Caledonii (Empire Divided) Missile Ship

Medium Missile Raider - Highland Archers

Tough warships for harrying the enemy, constructed to take on the worst of seas.

These men always find their targets, even in the stiffest highland winds.

Most of the northern European tribes were not naval powers, but there were still able seafarers to be found amongst them. Shipbuilding techniques were well understood, so while many vessels were small leather-skinned boats for inland and inshore use, bigger sea-going vessels were also made. Shipwrights used heavy planking for hulls, stitched together and then fastened to a wooden skeleton to create sturdy craft able to cope with Atlantic conditions. Julius Caesar was surprised at the quality of the enemy ships when his fleet clashed with the Veneti from modern-day Brittany. The Veneti vessels had flat bottoms to cope with shallows, but were also of heavy oak construction to cope with rough seas. This made them tough opposition for Roman galleys, and capable of shrugging off a ramming attack. Caesar said that the enemy ships "...were constructed of planks a foot in breadth, fastened by iron spikes the thickness of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables”. When the Romans were forced to board, they faced fearsome warriors used to close-quarters fighting at sea.

(Highland Archers)
In the cold northern lands of Britannia, food was scarce and most physically-able Celts hunted for their tribe's chief source of sustenance. Using longbows mostly made of yew, they became proficient at trapping and ambushing their prey. Even though archery was considered cowardly within a way of battle that favoured the heroic (but often suicidal) charge above all else, when war came to the Celtic lands hunters did not abandon their ranged weapons. While not as strong as regular melee fighters, along the hills and within the dense forests, marksmen had the advantage against the slow-moving Roman Legions. This irregular, guerrilla warfare used by the Caledonii was particularly suited to highland archers, who picked off their targets before retreating into dense woodland where it was unlikely they would be followed.

Abilities

Medium Missile Raider

• Row Hard 10
  Increases speed for 10 strokes.
  Ship speed

Attributes

• Resistant to Fatigue
  Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
• Guerrilla Deployment
  This unit can deploy outside of the deployment zone.
• Hide (scrub & forest)
  This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.
• Snipe
  This unit remains hidden while firing.
• Stalk
  This unit can move hidden in any terrain.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Medium Missile Raider

• Good hull strength
• Medium crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Poor boarding
• Good missile combat

Highland Archers

• Long range
• Fast rate of fire
• Good damage but low armour penetration
• Very weak in melee
• Poor morale

Caledonii (Empire Divided) Units
General (3)
1.Armoured Chariots
2.Heroic Riders Bodyguard
3.Caledonii Oathsworn Bodyguard
Melee Infantry (8)
4.Ambushers
5.Caledonii Oathsworn
6.Caledonii Oathsworn Bodyguard
7.Celtic Sword Band
8.Chosen Sword Band
9.Scatha Shadows
10.Celtic Swordsmen
11.Painted Warriors
Missile Infantry (4)
12.Elite Highland Archers
13.Highland Archers
14.Celtic Archers
15.Celtic Skirmishers
Spear Infantry (3)
16.Caledonii Spear Wall
17.Celtic Levy
18.Celtic Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (4)
19.Caledonii Heroic Riders
20.Heroic Riders Bodyguard
21.Celtic Horsemen
22.Celtic Nobles
Missile Cavalry (1)
23.Celtic Horse Skirmishers
Chariot (3)
24.Armoured Chariots
25.Armoured Chariots
26.Chariots
Fixed Artillery (3)
27.Briton Giant Ballista
28.Briton Scorpion (Fixed)
29.Briton Bastion Scorpion
Field Artillery (6)
30.Briton Ballista
31.Briton Bastion Ballista
32.Briton Scorpion
33.Briton Heavy Onager
34.Briton Onager
35.Briton Bastion Onager
Special (2)
36.Celtic Warhounds
37.Wolfhounds
Admiral (2)
38.Heavy Raider - Painted Warriors
39.Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Swordsmen
Melee Ship (5)
40.Assault Raider - Celtic Sword Band
41.Heavy Raider - Painted Warriors
42.Heavy Raider - Painted Warriors
43.Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Swordsmen
44.Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Swordsmen
Missile Ship (2)
45.Medium Missile Raider - Highland Archers
46.Missile Raider - Celtic Archers