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Tarantinoi Leukaspidai Massalia (Hannibal at the Gates)Massalia (Hannibal at the Gates) Hoplite/Pike Infantry

Tarantinoi Leukaspidai

(Tarantine White Shield Pikemen)

A phalanx of pikemen, the white shields are modelled on their hoplite forebears and, subsequently, the Alexandrian pike reforms. Their most distinctive feature, and the one which gives them their name, is their white painted shield, emblazoned with the name of their king.

During his final years on campaign, Alexander the Great renamed his elite hypaspist infantrymen argyraspides or 'Silver Shields'. Following Alexander’s untimely death, his generals fought each other for territory and the enormous power that came with it. When the smoke cleared, the former 'commander-in-chief of the camp', Seleucus, controlled Babylon and several other eastern satrapies, proclaiming himself king in 306BC. His territory became known as the Seleucid Empire, and the Silver Shields formed the elite of its armies from the very beginning. Throughout most of their tenure they were equipped in the Macedonian fashion and trained for phalanx combat like their illustrious forebears. However, following their catastrophic defeat at Magnesia in 190BC by the Romans, the Seleucids began to re-model the Silver Shields on the impressive Roman legionaries who defeated them, certainly in equipment if not in tactics. It is thought that the 5000 men at the head of the Daphne Parade in 166BC were Silver Shields equipped in this way.

Tarantinoi Leukaspidai

Unit Name

Tarantinoi Leukaspidai

Main Unit Key

AOR_44_Tarantine_White_Shield_Pike

Land Unit Key

AOR_44_Tarantine_White_Shield_Pike

Naval Unit Key

pel_transport

Soldiers

256

Category

Melee Infantry

Class

Hoplite/Pike Infantry

Custom Battle Cost

1023

Recruitment Cost

1023

Upkeep Cost

205

Melee Attack

33

Weapon Damage

9

├ Melee Weapon

pike3

├ Weapon Damage

9

├ Weapon Deadliness

0

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Cavalry

3

├ Bonus vs. Elephants

8

└ Bonus vs Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

10

Melee Defence

60

├ Base Defence

19

├ Shield

shield4

└ Shield Defence

41

Armour

12

├ Armour

arm7

├ Armour Defence

12

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

20

├ Man Entity

medium_heavy

├ Man Health

20

└ Bonus Hit Points

0

Base Morale

50

Abilities

Tarantinoi Leukaspidai
  • Stamina (average)
    Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.
  • Pike Phalanx
    The unit moves into a deep and close pike phalanx formation that increases frontal defense and attack but movement speed is reduced and the unit is vulnerable to flanking attacks.

Attributes

  • 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.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very slow speed
  • Weak ramming
Tarantinoi Leukaspidai
  • Very good defensive unit
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Average attack
  • Good morale
  • Very vulnerable when not in phalanx
Recuitment Requirement
Maximum Number 6
Unit Resouces DEI_Brundisium
Requires Buildings
Tarantinoi Leukaspidai Lv. 0 Hellenistic Kleroukhia
Hellenistic Kleroukhia
(rom_HELLENIC_city_major_3)
Level 2
Hellenistic Metropolis
Hellenistic Metropolis
(rom_HELLENIC_city_major_4)
Level 3
Hellenic Garrison Kleroukhia
Hellenic Garrison Kleroukhia
(rom_HELLENIC_city_major_fort_3)
Level 2
Hellenic Fortified Metropolis
Hellenic Fortified Metropolis
(rom_HELLENIC_city_major_fort_4)
Level 3
Hellenic Trade Kleroukhia
Hellenic Trade Kleroukhia
(rom_HELLENIC_city_major_trade_3)
Level 2
Hellenic Economic Metropolis
Hellenic Economic Metropolis
(rom_HELLENIC_city_major_trade_4)
Level 3
Faction Availability
Grand Campaign



Samnite Wars
Caesar in Gaul
Hannibal at the Gates
Imperator Augustus