Epirus Spear Infantry

Epirot Spearmen

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.

Unit Name Epirot Spearmen

Main Unit Key Gre_Epirus_Spearmen

Land Unit Key Gre_Epirus_Spearmen

Naval Unit Key greek_transport

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 560

Recruitment Cost 560

Upkeep Cost 70

Melee Attack 21

Weapon Damage 29

├ Melee Weapon rome_spear

├ Melee Damage Base 19

├ Melee Damage Ap 10

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 15

├ Bonus vs Elephants 16

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 19

Melee Defence 83

├ Base Defence 48

├ Shield thureos

└ Shield Defence 35

Armour 92

├ Armour mail

├ Armour Defence 57

└ Shield Armour 35

Health 70

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_heavy

├ Man Health 55

└ Bonus Hit Points 15

Base Morale 55

Abilities

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

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

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

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

Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Holosideros Barracks (greek_military_heavy_2) Level 1 Hoplite Barracks (greek_military_heavy_3) Level 2 Periokos Camp (greek_military_light_2) Level 1 Skirmisher Camp (greek_military_light_3) Level 2 Civil Town (greek_town_civil_3) Level 2 Farming Town (greek_town_farm_3) Level 2 Market Town (greek_town_trade_3) Level 2
Lv. 1	Royal Barracks (greek_military_heavy_4) Level 3 Mercenary Camp (greek_military_light_4) Level 3 Civil Colony (greek_town_civil_4) Level 3 Farming Colony (greek_town_farm_4) Level 3 Market Colony (greek_town_trade_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Epirus Epirean Nobles