Pontus Spear Infantry

Pontic Guard

The thureos, a large oval-shaped shield, became common throughout the Hellenistic world from the 3rd century BC. Made from wood covered in hide, it differed from the earlier Greek hoplon in having a central handgrip, which was protected by a vertical spine running the length of the shield. This in turn could be further reinforced by the addition of a wide metal strip that protected the grip and the user’s hand. Inspired by the sub-rectangular and oval shields of the Celts, possibly through contact with the migrating Galatians, its usage seems to have spread through the Illyrian and Thracian tribes before it was adopted by the Greeks. Although large, the thureos was light in comparison to the traditional hoplon, and was adopted by heavily-armoured peltasts. Named after their shields, 'thureophoroi' could fight as common peltasts, skirmishing with javelins, but could also form up with their larger shields and longer spears in a similar fashion to a phalanx. The versatile and useful design of the thureos meant it was used by many armies, including the auxiliaries and cavalry of the later Roman Legions.

Unit Name Pontic Guard

Main Unit Key Eas_Pontic_Heavy_Spearmen

Land Unit Key Eas_Pontic_Heavy_Spearmen

Naval Unit Key persian_transport

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 570

Recruitment Cost 570

Upkeep Cost 70

Melee Attack 21

Weapon Damage 29

├ Melee Weapon rome_spear_anti_cav

├ Melee Damage Base 19

├ Melee Damage Ap 10

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 23

├ Bonus vs Elephants 26

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 22

Melee Defence 62

├ Base Defence 38

├ Shield tower

└ Shield Defence 24

Armour 93

├ Armour mail

├ Armour Defence 57

└ Shield Armour 36

Health 70

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_heavy

├ Man Health 55

└ Bonus Hit Points 15

Base Morale 55

Abilities

• Rapid Advance
  Improved unit movement speed over an extended period.
  Speed, acceleration, charge speed
  Exertion: fatigue
• Shield Screen
  The unit raises their shields in a static defensive formation.
  Bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Can't move
• Square
  The unit moves into a close square formation.
  Bracing, morale, melee defence
  Can't move

Attributes

• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

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

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

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Pontus Pontic Nobles
Imperator Augustus	Pontus (Imperator Augustus)