Dreki - Norman Levy Spearmen
This transport ship is light and easy to manoeuvre, but almost defenceless if attacked.The bulk of the Norman ranks are unmounted and unskilled, but crucial to their advance.
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.
(Norman Levy Spearmen)
The Normans were one of the most successful and long-lived political and military cultures ever founded by the Vikings. Through military prowess and political manoeuvring in the ninth century, the Danish war leader Hrolf managed to secure a roughly autonomous region for his raiding army within the Frankish kingdom. Later going by the Frankish name Rollo, the Dane was given the status of Duke, a position carried down his bloodline that ruled Normandy and subsequently conquered Norman lands. Their legendary expansionist successes were the result of a unique military structure within their fiefdoms, organised around a new type of warrior elite – the feudal knights. Supported by infantry, heavily armoured mounted lords would form fearsome cavalry blocks of around thirty men charging knee-to-knee, a psychologically imposing sight that often caused battle lines to break at their mere advance.
Using their system of infantry-supported knights, the Normans were incredibly effective in battle. 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 Dreki - Norman Levy Spearmen |
Main Unit Key shp_nor_levy_spearmen |
Land Unit Key nor_levy_spearmen |
Naval Unit Key vik_dreki |
Soldiers 160 |
Category Heavy Ship |
Class Melee Ship |
Custom Battle Cost 100 |
Recruitment Cost 100 |
Upkeep Cost 40 |
└ Ship vik_dreki |
Speed |
Melee Skill 22 |
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 15 |
52 |
├ Base Defence 22 |
├ Shield vik_medium |
└ Shield 30 |
7 |
├ Armour vik_cloth_helmet |
├ Armour Defence 7 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
100 |
├ Man Entity vik_inf_med |
├ Man Health 100 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Morale 26 |
Abilities
Norman Levy Spearmen- 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