Gwined Melee Ship

Ddraig - Royal Spearmen

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.

(Royal Spearmen)
Throughout most of the medieval world, the function of kings and chiefs was, above all, to provide war leadership. Tribal leaders used loyalty systems which granted the best warriors the greatest rewards when in service to their households as companions or bodyguards, which extended onto the battlefield. The systems which existed in Celtic Ireland and Scotland were ones in which martial leaders presided over small and ever-changing kingdoms alongside nobles and royal followers who fought in their direct service. The Welsh, although less influenced by feudalism, also operated under similar systems of the ‘teulu’ – the individual princes’ and chieftains’ personal bodyguards – who typically went to war alongside larger numbers of freemen who made up the bulk of the armies. Armed with spears, they were arguably wielding the oldest purpose-built weapon in existence. Given its comparative cheapness and ease of construction, the spear was one of the most commonly used weapons among all classes of fighting men before and throughout medieval times. Its notable advantage was the longer reach it afforded its bearer, enabling effective engagement with a larger or mounted enemy who might otherwise be out of reach. The Viking tendency to emblazon spears with ostentatious decorative carvings indicates that some were primarily used for thrusting rather than throwing, reducing the possibility of losing what were obviously prized weapons.

Unit Name Ddraig - Royal Spearmen

Main Unit Key shp_wel_royal_spearmen

Land Unit Key wel_royal_spearmen

Naval Unit Key vik_ddraig

Soldiers 160

Category Heavy Ship

Class Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost 850

Recruitment Cost 850

Upkeep Cost 225

Hull Strength

└ Ship vik_ddraig

Speed

Melee Skill 44

Melee Damage 36

├ Melee Weapon vik_spear_elite

├ Melee Base Damage 24

├ Armour-piercing Damage 12

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 30

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 30

Melee Defence 74

├ Base Defence 44

├ Shield vik_medium

└ Shield 30

Armour 30

├ Armour vik_scale

├ Armour Defence 30

└ 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.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses