Carthage Spear Infantry

Sacred Band of Baal Hammon

Only the toughest and strongest with brave hearts and eager will will be chosen to become member of the Elite Sacred Band, the most precious unit of Carthage.

The Sacred Band were a phalanx of veteran spearmen, raised in Carthage, and trained and armoured in Greek hoplite fashion. They were unique in that they were drawn from the populace of the city itself, rather than being allies, levied subject peoples or mercenaries; these were the groups that normally made up Carthaginian armies. Chosen from the nobility and wealthy citizens, they were well trained and disciplined. Thanks to their social status they could afford the full panoply of hoplite armour: a bronze cuirass, greaves and helm, and a hoplon shield. In the case of the Sacred Band these were predominately white in colour. Armed with hoplite spears, tipped with an iron head and bronze butt-spike for balance, members of the Sacred Band also carried straight swords. Renowned for their valour, even in defeat, the Sacred Band was expected to fight to the last, and did so at the Battle of the Crimissus in 340BC. Their numbers never recovered and in time the pressure of Carthage’s wars with Rome meant that the Sacred Band was superseded by mercenary armies, paid for by Carthage's trading wealth. These armies still had small numbers of Carthaginian citizens and Liby-Phoenicians, but the Sacred Band of old was no more.

Abilities

Sacred Band of Baal Hammon

• Hoplite Wall
  The unit moves into close wall formation.
  Bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Acceleration, speed
• Use the Whip
  Improved attack and fatigue resistance for a short time.
  Melee attack, weapon damage, fatigue resistance
  Exertion: fatigue
• 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

Attributes

• Expert Charge Defence
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Heat
  This unit tires less quickly in the desert.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

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

Sacred Band of Baal Hammon

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

Carthage Units
General (2)
1.
2.Sacred Band of Astarte
Command (1)
3.General's Bodyguard
Melee Infantry (6)
4.Libyan Infantry
5.Mob
6.Libyan Elite Infantry
7.Sacred Warrior Brothers
8.Carthaginian Infantry
9.Dido's Chosen
Missile Infantry (3)
10.Libyan Javelinmen
11.Libyan Peltasts
12.Carthaginian Archers
Pike Infantry (1)
13.African Pikemen
Spear Infantry (13)
14.Citizen Militia
15.Carthaginian Hoplites
16.Late Carthaginian Hoplites
17.Late Libyan Hoplites
18.Libyan Hoplites
19.Sacred Band
20.Carthaginian Spear Champions
21.Armored Hoplites
22.Veteran Hoplites
23.Phoenician Hoplites
24.Elite Phoenician Hoplites
25.Sacred Band of Baal Hammon
26.
Melee Cavalry (3)
27.Carthaginian Cavalry
28.Carthaginian Heavy Cavalry
29.Phoenician Heavy Horses
Shock Cavalry (2)
30.Noble Cavalry
31.Sacred Band of Astarte
Elephant (3)
32.African Elephants
33.African War Elephants
34.Hanno's Pride
Fixed Artillery (4)
35.Carthaginian Giant Ballista
36.Carthaginian Polybolos
37.Carthaginian Bastion Scorpion
38.Carthaginian Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (7)
39.Carthaginian Bastion Ballista
40.Carthaginian Ballista
41.Carthaginian Scorpion
42.Carthaginian Heavy Onager
43.Carthaginian Bastion Onager
44.Carthaginian Onager
45.Snake Pot Ballista
Melee Ship (7)
46.Assault Tetreres - Carthaginian Hoplites
47.Fire Pot Dieres - Libyan Hoplites
48.Assault Dieres - Libyan Hoplites
49.Assault Tetreres - Late Carthaginian Hoplites
50.Fire Pot Dieres - Late Libyan Hoplites
51.Assault Dieres - Late Libyan Hoplites
52.Assault Hexeres - Sacred Band
Missile Ship (9)
53.Scorpion Penteres - Libyan Javelinmen
54.Tower Penteres - Libyan Javelinmen
55.Missile Penteres - Libyan Javelinmen
56.Raiding Hemiolia - Libyan Javelinmen
57.Heavy Tower Hepteres - Libyan Javelinmen
58.Missile Hepteres - Libyan Javelinmen
59.Scorpion Trieres - Libyan Javelinmen
60.Missile Trieres - Libyan Javelinmen
61.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Libyan Javelinmen
Artillery Ship (2)
62.Light Artillery Penteres - Carthaginian Ballista (Ship)
63.Artillery Penteres - Carthaginian Onager (Ship)