Meroi Aichmetai
(Meroe Spearmen)Armed with javelins, spear and shield, these troops can skirmish and face enemy infantry in melee. They already know that they are superb hunters and warriors, and do not need to prove their skills to anyone by attacking impetuously!
Although some historians use Aethiopia to refer to all of the sub-Saharan regions of Africa, it was commonly used in reference to regions in the south of Egypt that became the Kingdom of Kush. The skilled swordsmen from this area followed a long tradition of elite troops from the south that begun under the Egyptian and Nubian dynasties. Although they went into battle wearing only simple cloth armour, the Aethiopians did employ Greek thureos-like shields. These sported a central handgrip, and offered greater protection than the hide-bound wicker or wooden shields of the sub-Saharan tribes. They also used a form of khopesh-like sword that would eventually evolve into the shotel used by the later warriors of Aksum. This had a forward curving, sickle-like blade designed to reach around an opponent’s shield, either to hook it away or pierce his vital organs.
Unit Name Meroi Aichmetai |
Main Unit Key AOR_18_meroe_spearmen |
Land Unit Key AOR_18_meroe_spearmen |
Naval Unit Key pel_transport |
Soldiers 300 |
Category Melee Infantry |
Class Spear Infantry |
Custom Battle Cost 419 |
Recruitment Cost 419 |
Upkeep Cost 84 |
Melee Attack 27 |
9 |
├ Melee Weapon spear2 |
├ Weapon Damage 9 |
├ Weapon Deadliness 0 |
├ Armour Piercing No |
├ Bonus vs. Cavalry 3 |
├ Bonus vs. Elephants 10 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 10 |
55 |
├ Base Defence 18 |
├ Shield shield3 |
└ Shield Defence 37 |
1 |
├ Armour arm0 |
├ Armour Defence 1 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
20 |
├ Man Entity medium_light |
├ Man Health 20 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Base Morale 40 |
Abilities
Meroi Aichmetai- Stamina (average)
Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.
Attributes
- Expert Charge Defence
This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies. - Disciplined
This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often. - Hide (forest)
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close. - Resistant to Heat
This unit tires less quickly in the desert.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Transport- Very poor hull strength
- Very slow speed
- Weak ramming
- Very good attack
- Average defence
- Average damage but low armour penetration
- Good morale
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Grand Campaign | |
Samnite Wars | |
Caesar in Gaul | |
Hannibal at the Gates | |
Imperator Augustus |