Jorvik Spear Infantry

Freemen

The freemen living within the social orders of the early medieval period generally existed as a group between the nobles above them and the slave classes below. Freemen possessed the most social mobility of all classes – for example, they could accumulate followers as a result of battle exploits, or even more simply from their generosity or camaraderie with others. Accumulation of wealth earned by amassing battle loot or simply through success in a trade was also possible, but in any case, accumulating enough of either followers or riches could elevate a freeman into nobility. Equally, accumulation of debts that couldn't be repaid would mean a freeman could easily become a bondsman, working as a slave to pay off his debt or even fighting as a serf levy for another man until his debt was considered no more.

Above all, freemen were free to fight. 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 Freemen

Main Unit Key vik_freemen

Land Unit Key vik_freemen

Naval Unit Key vik_dreki

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 150

Recruitment Cost 150

Upkeep Cost 50

Melee Skill 25

Melee Damage 28

├ Melee Weapon vik_spear_levy

├ Melee Base Damage 20

├ Armour-piercing Damage 8

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 20

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 17

Melee Defence 55

├ Base Defence 25

├ Shield vik_medium

└ Shield 30

Armour 7

├ Armour vik_cloth_helmet

├ Armour Defence 7

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_med

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 28

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

Recuitment Requirement
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade From

Garrison Buildings
x 2	Patrols (vik_garrison_1) Level 0
x 3	Long Hall (vik_great_hall_1) Level 0 Ship Camp (vik_longphort_1) Level 0 Trading Post (vik_market_1) Level 0 Monastic Community (vik_monastery_1) Level 0 Long Hall of the Mountain (vik_mountain_hall_1) Level 0 Offa's Hall (vik_offas_hall_1) Level 0 Rock of Caisil (vik_rock_caisil_1) Level 0 Church of St Ciaran (vik_st_ciaran_1) Level 0 Church of St Columbe (vik_st_columbe_1) Level 0 Church of St Patraic (vik_st_patraic_1) Level 0

Faction Availability
Thrones of Britannia	Dene Dubgaill Finngaill Haeden Jorvik Nordmann Norse Viking Rebels Viking Usurpers Wicing