Massilia Spear Infantry

Massilian Thureos Spears

Trained in Greek light infantry tactics, these men of mixed blood support the phalanx on the battlefield.

Light Greek infantry, the thureophoroi developed around the early 4th century BC, and straddled the gap between the phalanx and the skirmishing peltasts. Named after the thureos, their large oval shields, they were more heavily armoured than the traditional Thracian and Greek peltast. Able to both skirmish and form up as a phalanx, they were used to guard the flanks and protect other light troops. Their shield, normally made from wood and covered with leather, had a central handgrip that was protected by a vertical spine and a metal boss-like strip, and may have been inspired by Celtic or Roman shields of the time. Like the longer sarissa, the spears used by the thureophoroi had a weighted butt-spike to provide balance, but this also allowed them to throw javelins, if so equipped, by jamming their spears into the ground. Able to fulfil a variety of roles, thureophoroi were common amongst both citizen and mercenary units of the Greek city-states until they were eclipsed by the Macedonian phalanxes of Phillip II and Alexander the Great.

Abilities

Massilian Thureos Spears

• Square
  The unit moves into a close square formation.
  Bracing, morale, melee defence
  Can't move

Attributes

• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Formation Attack
  The unit will try to stay in formation when in melee.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

Massilian Thureos Spears

• Good defensive unit
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Average attack
• Normal morale

Massilia Units
General (3)
1.Hippeus Lancers
2.Hoplites
3.Massilian Hoplites
Melee Infantry (3)
4.Axe Warriors
5.Celtic Warriors
6.Thorax Swordsmen
Missile Infantry (3)
7.Celtic Skirmishers
8.Celtic Slingers
9.Peltasts
Spear Infantry (7)
10.Levy Freemen
11.Celtic Tribesmen
12.Citizen Hoplites
13.Hoplites
14.Light Hoplites
15.Massilian Hoplites
16.Massilian Thureos Spears
Melee Cavalry (3)
17.Light Horse
18.Citizen Cavalry
19.Massilian Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (2)
20.Skirmisher Cavalry
21.Tarantine Cavalry
Shock Cavalry (1)
22.Hippeus Lancers
Fixed Artillery (4)
23.Greek Giant Ballista
24.Greek Polybolos
25.Greek Bastion Scorpion
26.Greek Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (6)
27.Greek Bastion Ballista
28.Greek Ballista
29.Greek Scorpion
30.Greek Heavy Onager
31.Greek Bastion Onager
32.Greek Onager
Admiral (2)
33.Greek Missile Penteres - Celtic Slingers
34.Assault Tetreres - Hoplites
Melee Ship (3)
35.Assault Dieres - Celtic Tribesmen
36.Assault Tetreres - Hoplites
37.Assault Hexeres - Thureos Spears
Missile Ship (7)
38.Raiding Hemiolia - Celtic Skirmishers
39.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Celtic Skirmishers
40.Scorpion Penteres - Celtic Slingers
41.Tower Penteres - Celtic Slingers
42.Greek Missile Penteres - Celtic Slingers
43.Scorpion Trieres - Celtic Slingers
44.Missile Trieres - Celtic Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
45.Light Artillery Penteres - Greek Ballista (Ship)
46.Artillery Penteres - Greek Onager (Ship)