Aria Melee Infantry

Phrada Sword Infantry

Melee units with shield and sword, recruited in the nearby area of Phrada city, not far from the Arachosia

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.

Abilities

Phrada Sword Infantry

• Shieldwall
  The unit moves into a close formation and raises shields.
  Armour strength, bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Limited speed
• 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

Transport

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

Phrada Sword Infantry

• Good attack
• Average defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Normal morale

Aria Units
General (7)
1.Median Cavalry
2.Pikemen
3.Artacoanian Noble Sparabara
4.Colchis Heavy Spearmen
5.Carmanian Camel Cataphracts
6.Persian Scythed Chariots
7.Sughdian Warriors
Melee Infantry (16)
8.Hillmen
9.Mob
10.Thorax Swordsmen
11.Thureos Swordsmen
12.Tabriz Peltasts
13.Kardakes Swordsmen
14.Desert Swordsmen
15.Loyal Swords
16.Sughdian Warriors
17.Hellenic Infantry
18.Phrygian Infantry
19.Phrada Sword Infantry
20.Gor Light Swordsmen
21.Hyrcanian Noble Swordsmen
22.Gazaca's Sword Infantry
23.Artacoanian Noble Sparabara
Missile Infantry (12)
24.Eastern Archers
25.Eastern Javelinmen
26.Persian Light Archers
27.Eastern Slingers
28.Light Peltasts
29.Peltasts
30.Levy Peltasts
31.Immortals
32.Sparabara
33.Takabara
34.Gedrosian Desert Archers
35.Colchis Slingers
Pike Infantry (4)
36.Levy Pikemen
37.Pikemen
38.Thorax Pikemen
39.Persian-Hellenic Pikemen
Spear Infantry (13)
40.Eastern Spearmen
41.Thureos Spears
42.Thorax Spearmen
43.Ekbatani Spears
44.Kardakes Sparabaras
45.Desert Spearmen
46.Spear Vanguards
47.Babylonian Spearmen
48.Colchis Light Spearmen
49.Indo - Persian Spearmen
50.Persian Sparabara
51.Colchis Heavy Spearmen
52.Alexandria Arachosia Guard
Melee Cavalry (7)
53.Median Cavalry
54.Citizen Cavalry
55.Levy Cavalry
56.Desert Camel Spearmen
57.Barcanian Horsemen
58.Noble Mounted Axemen
59.Carmanian Camel Cataphracts
Missile Cavalry (5)
60.Horse Skirmishers
61.Skirmisher Cavalry
62.Tarantine Cavalry
63.Desert Camel Archers
64.Bam's Mounted Archers
Shock Cavalry (1)
65.Median Cataphracts
Chariot (1)
66.Persian Scythed Chariots
Fixed Artillery (4)
67.Greek Giant Ballista
68.Greek Polybolos
69.Greek Bastion Scorpion
70.Greek Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (6)
71.Greek Bastion Ballista
72.Greek Ballista
73.Greek Scorpion
74.Greek Heavy Onager
75.Greek Bastion Onager
76.Greek Onager
Admiral (2)
77.Scorpion Penteres - Persian Light Archers
78.Assault Tetreres - Thureos Spears
Melee Ship (4)
79.Assault Dieres - Hillmen
80.Fire Pot Dieres - Light Peltasts
81.Fire Pot Dieres - Peltasts
82.Assault Tetreres - Thureos Spears
Missile Ship (9)
83.Scorpion Penteres - Persian Light Archers
84.Tower Penteres - Persian Light Archers
85.Missile Penteres - Persian Light Archers
86.Scorpion Trieres - Eastern Slingers
87.Missile Trieres - Eastern Slingers
88.Raiding Hemiolia - Light Peltasts
89.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Light Peltasts
90.Raiding Hemiolia - Peltasts
91.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Peltasts
Artillery Ship (2)
92.Light Artillery Penteres - Greek Ballista (Ship)
93.Artillery Penteres - Greek Onager (Ship)