Heilotes Toxotai
(Helot Archers)A slave can pull a bowstring as well as any free man.
An unfree class of non-citizens within Sparta's zone of control, the helots were slaves in most respects. Agricultural labourers, they worked the rich valleys of Eurotas and Pamisos, on which Laconia and Messenia were situated, and were forced to give up half of their produce to the Spartan elite. In addition, helots would also be assigned to Spartan citizens as household servants. Sometimes pressed into military service, helots would be employed as peltasts, and in some cases gained their freedom through such service. Following an earthquake in 464BC which devastated Sparta and possibly claimed as many as 20,000 lives the helots, mainly from Messenia, revolted alongside the perioikoi of Aithaia and Thouria. Cruel and bitter treatment of the helots by their Spartan overlords intensified after this event, and may have led to the tradition of the autumnal krypteia. A declaration of war against the helots made by the ephors, during the krypteia members of the Spartan agoge could prove their skill as warriors. Armed only with a knife, they were expected to live off the land whilst sanctioned to spy on, steal from, and kill the helots. However, this worked both ways, as any young Spartan caught by the helots could be beaten to death for allowing his capture.
Unit Name Heilotes Toxotai |
Main Unit Key Gre_Helot_Archers |
Land Unit Key Gre_Helot_Archers |
Naval Unit Key pel_transport |
Soldiers 175 |
Category Missile Infantry |
Class Missile Infantry |
Custom Battle Cost 409 |
Recruitment Cost 409 |
Upkeep Cost 82 |
8 |
├ Missile Weapon bow1 |
├ Projectile bow1 |
├ Missile Damage 8 |
├ Missile Ap Damage 0 |
└ Base Reload Time 16 |
Accuracy 10 |
Range 155 |
Reload 13 |
Shots Per Minute 4 |
Ammunition 15 |
Melee Attack 18 |
7 |
├ Melee Weapon dagger1 |
├ Weapon Damage 7 |
├ Weapon Deadliness 0 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Bonus vs. Cavalry 0 |
├ Bonus vs. Elephants 0 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 6 |
22 |
├ Base Defence 6 |
├ Shield none |
└ Shield Defence 16 |
1 |
├ Armour arm0 |
├ Armour Defence 1 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
20 |
├ Man Entity light_light |
├ Man Health 20 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Base Morale 35 |
Abilities
Heilotes Toxotai- Stamina (excellent)
Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat. - Concentrate Fire
The unit fires its missiles towards a spot causing damage to everyone in the area of effect
Attributes
- Improved Stamina
This unit type has an improvement on the base stamina stat. - Hide (scrub & forest)
This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close. - Hide (scrub & forest)
This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Transport- Very poor hull strength
- Very slow speed
- Weak ramming
- Long range
- Average rate of fire
- Good damage but low armour penetration
- Very weak in melee
- Very poor morale
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Grand Campaign | |
Imperator Augustus | |
Macedonian Wars |