Egypt (Imperator Augustus) Melee Ship

Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen

With a ramming attack that can break an enemy hull, these ships are deadly weapons.

The harshest landscapes breed the toughest warriors. Nubians are no exception.

The waterline ram was first mounted on a vessel in around 850BC. Warships and naval tactics were transformed. Ships were no longer platforms for infantry battles on the water; the ship itself became the weapon. Galleys changed as the new reality sank in. Ramming at speed would hole and sink an enemy, therefore slimmer, faster, handier ships were required. More speed on demand obviously required more oars a fast ship with a single row of oars ended up being stupidly, impractically long. The solution, then, was to put in a second set of oars above the first, but slightly offset to allow for rowers' benches. These biremes, a Latin word meaning 'two oars', or dieres, the Greek equivalent, were no longer than previous designs but had twice the number of rowers. They were fast, manoeuvrable, and could carry a fighting contingent. Some nations also gave their bireme crews fire pots; these clay pots filled with oil and pitch were hurled at enemy ships in the entirely reasonable hope of setting them ablaze.

(Nubian Spearmen)
Considered by some modern archaeologists to be the birthplace of civilisation itself, the ancient kingdom of Nubia lay between Egypt and modern-day central Sudan. Although much of the country was inhospitable desert, the tributaries of the Nile that flowed through it had fertile valley basins and it was there that Nubian culture flourished. As well as being a crucial water source, the Nile was the main trade route to Egypt for African ivory, animals, incense and other exotic riches. Living in such close proximity to the great river, the Nubians were excellent sailors, which ensured their nation's wealth through trade. Being Egypt’s neighbour, Nubia also became, at times, its greatest enemy, and the population were often enslaved and used as soldiers. In 750BC Nubians even managed to conquer Egypt, and ruled for one hundred years, such was the deep rivalry that existed between the two. Consisting mainly of mercenaries from its various regions, the armies of Nubia were famed for their aggression and fearlessness on the battlefield. Nubian archers even defeated the Romans, and their spearmen fought both against and alongside Ptolemaic armies. Eventually, the greatest threat to Nubia came not from war, but from the humble camel. Its introduction in the 2nd century AD greatly increased the power of nomadic desert tribes, lessening the importance of the Nile as a trade route. Subsequently, the kingdom went into decline.

Abilities

Assault Dieres

• Row Hard 10
  Increases speed for 10 strokes.
  Ship speed

Nubian Spearmen

• Square
  The unit moves into a close square formation.
  Bracing, morale, melee defence
  Can't move
• Rapid Advance
  Improved unit movement speed over an extended period.
  Speed, acceleration, charge speed
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• 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

Assault Dieres

• Very poor hull strength
• Very light crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Good boarding

Nubian Spearmen

• Good defensive unit
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Average attack
• Normal morale

Egypt (Imperator Augustus) Units
General (7)
1.African War Elephants
2.Galatian Royal Guard
3.Ptolemaic Cavalry
4.Hellenic Royal Guard
5.Royal Peltasts
6.Royal Thorax Swordsmen
7.Scythed Chariots
Melee Infantry (14)
8.Galatian Royal Guard
9.Galatian Swordsmen
10.Egyptian Infantry
11.Karian Axemen
12.Mob
13.Sobek Cultists
14.Royal Peltasts
15.Royal Thorax Swordsmen
16.Thorax Swordsmen
17.Ptolemaic Royal Guard
18.Warriors of Zeus-Ammon
19.Anubis Temple Guard
20.Thureos Swordsmen
21.Nubian Axe Warriors
Missile Infantry (6)
22.Egyptian Archers
23.Egyptian Javelinmen
24.Nubian Bowmen
25.Egyptian Slingers
26.Light Peltasts
27.Peltasts
Pike Infantry (4)
28.Egyptian Pikemen
29.Pikemen
30.Hellenic Royal Guard
31.Thorax Pikemen
Spear Infantry (8)
32.Nubian Spearmen
33.Levy Thureos Spears
34.Thureos Spears
35.Spears of Zeus-Ammon
36.Egyptian Armored Spearmen
37.Thorax Spearmen
38.Egyptian Royal Spearmen
39.Nile Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (5)
40.Camel Spearmen
41.Egyptian Cavalry
42.Citizen Cavalry
43.Light Cavalry
44.Egyptian Royal Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (3)
45.Camel Archers
46.Skirmisher Cavalry
47.Tarantine Cavalry
Shock Cavalry (1)
48.Ptolemaic Cavalry
Chariot (1)
49.Scythed Chariots
Elephant (2)
50.African Elephants
51.African War Elephants
Fixed Artillery (4)
52.Greek Giant Ballista
53.Greek Polybolos
54.Greek Bastion Scorpion
55.Greek Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (6)
56.Greek Bastion Ballista
57.Greek Ballista
58.Greek Scorpion
59.Greek Heavy Onager
60.Greek Bastion Onager
61.Greek Onager
Admiral (2)
62.Tower Penteres - Egyptian Archers
63.Heavy Tower Octeres - Egyptian Infantry
Melee Ship (5)
64.Heavy Tower Octeres - Egyptian Infantry
65.Assault Octeres - Egyptian Infantry
66.Assault Hexeres - Karian Axemen
67.Fire Pot Dieres - Nubian Spearmen
68.Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen
Missile Ship (6)
69.Tower Penteres - Egyptian Archers
70.Missile Penteres - Egyptian Archers
71.Raiding Hemiolia - Egyptian Javelinmen
72.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Egyptian Javelinmen
73.Scorpion Trieres - Egyptian Slingers
74.Missile Trieres - Egyptian Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
75.Light Artillery Penteres - Greek Ballista (Ship)
76.Artillery Penteres - Greek Onager (Ship)