menu
HomeHome / Divide et Impera / Ardiaei / Units / Illyrioi Thureophoroi
Illyrioi Thureophoroi ArdiaeiArdiaei Spear Infantry

Illyrioi Thureophoroi

(Illyrian Thureos Spears)

Well able to pepper a foe with javelins, these warriors can fight hand-to-hand.

The thureos, a large oval-shaped shield, became common throughout the Hellenistic world from the 3rd century BC. Made from wood covered in hide, it differed from the earlier Greek hoplon in having a central handgrip, which was protected by a vertical spine running the length of the shield. This in turn could be further reinforced by the addition of a wide metal strip that protected the grip and the user’s hand. Inspired by the sub-rectangular and oval shields of the Celts, possibly through contact with the migrating Galatians, its usage seems to have spread through the Illyrian and Thracian tribes before it was adopted by the Greeks. Although large, the thureos was light in comparison to the traditional hoplon, and was adopted by heavily-armoured peltasts. Named after their shields, 'thureophoroi' could fight as common peltasts, skirmishing with javelins, but could also form up with their larger shields and longer spears in a similar fashion to a phalanx. The versatile and useful design of the thureos meant it was used by many armies, including the auxiliaries and cavalry of the later Roman Legions.

Illyrioi Thureophoroi

Unit Name

Illyrioi Thureophoroi

Main Unit Key

Ill_Thureos_Spears

Land Unit Key

Ill_Thureos_Spears

Naval Unit Key

pel_transport

Soldiers

300

Category

Melee Infantry

Class

Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost

518

Recruitment Cost

518

Upkeep Cost

104

Missile Damage

11

├ Missile Weapon

prec1

├ Projectile

prec1

├ Missile Damage

11

├ Missile Ap Damage

0

└ Base Reload Time

10

Accuracy

5

Range

80

Reload

0

Shots Per Minute

6

Ammunition

1

Melee Attack

28

Weapon Damage

9

├ Melee Weapon

spear1

├ Weapon Damage

9

├ Weapon Deadliness

0

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Cavalry

3

├ Bonus vs. Elephants

10

└ Bonus vs Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

10

Melee Defence

71

├ Base Defence

19

├ Shield

shield5

└ Shield Defence

52

Armour

3

├ Armour

arm1

├ Armour Defence

3

└ Shield Armour

0

Health

20

├ Man Entity

medium_light

├ Man Health

20

└ Bonus Hit Points

0

Base Morale

55

Abilities

Illyrioi Thureophoroi
  • Stamina (good)
    Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.
  • Throw Javelin (light)
    The unit throws its javelins towards a spot causing damage to everyone in the area of effect
    NOTE: you cannot throw javelins when you are inside a formation

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.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very slow speed
  • Weak ramming
Illyrioi Thureophoroi
  • Good defensive unit
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Average attack
  • Normal morale
Requires Buildings
Illyrioi Thureophoroi Lv. 0 Warrior Lodge
Warrior Lodge
(rom_BARBARIAN_artisans_major_1)
Level 0
Meeting Ground
Meeting Ground
(rom_BARBARIAN_artisans_major_bronze_2)
Level 1
Meeting Ground
Meeting Ground
(rom_BARBARIAN_artisans_major_bronze_2)
Level 1
Proving Grounds
Proving Grounds
(rom_BARBARIAN_artisans_major_bronze_3)
Level 2
Proving Grounds
Proving Grounds
(rom_BARBARIAN_artisans_major_bronze_3)
Level 2
Illyrioi Thureophoroi Lv. 1 Hall of Champions
Hall of Champions
(rom_BARBARIAN_artisans_major_bronze_4)
Level 3
Hall of Champions
Hall of Champions
(rom_BARBARIAN_artisans_major_bronze_4)
Level 3