Rome (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Assault Dieres - Roman Swordsmen

The waterline ram was first mounted on a vessel in around 850BC. Warships and naval tactics were transformed. Ships were no longer platforms for infantry battles on the water; the ship itself became the weapon. Galleys changed as the new reality sank in. Ramming at speed would hole and sink an enemy, therefore slimmer, faster, handier ships were required. More speed on demand obviously required more oars a fast ship with a single row of oars ended up being stupidly, impractically long. The solution, then, was to put in a second set of oars above the first, but slightly offset to allow for rowers' benches. These biremes, a Latin word meaning 'two oars', or dieres, the Greek equivalent, were no longer than previous designs but had twice the number of rowers. They were fast, manoeuvrable, and could carry a fighting contingent. Some nations also gave their bireme crews fire pots; these clay pots filled with oil and pitch were hurled at enemy ships in the entirely reasonable hope of setting them ablaze.

(Roman Swordsmen)
In its earliest times, when Rome consisted of several, separate hilltop settlements, there was no Roman army as such. Instead, warbands were fielded by the various Latin clans. In this era, Roman warfare tended to mean small-scale raiding and cattle-rustling against other clans and neighbouring hill tribes, such as the Sabini and Aequi. However, critical changes to its army during the 6th century BC saw Rome embracing Greek-style hoplite equipment. Romulus himself is said to have raised ten centuriae, each consisting of one hundred men from one of Rome's original founding tribes. When the Roman monarchy was replaced by the Republic around 500BC, the army was divided into two royal legions, each comprised of 3000 hoplites, supported by an equal number of javelinmen and cavalry. According to Livy, in the early 4th century BC Marcus Furius Camillus made further important military reforms, instituting pay for levied troops and standardising legion sizes.

Unit Name Assault Dieres - Roman Swordsmen

Main Unit Key inv_rom_assault_raider_swordsmen

Land Unit Key inv_rom_roman_swordsmen

Naval Unit Key greek_two

Soldiers 60

Category Light Ship

Class Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost 270

Recruitment Cost 270

Upkeep Cost 54

Ship Health 501

└ Ship greek_two

Ship Speed 6

Melee Attack 20

Weapon Damage 34

├ Melee Weapon rome_generic_sword

├ Melee Damage Base 30

├ Melee Damage Ap 4

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 0

├ Bonus vs Elephants 0

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 10

Melee Defence 35

├ Base Defence 20

├ Shield hoplite_cav

└ Shield Defence 15

Armour 60

├ Armour chest

├ Armour Defence 25

└ Shield Armour 35

Health 50

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_light

├ Man Health 40

└ Bonus Hit Points 10

Base Morale 35

Abilities

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

Attributes

• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Very poor hull strength
• Very light crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Good boarding

• Good attack
• Average defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Normal morale

Upgrade
Required Technology Cost 300 Upgrade To
Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Port (inv_rom_port_1) Level 0 Civil Port (inv_rom_port_civil_2) Level 1 Civil Docks (inv_rom_port_civil_3) Level 2 Harbour (inv_rom_port_civil_4) Level 3 Military Wharf (inv_rom_port_military_2) Level 1 Drydock (inv_rom_port_military_3) Level 2 Military Port (inv_rom_port_military_4) Level 3

Garrison Buildings
x 1	Port (inv_rom_port_1) Level 0 Civil Docks (inv_rom_port_civil_3) Level 2 Military Wharf (inv_rom_port_military_2) Level 1
x 2	Civil Port (inv_rom_port_civil_2) Level 1

Faction Availability
Rise of the Republic	Rome (Rise of the Republic) Roman Pretenders (Rise of the Republic) Roman Secessionists (Rise of the Republic)