Post by Administrator on Aug 19, 2008 22:14:15 GMT -5
Peasants
light infantry | 60 Men
Sapping Ability
The last option of any desperate army (except perhaps slaves or convicts), peasants are good for increasing your numbers...and not much else. Poorly armed and with little military experience, their morale and discipline are both understandably low. They are cheap to train, however, and their one advantage is an ability to hide well. Peasants should be used as an absolute last resort, or in cases where funds are extremely short.
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Town Militia
light infantry | 40 Men
Sapping Ability
As the name suggests, the town watch is more of a sentry force than anything else. A militia made up of local townspeople, it is poorly-armed and largely useless against any competent troops. However, when one considers the immense advantages given to the defender in the siege of any fortified town, it is obvious that even the watch can hold off enemies for a substantial amount of time. They are also useful for keeping peasants in line, as can be necessary in towns that have recently been captured, and are not yet entirely resigned to your rule.
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Skirmishers
Much like the Roman velites, skirmishers are restricted to peppering the enemy with long-range javelins before the actual battle commences. They can also be useful for acting as a distraction to the enemy, to lure them into an ambush, or to create a diversion by attacking some target. They are fairly useless in melee combat, and should not be subjected to it.
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Slingers
Slingers perform a similar role to archers and skirmishers; their attack differs in method rather than in result. They can ‘reload’ faster than most archers, but are even more vulnerable against any kind of close combat troops. The most famous slingers of the ancient world were those of the Balearic Isles. In general, slingers were not quite as widely used as, say, archers or skirmishers, for whatever reason.
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Iberian Infantry
For many years, decades even, the Carthaginians had a great deal of influence in Spain. Indeed, Hannibal’s march on Rome began here. Therefore, it is natural that a large part of the Carthaginian infantry would be made up of the hardy warriors of the Iberian tribes. Unarmored, they fight at close range with only a sword. Although good fighters, they will fall to pieces against the might of a Roman legion.
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Libyan Spearmen
The other community that was closely tied to Carthage was the Libyans, who also lived in Northern Africa. The spearmen that they provided were not particularly well-trained, but these units are useful against cavalry or lighter infantry. Hannibal used them to tremendous effect against his Roman adversaries time and time again, as he did his Iberian infantrymen.
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Sacred Band Infantry
These men use the weapons and armor of hoplites, and similar to those Greek soldiers are drawn from the richer and more influential families. They have a strong loyalty to Carthage, which will probably be manifested in-game as particularly high morale or discipline in battle. These heavy infantry may be able to stand up to the Romans, even.
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Round Shield Cavalry, Long Shield Cavalry
A rather generic name, but these horsemen know how to do their job. Armed with swords, they are essentially light cavalry, useful for raids, for quick strikes, and for chasing a retreating enemy, but not much use in the heat of battle. Like any other horsemen, they will not be able to attack spearmen to any effect. Long Shield Cavalry are armed with spears and are slightly heavier units.
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General's Cavalry
A bodyguard was, historically speaking, a functional unit, rather than a type of soldier. In the game, however, they are spear-armed shock cavalry, whose success or failure depends to a large extent on the personal characteristics of the general who they are guarding – his effect on their morale, for example, or on their discipline, will play a large role in determining how they fight. They are in all cases excellent troops.
**********************************************************
Sacred Band Cavalry
Like most elite cavalry, these Carthaginian heavy horsemen are the elite of their society, and they know it. The confidence and loyalty that this knowledge gives them makes them very dangerous in battle, and few can stand against the charge of Sacred Band cavalry. They are also armed with spears.
**********************************************************
War Dogs
Used occasionally in battle by various nations, these dogs were deliberately starved to make them all the more fierce (and hungry!). They were trained to target horse’s hamstrings and therefore could be used against either infantry or cavalry. Although they were obviously never used on the scale possible in the game, they could be a fairly formidable deterrent to any group of infantry.
**********************************************************
Elephants
Ah, elephants. Perhaps the most romantic of all Rome: Total War units, and certainly the most exciting to look at. Carrying only one rider (known generally as a mahout), these behemoths can literally fling infantry and cavalry out of their path, and are exceedingly difficult to take down. They are not, however, quite so difficult to scare off. Bear that in mind...
**********************************************************
War Elephants
Not a very creative name, but these units don’t need it. Larger and tougher than normal elephants, war elephants are so dangerous that Hannibal armed their mahouts with spikes to drive into their skulls in case the elephant ever tried to run towards Carthaginian lines – the devastation it would cause was simply not worth risking. If you go up against these beasts, you absolutely must have a good counter, or you are doomed. It can carry archers.
**********************************************************
Poeni infanty
Drawn, unlike most of the other troops in their army, from actual Carthaginian citizens (for their population was small), they are heavy spearmen. Once again, they might not be able to hold off the powerful Roman legion in battle. Against cavalry, however, or medium/light infantry, they are more than worth their mettle.
light infantry | 60 Men
Sapping Ability
The last option of any desperate army (except perhaps slaves or convicts), peasants are good for increasing your numbers...and not much else. Poorly armed and with little military experience, their morale and discipline are both understandably low. They are cheap to train, however, and their one advantage is an ability to hide well. Peasants should be used as an absolute last resort, or in cases where funds are extremely short.
**********************************************************
Town Militia
light infantry | 40 Men
Sapping Ability
As the name suggests, the town watch is more of a sentry force than anything else. A militia made up of local townspeople, it is poorly-armed and largely useless against any competent troops. However, when one considers the immense advantages given to the defender in the siege of any fortified town, it is obvious that even the watch can hold off enemies for a substantial amount of time. They are also useful for keeping peasants in line, as can be necessary in towns that have recently been captured, and are not yet entirely resigned to your rule.
**********************************************************
Skirmishers
Much like the Roman velites, skirmishers are restricted to peppering the enemy with long-range javelins before the actual battle commences. They can also be useful for acting as a distraction to the enemy, to lure them into an ambush, or to create a diversion by attacking some target. They are fairly useless in melee combat, and should not be subjected to it.
**********************************************************
Slingers
Slingers perform a similar role to archers and skirmishers; their attack differs in method rather than in result. They can ‘reload’ faster than most archers, but are even more vulnerable against any kind of close combat troops. The most famous slingers of the ancient world were those of the Balearic Isles. In general, slingers were not quite as widely used as, say, archers or skirmishers, for whatever reason.
**********************************************************
Iberian Infantry
For many years, decades even, the Carthaginians had a great deal of influence in Spain. Indeed, Hannibal’s march on Rome began here. Therefore, it is natural that a large part of the Carthaginian infantry would be made up of the hardy warriors of the Iberian tribes. Unarmored, they fight at close range with only a sword. Although good fighters, they will fall to pieces against the might of a Roman legion.
**********************************************************
Libyan Spearmen
The other community that was closely tied to Carthage was the Libyans, who also lived in Northern Africa. The spearmen that they provided were not particularly well-trained, but these units are useful against cavalry or lighter infantry. Hannibal used them to tremendous effect against his Roman adversaries time and time again, as he did his Iberian infantrymen.
**********************************************************
Sacred Band Infantry
These men use the weapons and armor of hoplites, and similar to those Greek soldiers are drawn from the richer and more influential families. They have a strong loyalty to Carthage, which will probably be manifested in-game as particularly high morale or discipline in battle. These heavy infantry may be able to stand up to the Romans, even.
**********************************************************
Round Shield Cavalry, Long Shield Cavalry
A rather generic name, but these horsemen know how to do their job. Armed with swords, they are essentially light cavalry, useful for raids, for quick strikes, and for chasing a retreating enemy, but not much use in the heat of battle. Like any other horsemen, they will not be able to attack spearmen to any effect. Long Shield Cavalry are armed with spears and are slightly heavier units.
**********************************************************
General's Cavalry
A bodyguard was, historically speaking, a functional unit, rather than a type of soldier. In the game, however, they are spear-armed shock cavalry, whose success or failure depends to a large extent on the personal characteristics of the general who they are guarding – his effect on their morale, for example, or on their discipline, will play a large role in determining how they fight. They are in all cases excellent troops.
**********************************************************
Sacred Band Cavalry
Like most elite cavalry, these Carthaginian heavy horsemen are the elite of their society, and they know it. The confidence and loyalty that this knowledge gives them makes them very dangerous in battle, and few can stand against the charge of Sacred Band cavalry. They are also armed with spears.
**********************************************************
War Dogs
Used occasionally in battle by various nations, these dogs were deliberately starved to make them all the more fierce (and hungry!). They were trained to target horse’s hamstrings and therefore could be used against either infantry or cavalry. Although they were obviously never used on the scale possible in the game, they could be a fairly formidable deterrent to any group of infantry.
**********************************************************
Elephants
Ah, elephants. Perhaps the most romantic of all Rome: Total War units, and certainly the most exciting to look at. Carrying only one rider (known generally as a mahout), these behemoths can literally fling infantry and cavalry out of their path, and are exceedingly difficult to take down. They are not, however, quite so difficult to scare off. Bear that in mind...
**********************************************************
War Elephants
Not a very creative name, but these units don’t need it. Larger and tougher than normal elephants, war elephants are so dangerous that Hannibal armed their mahouts with spikes to drive into their skulls in case the elephant ever tried to run towards Carthaginian lines – the devastation it would cause was simply not worth risking. If you go up against these beasts, you absolutely must have a good counter, or you are doomed. It can carry archers.
**********************************************************
Poeni infanty
Drawn, unlike most of the other troops in their army, from actual Carthaginian citizens (for their population was small), they are heavy spearmen. Once again, they might not be able to hold off the powerful Roman legion in battle. Against cavalry, however, or medium/light infantry, they are more than worth their mettle.