Mercenary Artas' Chosen

Like the Siculi tribe to the west in Sicily, Messapian warriors favoured large shields and open-faced, Illyrian style helmets, albeit with more crests and, on occasion, horns. Their weapon of choice was the spear; some Iapygian tribes, like their Illyrian ancestors, adopted the Greek style of hoplite phalanx combat, whilst others fought in a less organised style, using shorter, multi-purpose spears. Short melee weapons were also used, such as the curved 'kopis' swords and one-handed axes. Messapian warfare was a mixture of their Illyrian heritage and the influence of their Oscan neighbours. The former employed skirmishers, who were useful for raiding and piracy, while the latter wasn't able to field javelinmen and slingers in any numbers, instead relying on mounted nobles supported by their retainers. According to Herodotus, Oscan tribal cavalry was crucial in holding off Taras' invasion of Messapian and Peucetian towns in 473BC, an action which extended the conflict until 467BC. The king of Messapia later made two alliances with Athens, around 430BC and again in 418 BC, supplying the Athenians with javelinmen for the war against Syracuse.

Unit Name Mercenary Artas' Chosen

Main Unit Key inv_mercenary_artas'_chosen

Land Unit Key inv_mercenary_artas'_chosen

Naval Unit Key pel_transport

Soldiers 120

Category Missile Infantry

Class Missile Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 650

Recruitment Cost 650

Upkeep Cost 485

Missile Damage 41

├ Missile Weapon rome_javelin_improved

├ Projectile javelin_improved

├ Missile Damage 29

├ Missile Ap Damage 12

└ Base Reload Time 10

Accuracy 10

Range 80

Reload 18

Shots Per Minute 7

Ammunition 7

Melee Attack 28

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 40

├ Base Defence 25

├ Shield hoplite

└ Shield Defence 15

Armour 80

├ Armour spolas

├ Armour Defence 35

└ Shield Armour 45

Health 50

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_medium

├ Man Health 40

└ Bonus Hit Points 10

Base Morale 50

Abilities

• Precision Shot
  Improved missile weapon damage for an extended period.
  Missile damage
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Resistant to Fatigue
  Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
• Hide (scrub & forest)
  This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

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

• Short range
• Fast rate of fire
• Very good damage and armour penetration
• Large shield
• Very weak in melee
• Poor morale

Rise of the Republic Mercenaries Pool