Parthia Melee Ship

Assault Dieres - Eastern Spearmen

With a ramming attack that can break an enemy hull, these ships are deadly weapons.

Cheap spearmen are not necessarily poor spearmen.

The waterline ram was first mounted on a vessel in around 850BC. Warships and naval tactics were transformed. Ships were no longer platforms for infantry battles on the water; the ship itself became the weapon. Galleys changed as the new reality sank in. Ramming at speed would hole and sink an enemy, therefore slimmer, faster, handier ships were required. More speed on demand obviously required more oars a fast ship with a single row of oars ended up being stupidly, impractically long. The solution, then, was to put in a second set of oars above the first, but slightly offset to allow for rowers' benches. These biremes, a Latin word meaning 'two oars', or dieres, the Greek equivalent, were no longer than previous designs but had twice the number of rowers. They were fast, manoeuvrable, and could carry a fighting contingent. Some nations also gave their bireme crews fire pots; these clay pots filled with oil and pitch were hurled at enemy ships in the entirely reasonable hope of setting them ablaze.

(Eastern Spearmen)
These spearmen were drawn from the subjects of the eastern regions. They were inexpensive, and simply equipped with a spear, wicker shield and cloth armour. Their shields were oval or rectangular in shape with a central handgrip. While uniformly equipped for the most part, their appearance varied greatly depending where they were recruited, and all kinds of Greek and Persian influences were manifest. In battle, spearmen guarded the flanks of phalanxes, or provided protection for skirmishers and archers. Although ill-equipped to face heavy enemies, their numbers and spears made them an effective counter to unarmoured cavalry. They were also a common type of mercenary and levied unit throughout Asia Minor and the Middle East.

Abilities

Assault Dieres

• Row Hard 10
  Increases speed for 10 strokes.
  Ship speed

Eastern Spearmen

• Square
  The unit moves into a close square formation.
  Bracing, morale, melee defence
  Can't move
• Frenzied Charge
  Increases the effectiveness of the unit's charge for an extended period. The unit will suffer a large fatigue penalty after the charge is over.
  Charge speed, charge damage, acceleration
  Melee defence, fatigue

Attributes

• 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

Assault Dieres

• Very poor hull strength
• Very light crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Good boarding

Eastern Spearmen

• Average defensive unit
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Weak attack
• Poor morale

Parthia Units
General (4)
1.Noble Horse Archers
2.Royal Cataphracts
3.Parthian Noble Blood Infantry
4.Klibanophoroi
Melee Infantry (11)
5.Hillmen
6.Mob
7.Parthian Swordsmen
8.Desert Swordsmen
9.Immortal Swordsmen
10.Parthian Axemen
11.Parthian Heavy Infantry
12.Parthian Infantry
13.Parthian Sword Regulars
14.Parthian Armored Infantry
15.Parthian Noble Blood Infantry
Missile Infantry (6)
16.Elite Persian Archers
17.Eastern Javelinmen
18.Parthian Foot Archers
19.Persian Light Archers
20.Eastern Slingers
21.Immortal Archers
Spear Infantry (8)
22.Persian Hoplites
23.Eastern Spearmen
24.Immortal Spearmen
25.Desert Spearmen
26.Parthian Spearmen
27.Parthian Spear Regulars
28.Parthian Noble Spearmen
29.Parthian Blood Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (5)
30.Camel Spearmen
31.Median Cavalry
32.Noble Blood Cavalry
33.Klibanophoroi
34.Desert Camel Spearmen
Missile Cavalry (6)
35.Camel Archers
36.Armoured Horse Archers
37.Horse Skirmishers
38.Noble Horse Archers
39.Parthian Horse Archers
40.Desert Camel Archers
Shock Cavalry (3)
41.Camel Cataphracts
42.Eastern Cataphracts
43.Royal Cataphracts
Chariot (1)
44.Immortal Chariots
Elephant (2)
45.Indian War Elephants
46.Immortal Elephants
Fixed Artillery (3)
47.Eastern Giant Ballista
48.Eastern Bastion Scorpion
49.Eastern Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (7)
50.Eastern Bastion Ballista
51.Eastern Ballista
52.Eastern Scorpion
53.Eastern Large Onager
54.Eastern Bastion Onager
55.Eastern Onager
56.Scorpion Pot Ballista
Admiral (2)
57.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)
58.Tower Hexeres - Hillmen
Melee Ship (5)
59.Tower Hexeres - Hillmen
60.Assault Hexeres - Hillmen
61.Assault Tetreres - Hillmen
62.Fire Pot Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
63.Assault Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
Missile Ship (7)
64.Raiding Hemiolia - Eastern Javelinmen
65.Scorpion Trieres - Parthian Foot Archers
66.Missile Trieres - Parthian Foot Archers
67.Scorpion Penteres - Persian Light Archers
68.Tower Penteres - Persian Light Archers
69.Missile Penteres - Persian Light Archers
70.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Eastern Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
71.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)
72.Artillery Penteres - Eastern Onager (Ship)