Norse Melee Ship

Dreki - Jomsvikings

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.

(Jomsvikings)
According to the thirteenth-century Icelandic Sagas, in the early Middle Ages there existed a fearless warrior-brotherhood of legendary Viking mercenaries, known as the Jomsvikings. Always described as men of unequalled bravery and martial skill, they based themselves in a fortress on the southern Baltic shore in place called Jomsborg from which they took their name. Even in the tough world of the war-ready Vikings, the warriors of Jomsborg were a formidable force with a strict military code, drawing their strength from adventure-seeking fighters recruited from all over the Viking world. They intervened in several dynastic disputes in Sweden and Norway, as well as having fought with distinction in one of the greatest battles of Viking Scandinavia, the Battle of Svoldr.

The Icelandic Sagas also tell of the Jomsvikings’ favoured method of execution, if and when they were captured and were to be put to the sword. The courageous members of the brotherhood would refuse to be killed from behind, always demanding to face their executors to look them in the eye at the moment of death. A piece of corroborating history lies in the fact that the Jomsvikings were said to have fought both for and against English kings, with certain bits of archaeological proof supporting those claims. In a mass grave uncovered in Dorset, the skeletons of fifty-four decapitated Vikings were found, some with teeth filed down – perceived to a Jomsviking demonstration of bravery – and in the all cases, evidence of decapitation executions rather unusually carried out from the front.

Unit Name Dreki - Jomsvikings

Main Unit Key shp_vik_jomsvikings

Land Unit Key vik_jomsvikings

Naval Unit Key vik_dreki

Soldiers 160

Category Heavy Ship

Class Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost 1150

Recruitment Cost 1150

Upkeep Cost 325

Hull Strength

└ Ship vik_dreki

Speed

Melee Skill 50

Melee Damage 42

├ Melee Weapon vik_sword_elite

├ Melee Base Damage 36

├ Armour-piercing Damage 6

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 0

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 33

Melee Defence 95

├ Base Defence 50

├ Shield vik_reinforced

└ Shield 45

Armour 32

├ Armour vik_mail_heavy

├ Armour Defence 32

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_very_heavy

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 54

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]]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.
• [[col:yellow]]Raider[[/col]]
  This unit may set buildings on fire, cause more fire damage with torches and capture faster than other units.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses