Sudreyar Melee Ship

Dreki - Hearthguard

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.

(Hearthguard)
A ‘hearthweru’ or hearthguard was, more often than not, a personal friend of a warlord or king who would readily offer his sword in protection on the battlefield in return for gifts, lands, and power. The image of a leader being a generous donor of valuables to his most loyal companions was a running theme throughout the early Middle Ages, and this was certainly the case for the raiding Vikings and the settled Norse kings in Britain and Ireland. In the Viking context, wealth in the form of loot would have certainly appealed to a young warrior of the hearthguard and was often the primary motivation to serve a great war leader, but so was the chance to stake a claim to newly settled lands. The acquisition of land or wealth was not always the sole factor that sustained a hearthguard’s relationship with a warlord or king, however. The very name 'hearth' friend or companion implies closeness to the man served, eating and sharing his company around the fire, through which great bonds of friendship and loyalty were made. When not at war, hearth companions were the closest thing to a loyal professional militia, dispensing their lord’s will and authority on his behalf.

Unit Name Dreki - Hearthguard

Main Unit Key shp_est_hearthguard

Land Unit Key est_hearthguard

Naval Unit Key vik_dreki

Soldiers 100

Category Heavy Ship

Class Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost 1000

Recruitment Cost 0

Upkeep Cost 100

Hull Strength

└ Ship vik_dreki

Speed

Melee Skill 45

Melee Damage 42

├ Melee Weapon vik_sword_elite

├ Melee Base Damage 36

├ Armour-piercing Damage 6

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 0

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 30

Melee Defence 75

├ Base Defence 45

├ Shield vik_medium

└ Shield 30

Armour 22

├ Armour vik_mail

├ Armour Defence 22

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_heavy

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 50

Abilities

• Shield Castle
  "Heads down, lads, things are about to get a little hairy around here!"
  Units cannot move in this formation.

Attributes

• [[col:yellow]]Expert Charge Defence[[/col]]
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• [[col:yellow]]Disciplined[[/col]]
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• [[col:yellow]]Encourage[[/col]]
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• [[col:yellow]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• [[col:yellow]]Raider[[/col]]
  This unit may set buildings on fire, cause more fire damage with torches and capture faster than other units.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses