Norse Missile Ship

Skeid - Armoured Archers

For most of history the only way to move cargoes and people over long distances at any kind of reasonable speed was by water; this remained true until the invention of the railway. Trading vessels carried goods, following the coastlines for the most part, and up navigable rivers. The pattern of settlement and colonisation was almost entirely based on where ships could go. It was also considerably easier to move armies by sea than march them long distances. Trade ships were hired or requisitioned for such tasks, and this was an added incentive for generals to reach a quick conclusion to a campaign: war hurt trade, and used up ships needed for vital food supplies.

(Armoured Archers)
For many, the word ‘Viking’ conjures up scenes of pillaging marauders from across the sea, rampaging around the coastlines of Britain in the last centuries leading up to the Norman conquest. However, the Vikings should not simply be thought of as mindless, bloodthirsty looters, and instead should be seen for what they really were – initially, sea-based raiders from Scandinavia who would avoid a fight if it meant a quick profit, and later on, migrants in search of newer pastures to settle in, from which they could subsist and even trade. Indeed, the earliest Viking forays into Britain were quick raids of lightly defended, but highly bountiful targets such as churches and monasteries, while in later years they concentrated their actions on conquering lands to establish themselves as permanent kings.

The Vikings were rightly known for their skill at war, utilising the traditional barbarian charge alongside carefully drilled shield wall tactics. Although archery wasn't considered the most ‘warrior-like’ of practices, it was still a specialisation chosen by some for the purposes of war. The prevalence of hunting and the past presence of stationed Roman archers around Britain meant that it was by no means an unknown discipline, with archer regiment tactics varying between the warring groups of the day. Battles often saw periods of missile volley exchanges before the initial melee engagements, so the skill of the bowmen could really turn the tide of battle, as seen with the success of English longbow regiments of later centuries during the Hundred Years War.

Unit Name Skeid - Armoured Archers

Main Unit Key shp_vik_armoured_archers

Land Unit Key vik_armoured_archers

Naval Unit Key vik_skeid_mis

Soldiers 80

Category Light Ship

Class Missile Ship

Custom Battle Cost 350

Recruitment Cost 350

Upkeep Cost 90

Missile Damage 32

├ Missile Weapon vik_bow

├ Projectile vik_bow_normal

├ Missile Damage 27

├ Missile Ap Damage 5

└ Base Reload Time 30

Accuracy 24

Range 150

Reload 50

Rate of Fire 4

Ammunition 14

Hull Strength

└ Ship vik_skeid

Speed

Melee Skill 11

Melee Damage 9

├ Melee Weapon vik_dagger

├ Melee Base Damage 7

├ Armour-piercing Damage 2

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 0

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 3

Melee Defence 11

├ Base Defence 11

├ Shield vik_none

└ Shield 0

Armour 12

├ Armour vik_leather

├ Armour Defence 12

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_mis_med

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 47

Abilities

No Ability

Attributes

• [[col:yellow]]Resistant to Fatigue[[/col]]
  Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
• [[col:yellow]]Guerrilla Deployment[[/col]]
  This unit can deploy outside of the deployment zone.
• [[col:yellow]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• [[col:yellow]]Snipe[[/col]]
  This unit remains hidden while firing.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses