Birlinn - Highland Levy Archers
This transport ship is light and easy to manoeuvre, but almost defenceless if attacked.These men know nothing but the bow, and how to use it.
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.
(Highland Levy Archers)
The early medieval Highlanders of Alba were a cultural mix of Gaelic, Celtic, and other peoples, who had much in common with similar groups in nearby Ireland and northern Britain. Centuries of encounters with invading Romans and the sporadic infighting that followed meant that militarily, they were well-prepared. Organised under local commanders and lords, most males were expected to be ready to fight, but when they were not being called upon to defend their land or clan they farmed and fished alongside their women. Their climate made them particularly tough, readily fighting into the depth of winter when required. Even the Vikings were fearful of the Highlanders of northern Britain by their own accounts – the classic Icelandic saga ‘Islendingasagur’ warns other Norsemen to approach parts of the Scottish coast with caution, lest it cost them their lives!
The warriors of Alba were generally made up of territorial units of fighting men. 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 Birlinn - Highland Levy Archers |
Main Unit Key shp_sco_highland_levy_archers |
Land Unit Key sco_highland_levy_archers |
Naval Unit Key vik_birlinn_mis |
Soldiers 80 |
Category Light Ship |
Class Missile Ship |
Custom Battle Cost 200 |
Recruitment Cost 200 |
Upkeep Cost 50 |
28 |
├ Missile Weapon vik_bow_levy |
├ Projectile vik_bow_levy_normal |
├ Missile Damage 24 |
├ Missile Ap Damage 4 |
└ Base Reload Time 30 |
Accuracy 15 |
Range 150 |
Reload 40 |
Rate of Fire 3 |
Ammunition 14 |
└ Ship vik_birlinn |
Speed |
Melee Skill 7 |
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 2 |
7 |
├ Base Defence 7 |
├ Shield vik_none |
└ Shield 0 |
5 |
├ Armour vik_cloth |
├ Armour Defence 5 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
100 |
├ Man Entity vik_inf_mis_very_light |
├ Man Health 100 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Morale 26 |
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]]Ignore Terrain[[/col]]
Speed penalties caused by the terrain are ignored by this unit. - [[col:yellow]]Snipe[[/col]]
This unit remains hidden while firing.
Strengths & Weaknesses
No Strengths and Weaknesses