Gwined Spear Infantry

Valley Spearmen

In modern times, references to ‘the valleys’ of Wales are mostly associated with the industrialised regions in the south of the country, but in historical accounts dating back to the early Middle Ages, the ‘Valley Spearmen’ of Wales refers to a tradition of Welsh warriors which originated in the north. All infantry of medieval Welsh armies were known for their agility and aptitude in operating in the rough and hilly terrain of their homelands, and while the men of the south were renowned for their prowess with the Welsh longbow, the regions around the historical northern county of Merionethshire were known for their tough spearmen. Often dressed in red linen shirts and long woollen cloaks, they were depicted as having wore only one shoe with one foot kept bare, likely as a way to keep their balance in their hilly landscape. They were particularly effective on marshy or broken ground, which always favoured them against heavy cavalry or heavily armoured infantry. The lightly armoured Welsh spearmen were well-drilled in the use of phalanxes and long pikes, but as much as their agility in their own landscape was a considerable advantage, without it they were often at risk of being overrun by better equipped opposition, as was the case during their crushing thirteenth-century defeats at the hands of the English under Edward I.

Unit Name Valley Spearmen

Main Unit Key wel_valley_spearmen

Land Unit Key wel_valley_spearmen

Naval Unit Key vik_ddraig

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 450

Recruitment Cost 450

Upkeep Cost 125

Melee Skill 33

Melee Damage 32

├ Melee Weapon vik_spear

├ Melee Base Damage 22

├ Armour-piercing Damage 10

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 25

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 23

Melee Defence 63

├ Base Defence 33

├ Shield vik_medium

└ Shield 30

Armour 12

├ Armour vik_leather

├ Armour Defence 12

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_med

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 45

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]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

Upgrade
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade To
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade To

Faction Availability
Thrones of Britannia	Gwined

Faction Pool

Pool
No.	Pool	Faction	Initial Unit Count	Chance To Replenish	Max Replenish Per Turn	Max Count
1	gwynedd	Gwined Gwined Usurpers	1	0.1	1	2