Ardiaei Spear Infantry

Illyrian Noble Hoplites

Illyrian fury and Greek marshal order combined make these troops a deadly proposition.

Hoplites date back to the wars between the Greek city-states in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. During the Greco-Persian Wars most hoplites wore a Corinthian-style bronze helm, and a cuirass of bronze or stiffened linen or canvas. They were armed with a short sword and an iron-tipped spear with a bronze counterbalance butt-spike. Hoplites were named, though, after the round hoplon shield they carried. The hoplon-and-spear combination required them to fight as a phalanx, a block of spearmen some eight ranks deep. When closed up, each man would find shelter behind the shield of his neighbour, creating a wall of bristling spear-points. While all hoplites were originally citizen-soldiers, full-time mercenaries took over and became the standard fighting unit of the Greek world. Later, under Phillip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great, the shield became smaller, while the spear developed into the five metre sarissa pike. Many armies adopted the phalanx of hoplites as a tactical unit because it was very successful in battle.

Abilities

Illyrian Noble Hoplites

• Square
  The unit moves into a close square formation.
  Bracing, morale, melee defence
  Can't move
• Rapid Advance
  Improved unit movement speed over an extended period.
  Speed, acceleration, charge speed
  Exertion: fatigue
• Use the Whip
  Improved attack and fatigue resistance for a short time.
  Melee attack, weapon damage, fatigue resistance
  Exertion: fatigue
• Hoplite Wall
  The unit moves into close wall formation.
  Bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Acceleration, speed

Attributes

• Expert Charge Defence
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

Illyrian Noble Hoplites

• Good defensive unit
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Average attack
• Normal morale

Ardiaei Units
General (5)
1.Illyrian Cavalry
2.Illyrian Hoplites
3.Illyrian Noble Hoplites
4.Illyrian Expert Swords
5.Illyrian Mounted Swordmasters
Melee Infantry (9)
6.Illyrian Levies
7.Illyrian Raiders
8.Illyro-Italian Infantry Cohort
9.Taulantian Noble Guard
10.Illyrian Infantry
11.Veteran Illyrian Infantry
12.Illyrian Levy Footmen
13.Grosphomachoi
14.Illyrian Expert Swords
Missile Infantry (4)
15.Slave Javelinmen
16.Slave Slingers
17.Illyro-Italian Bow Auxiliaries
18.Illyrian Archers
Spear Infantry (11)
19.Illyrian Hoplites
20.Illyrian Marines
21.Illyrian Noble Hoplites
22.Illyrian Spearmen
23.Illyrian Thureos Spears
24.Illyrian Tribesmen
25.Illyrian Spear Warband
26.Corcyran Free-Company Spearmen
27.Sibunetes
28.Molossian Shieldsworn
29.Illyrian Disciplined Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (4)
30.Illyrian Cavalry
31.Illyrian Light Cavalry
32.Illyrian Mounted Swordmasters
33.Illyrian Spear Riders
Missile Cavalry (1)
34.Dardanian Bondsman Cavalry
Fixed Artillery (1)
35.Greek Bastion Scorpion
Field Artillery (5)
36.Greek Bastion Ballista
37.Greek Ballista
38.Greek Scorpion
39.Greek Bastion Onager
40.Greek Onager
Special (1)
41.Molossian War Dogs
Admiral (2)
42.Scorpion Trieres - Slave Slingers
43.Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Thureos Spears
Melee Ship (7)
44.Assault Tetreres - Illyrian Marines
45.Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Marines
46.Assault Dieres - Illyrian Raiders
47.Assault Tetreres - Illyrian Spearmen
48.Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Thureos Spears
49.Fire Pot Dieres - Illyrian Tribesmen
50.Assault Dieres - Illyrian Tribesmen
Missile Ship (7)
51.Raiding Hemiolia - Slave Javelinmen
52.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Slave Javelinmen
53.Tower Penteres - Slave Slingers
54.Scorpion Penteres - Slave Slingers
55.Missile Penteres - Slave Slingers
56.Scorpion Trieres - Slave Slingers
57.Missile Trieres - Slave Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
58.Light Artillery Penteres - Greek Ballista (Ship)
59.Artillery Penteres - Greek Onager (Ship)