Draca - Sword Hirdmen
This transport ship is light and easy to manoeuvre, but almost defenceless if attacked.The broadswords of the Danelaw are held by the more eminent infantrymen of their battle ranks.
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.
(Sword Hirdmen)
Much like the Roman ‘comes’, in the Viking world there emerged a culture of heroic champions flanked by chosen companions. The ‘hirdman’ was the highest rank amongst such warriors, and in later times the rank carried with it a seat on the king’s council, enabling them to advise their rulers on non-military aspects of government. In Old Norse and Old English, the term translates to ‘household man’, originally referring to an armed retinue for a warlord but eventually morphing into ‘housecarl’ or ‘huscarl’, specifically referring to a royal guard. Following the ninth-century Danish settlement of England, huscarls also became an integral part of Anglo-Saxon armies, famously defeating their Norwegian counterparts at Stamford Bridge and protecting King Harold's body to the very last man at Hastings.
Hirdmen and huscarls were undoubtedly warriors of elite status, reflected in their superior weaponry and armour. Many of them strove to master the broadsword, given its unique ability to maim and kill in the right hands. Sword fighting was generally practised by men of status who could afford the costly weapon, with blades commonly passed between generations as symbols of family honour. The dominant types of swords in north-western Europe were the broad-bladed two-edged forms that were up to 90 centimetres long. Most included a pommel on the hilt to keep the sword from slipping out of the hand when used from horseback, and also handy to dish out blunt-force trauma when the situation required it.
Unit Name Draca - Sword Hirdmen |
Main Unit Key shp_dan_sword_hirdmen |
Land Unit Key dan_sword_hirdmen |
Naval Unit Key vik_draca |
Soldiers 160 |
Category Heavy Ship |
Class Melee Ship |
Custom Battle Cost 600 |
Recruitment Cost 600 |
Upkeep Cost 200 |
└ Ship vik_draca |
Speed |
Melee Skill 34 |
38 |
├ Melee Weapon vik_sword |
├ Melee Base Damage 32 |
├ Armour-piercing Damage 6 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Attack Against Cavalry 0 |
├ Attack Against Elephants 0 |
└ Attack Against Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 23 |
64 |
├ Base Defence 34 |
├ Shield vik_medium |
└ Shield 30 |
22 |
├ Armour vik_mail |
├ Armour Defence 22 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
100 |
├ Man Entity vik_inf_heavy |
├ Man Health 100 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Morale 45 |
Abilities
Sword Hirdmen- 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]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Strengths & Weaknesses
No Strengths and Weaknesses