Etruscan League (Hannibal at the Gates) Melee Infantry

Italian Veteran Swordsmen

The Italian veteran swordsmen are an experiened force, hardened by many battles they support the lines in a reliable fashion.

Gladiators were usually slaves, condemned criminals or prisoners of war but others did enter the arena. Those with debts or a lust for glory could sell themselves as gladiators, and soldiers who had given ground might be sent to the arena as punishment. A gladiator's life was arduous and brutal, even before fighting in the games. Trainees could, and would, be killed in practice if they fought beneath their abilities, as a way of encouraging the others. The ludus, the training ground and home of gladiators, was run by a lanista, and within its walls his word was law. Outside the arena he was considered to be on the bottom rung of society; some Roman cemeteries did not allow the bodies of lanistas to be buried inside their walls, even. Having said that, there was also a peculiar glamour about their business and some were famed amongst games fans as the men who owned and trained gladiators - the sports stars of the Roman world.

Abilities

Italian Veteran Swordsmen

• Rapid Advance
  Improved unit movement speed over an extended period.
  Speed, acceleration, charge speed
  Exertion: fatigue
• Killing Spree
  Increases weapon damage for an extended period.
  Weapon damage
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• 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

Italian Veteran Swordsmen

• Very good attack
• Average defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Good morale

Etruscan League (Hannibal at the Gates) Units
General (2)
1.Italian Noble Cavalry
2.Italian Noble Infantry
Melee Infantry (11)
3.Mob
4.Italian Swordsmen
5.Illyro-Italian Infantry Cohort
6.Italian Noble Swordsmen
7.Italian Veteran Swordsmen
8.Revered Thorax Swordsmen
9.Etruscan Reformed Infantry
10.Etruscan Noble Warriors
11.Etruscan Fierce Axes
12.Tarquinian Swordsmen
13.Italian Legionaries
Missile Infantry (5)
14.Levy Skirmishers
15.Levy Slingers
16.Illyro-Italian Bow Auxiliaries
17.Scout Archers
18.Etruscan Peltasts
Pike Infantry (2)
19.Etruscan Pikes
20.Etruscan Thorax Pikes
Spear Infantry (10)
21.Italian Noble Infantry
22.Italian Spearmen
23.Italian Veteran Spearmen
24.Italian Royal Spears
25.Etruscan Heavy Spearmen
26.Etruscan Thorax Spearmen
27.Etruscan Veteran Hoplites
28.Etruscan Spearmen
29.Etruscan Citizen Hoplites
30.Etruscan Hoplites
Melee Cavalry (5)
31.Italian Cavalry
32.Italian Noble Cavalry
33.Etruscan Honoured Cavalry
34.Medium Spear Cavalry
35.Warrior Horse
Missile Cavalry (1)
36.Etruscan Cavalry
Chariot (1)
37.Chariot Nobles
Field Artillery (3)
38.Roman Bastion Ballista
39.Roman Ballista
40.Roman Scorpion
Admiral (2)
41.Scorpion Trireme - Levy Skirmishers
42.Assault Hexareme - Italian Swordsmen
Melee Ship (5)
43.Assault Quadreme - Italian Spearmen
44.Fire Pot Bireme - Italian Spearmen
45.Assault Bireme - Italian Spearmen
46.Harpax Hexareme - Italian Swordsmen
47.Assault Hexareme - Italian Swordsmen
Missile Ship (5)
48.Scorpion Trireme - Levy Skirmishers
49.Missile Trireme - Levy Skirmishers
50.Raiding Hemiolia - Levy Skirmishers
51.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Levy Skirmishers
52.Missile Quinquereme - Levy Slingers
Artillery Ship (1)
53.Light Artillery Quinquereme - Roman Ballista (Ship)