shock cavalry, able to deliver a devastating charge attack; they are then well trained enough to fight effectively in continued hand-to-hand combat, even though they do not carry shields.
Like all generals guards, this unit is best committed to the fight at the point of crisis, when the generals inspirational leadership and the combat power of his men can tip the balance.
**********************************************************
Incendiary Pigs
heavy handler | 12 Men
Incendiary pigs are one shot weapons intended to spread panic and terror amongst enemies, particularly mounted troops.
The pigs are coated in pitch, tar and oil, and herded towards the enemy. At the right moment, the pigs are ignited by their handlers and, not unnaturally, they run away in pain and terror - hopefully towards the enemy. Apart from goring anyone foolish enough to get in their way, the pigs are tremendously disruptive to formations. They are also very frightening for elephants in particular, and this is their main use in warfare.
Pigs can only be fired up once during a battle, and few survive for long.
**********************************************************
Rhodian Slingers
missile infantry | 40 Men
Superior
Hardy
Sapping Ability
These superior mercenaries from the island of Rhodes are famed for their ability as slingers. They can maintain a sustained and concentrated barrage on an enemy before rapidly falling back to avoid hand-to-hand combat.
Rhodian slingers carry a shoulder bag with lead shot and several spare slings suitable for various ranges (a shot typically weighs no more than 55g - a couple of ounces). Trained from infancy, these missile troops also include men drawn from the hilly areas of mainland Greece.
They carry only a small shield for protection, and are best kept out of hand-to-hand combat. They are, however, highly mobile and don’t tire easily.
**********************************************************
Peasants
light infantry | 60 Men
Sapping Ability
Peasants are reluctant warriors, but numbers are useful in all armies. Forcing peasants to fight is one way of getting lots of men in the field quickly and cheaply. They have little tactical sense, and even less willingness to fight - they would rather be defending their own homes than be dragged to a battle they neither care about nor understand. If nothing else, they are useful when theres digging to be done. They are, however, experts at reading the land and hiding whenever there is cover.
**********************************************************
Peltasts
missile infantry | 40 Men
Expert at Hiding in Forests
Can Hide in Long Grass
Sapping Ability
Greek peltasts advance at speed to pepper an enemy with javelins, and then withdraw in good order before a counter-attack can be organised. They are skirmishers and it is their task to harass and disrupt enemy units before the main battle lines clash. They are also adept at staging tactical ambushes.
Peltasts are equipped with a clutch of javelins, a sword and a light shield, the pelte, which gives them their name as pelte-bearers. They wear no other armour, and rely on speed as the best form of protection, and this isnt much protection should they be caught by cavalry.
**********************************************************
Cretan Archers
missile infantry | 40 Men
Superior
Hardy
Sapping Ability
The archers of Crete are famed for their abilities. They can rain arrows on their opponents, not just bombard them.
These men can be used to soften up a battle line before the main fight is joined, or be placed behind a line of defensive troops such as spearmen. If left unprotected they are vulnerable to attacks by cavalry and light skirmishers, as they have little chance of lasting for long in hand-to-hand combat.
Historically, the term ‘Cretan’ came to represent a fighting style rather than an area of origin, so many of these mercenaries are from elsewhere in the Greek world. Those originally from Crete are highly valued in cities and towns on the mainland as archery instructors.
**********************************************************
Militia Hoplites
spearmen infantry | 40 Men
Can Form Phalanx
Sapping Ability
Militia hoplites are levies drawn from cities and thrust into battle with a little training. They fight best as spearmen, and are armed with long spears and each carries the large round hoplon shield which gives them their name. As a type of infantry hoplites have been around for centuries and have changed little in tactics or equipment. These men wear no armour, but then they are drawn from the poorer classes and it is traditional for citizens to provide their own war gear when called into the army. The cities of the Greek world have a long tradition of the people defending their own cities from invaders.
They are at their best when used as a solid block of spearmen and can form a phalanx to attack the enemy.
**********************************************************
Greek Cavalry
light cavalry | 27 Men
Can Form Wedge
Greek cavalry are fast moving horsemen armed with spears for maximum impact in a charge. They are not heavily armoured, and do not have shields for protection, relying instead on the old maxim of speed is armour for protection. As a result, they are best used as a hit-and-run force, rather than as soldiers who can indulge in hand-to-hand combat. That said, they are excellent for breaking up skirmishers, attacking lighter infantry such as missile troops and pursuing already broken enemies to prevent them rallying and rejoining a battle.
**********************************************************
Archers
missile infantry | 40 Men
Can Fire Incendiary Missiles
Sapping Ability
Archers are rightly feared for the casualties they can inflict, but they are vulnerable in hand-to-hand combat.
They are drawn from the peasant classes of all societies, as these are the people who need to be skilled hunters in order to survive. Learning to use a bow well is something that takes a lifetime and constant practice, and putting food on the table provides good practice.
They are best used to weaken enemy formations, or placed in a spot where they can retreat and find protection from other troops.
missile infantry | 40 Men
Expert at Hiding in Forests
Can Hide in Long Grass
Sapping Ability
Heavy peltasts are skirmishers, but carry large oval shields into battle. This added protection makes them suitable for standing in the main battle line, as well as for flanking and screening duties.
Their javelins are intended to thin the ranks of approaching troops, weakening their morale just before battle is joined. They also carry short swords for when they are asked to engage in close combat.
A heavy peltast’s shield (the thureos), is made from wood covered in leather. While this confers reasonable protection, when confronted with heavy infantry or practically any form of cavalry, these troops should not be expected to stand for long. Like other peltasts, this unit is well suited to using ambush tactics.
**********************************************************
Hoplites
spearmen infantry | 40 Men
Hardy
Sapping Ability
Can Form Phalanx
The basis of nearly all military power in Greece once revolved around the hoplite. Operating in phalanxes, or tightly grouped blocks, these men are a powerful force against infantry or cavalry.
Hoplite tactics are simple: formations generally approach the opposing army in normal order, and then close ranks into the phalanx so that each soldier is protected by overlapping shields. Then it is simply a matter of closing with the enemy as quickly as possible to decide the battle. Well trained, these troops have great stamina, and are some of the most effective soldiers in the known world.
Hoplites generally supply their own equipment, so are not drawn from the poorer sections of society. They wear a hardened leather cuirass breastplate, and carry both a round shield (the hoplon) and a thrusting spear. This spear has a bronze butt-spike to plant in the ground (bronze is not prone to rusting like iron), which doubles as a weapon if the pike shaft breaks.
**********************************************************
Armoured Hoplites
spearmen infantry | 40 Men
Superior
Hardy
Can Form Phalanx
Sapping Ability
Armoured hoplites are an elite among Greek soldiery, carefully selected and given the best training to make them superior spearmen. Each of them is equipped with good body armour, greaves and a helmet and carries a large round shield, the hoplon that gives this kind of soldier the name of hoplite. Each man is also armed with a formidable thrusting spear called the xyston and a sword. They are usually employed as solid, close-packed groups of men, presenting a wall of spear points to the enemy. In phalanx formation, they use weight of numbers to batter into enemy formations.
They are vulnerable to flank and rear attacks, and ideally need some sort of light supporting troops to screen them as they approach the enemy.
**********************************************************
Spartan Hoplites
spearmen infantry | 40 Men
Beyond Elite.
Disciplined
Very Hardy
Can Form Phalanx
Sapping Ability
Spartan hoplites are trained from infancy to be nothing but soldiers. They are perfect soldiers and nothing else. All of Spartan life is spent training for war. Weaklings perish soon after birth; youths are taught to thieve and terrorize the slave class to harden them; young men are taught nothing unless it has something to do with the arts of war - even music and dance are there only to help keep step when marching and obeying orders.
The result is a man who thinks nothing of danger, expects to win, and creates a sense of dread in his opponents.
Spartans fight in the traditional fashion as hoplites, carrying a long thrusting spear and the large round hoplon shield, and as a phalanx: a close-packed mass of men moving as one to crush their enemies.
If they have a weakness it is that they are hide-bound traditionalists, and the once-mighty state of Sparta has not moved with the times.
**********************************************************
Militia Cavalry
missile cavalry | 27 Men
Can Form Cantabrian Circle
Militia cavalry are javelin-armed mounted skirmishers who can strike quickly and be gone in the time it takes a more ponderous enemy to react. They do not wear armour, but do carry shields and swords so that they can fight in hand-to-hand combat should the need arise. They are, however, best used to dash in and harass a mass of enemies, such as heavy infantry who cannot hope to catch them. They are not ideally suited to fighting other skirmishers - many of their javelins will be wasted against targets who can dodge, after all - but they can be very useful in harrying fleeing enemies and driving them from the field.
**********************************************************
General's Bodyguard
heavy cavalry | 12 Men
Elite
Disciplined
Hardy
Inspires Friendly Units
This general has a bodyguard of loyal spear-armed and armoured cavalry to accompany him onto the field. Armed with spears, these men are shock cavalry, able to deliver a devastating charge attack; they are then well trained enough to fight effectively in continued hand-to-hand combat, even though they do not carry shields.
Like all generals guards, this unit is best committed to the fight at the point of crisis, when the generals inspirational leadership and the combat power of his men can tip the balance.
**********************************************************
Incendiary Pigs
heavy handler | 12 Men
Incendiary pigs are one shot weapons intended to spread panic and terror amongst enemies, particularly mounted troops.
The pigs are coated in pitch, tar and oil, and herded towards the enemy. At the right moment, the pigs are ignited by their handlers and, not unnaturally, they run away in pain and terror - hopefully towards the enemy. Apart from goring anyone foolish enough to get in their way, the pigs are tremendously disruptive to formations. They are also very frightening for elephants in particular, and this is their main use in warfare.
Pigs can only be fired up once during a battle, and few survive for long.
**********************************************************
Rhodian Slingers
missile infantry | 40 Men
Superior
Hardy
Sapping Ability
These superior mercenaries from the island of Rhodes are famed for their ability as slingers. They can maintain a sustained and concentrated barrage on an enemy before rapidly falling back to avoid hand-to-hand combat.
Rhodian slingers carry a shoulder bag with lead shot and several spare slings suitable for various ranges (a shot typically weighs no more than 55g - a couple of ounces). Trained from infancy, these missile troops also include men drawn from the hilly areas of mainland Greece.
They carry only a small shield for protection, and are best kept out of hand-to-hand combat. They are, however, highly mobile and don’t tire easily.
**********************************************************
Peasants
light infantry | 60 Men
Sapping Ability
Peasants are reluctant warriors, but numbers are useful in all armies. Forcing peasants to fight is one way of getting lots of men in the field quickly and cheaply. They have little tactical sense, and even less willingness to fight - they would rather be defending their own homes than be dragged to a battle they neither care about nor understand. If nothing else, they are useful when theres digging to be done. They are, however, experts at reading the land and hiding whenever there is cover.
**********************************************************
Peltasts
missile infantry | 40 Men
Expert at Hiding in Forests
Can Hide in Long Grass
Sapping Ability
Greek peltasts advance at speed to pepper an enemy with javelins, and then withdraw in good order before a counter-attack can be organised. They are skirmishers and it is their task to harass and disrupt enemy units before the main battle lines clash. They are also adept at staging tactical ambushes.
Peltasts are equipped with a clutch of javelins, a sword and a light shield, the pelte, which gives them their name as pelte-bearers. They wear no other armour, and rely on speed as the best form of protection, and this isnt much protection should they be caught by cavalry.
**********************************************************
Cretan Archers
missile infantry | 40 Men
Superior
Hardy
Sapping Ability
The archers of Crete are famed for their abilities. They can rain arrows on their opponents, not just bombard them.
These men can be used to soften up a battle line before the main fight is joined, or be placed behind a line of defensive troops such as spearmen. If left unprotected they are vulnerable to attacks by cavalry and light skirmishers, as they have little chance of lasting for long in hand-to-hand combat.
Historically, the term ‘Cretan’ came to represent a fighting style rather than an area of origin, so many of these mercenaries are from elsewhere in the Greek world. Those originally from Crete are highly valued in cities and towns on the mainland as archery instructors.
**********************************************************
Militia Hoplites
spearmen infantry | 40 Men
Can Form Phalanx
Sapping Ability
Militia hoplites are levies drawn from cities and thrust into battle with a little training. They fight best as spearmen, and are armed with long spears and each carries the large round hoplon shield which gives them their name. As a type of infantry hoplites have been around for centuries and have changed little in tactics or equipment. These men wear no armour, but then they are drawn from the poorer classes and it is traditional for citizens to provide their own war gear when called into the army. The cities of the Greek world have a long tradition of the people defending their own cities from invaders.
They are at their best when used as a solid block of spearmen and can form a phalanx to attack the enemy.
**********************************************************
Greek Cavalry
light cavalry | 27 Men
Can Form Wedge
Greek cavalry are fast moving horsemen armed with spears for maximum impact in a charge. They are not heavily armoured, and do not have shields for protection, relying instead on the old maxim of speed is armour for protection. As a result, they are best used as a hit-and-run force, rather than as soldiers who can indulge in hand-to-hand combat. That said, they are excellent for breaking up skirmishers, attacking lighter infantry such as missile troops and pursuing already broken enemies to prevent them rallying and rejoining a battle.
**********************************************************
Archers
missile infantry | 40 Men
Can Fire Incendiary Missiles
Sapping Ability
Archers are rightly feared for the casualties they can inflict, but they are vulnerable in hand-to-hand combat.
They are drawn from the peasant classes of all societies, as these are the people who need to be skilled hunters in order to survive. Learning to use a bow well is something that takes a lifetime and constant practice, and putting food on the table provides good practice.
They are best used to weaken enemy formations, or placed in a spot where they can retreat and find protection from other troops.