Parthia Melee Infantry

Parthian Swordsmen

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 Parthian Swordsmen

Main Unit Key Eas_Par_Sword

Land Unit Key Eas_Par_Sword

Naval Unit Key persian_transport

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Melee Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 740

Recruitment Cost 740

Upkeep Cost 85

Missile Damage 34

├ Missile Weapon rome_javelin_precursor

├ Projectile javelin_prec

├ Missile Damage 19

├ Missile Ap Damage 15

└ Base Reload Time 40

Accuracy 5

Range 40

Reload 0

Shots Per Minute 2

Ammunition 2

Melee Attack 32

Weapon Damage 36

├ Melee Weapon rome_celtic_hellenic_sword

├ Melee Damage Base 32

├ Melee Damage Ap 4

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 0

├ Bonus vs Elephants 0

└ Bonus vs Infantry 5

Charge Bonus 31

Melee Defence 81

├ Base Defence 46

├ Shield thureos

└ Shield Defence 35

Armour 92

├ Armour mail

├ Armour Defence 57

└ Shield Armour 35

Health 70

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_heavy_fast

├ Man Health 55

└ Bonus Hit Points 15

Base Morale 60

Abilities

• Shieldwall
  The unit moves into a close formation and raises shields.
  Armour strength, bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Limited speed
• Use the Whip
  Improved attack and fatigue resistance for a short time.
  Melee attack, weapon damage, fatigue resistance
  Exertion: fatigue

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.
• Resistant to Heat
  This unit tires less quickly in the desert.

Strengths & Weaknesses

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

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

Requires Buildings
Lv. 1	Royal Karka (east_city_royal_4) Level 3 Satrap Karka (east_city_satrap_4) Level 3 Royal Barracks (east_military_infantry_4) Level 3 Game Field (east_town_centre_game_4) Level 3 Master Trader (east_town_centre_trade_4) Level 3 Garrison Large Town (east_town_garrison_4) Level 3 Trade Large Town (east_town_trade_4) Level 3
Lv. 0	Infantry Quarters (east_military_infantry_3) Level 2

Garrison Buildings
x 2	Town (Amber Trader) (east_amber_3) Level 2 Large Town (Amber Road) (east_amber_4) Level 3 Polo Pitch (east_city_centre_arena_3) Level 2 Satrap's Palace (east_city_centre_palace_3) Level 2 Spice Bazaar (east_city_centre_spice_3) Level 2 Royal Large City (east_city_royal_2) Level 1 Satrap Large City (east_city_satrap_2) Level 1 Town (Glass Maker) (east_glass_3) Level 2 Large Town (Master Glass Maker) (east_glass_4) Level 3 Town (Shaft Mine) (east_gold_3) Level 2 Large Town (Sluiced Mine) (east_gold_4) Level 3 Town (Grain Irrigated Farm) (east_grain_3) Level 2 Large Town (Grain Estate) (east_grain_4) Level 3 Town (Master Horse Breeders) (east_horse_3) Level 2 Settlement (Shieldmaker) (east_iron_armour_2) Level 1 Town (Armourer) (east_iron_armour_3) Level 2 Settlement (Blacksmith) (east_iron_weapon_2) Level 1 Town (Weaponsmith) (east_iron_weapon_3) Level 2 Town (Shaft Mine) (east_lead_3) Level 2 Large Town (Sluiced Mine) (east_lead_4) Level 3 Town (Leather Workshop) (east_leather_3) Level 2 Large Town (Master Leather Workshop) (east_leather_4) Level 3 Town (Timber Yard) (east_lumber_3) Level 2 Large Town (Timber Trader) (east_lumber_4) Level 3 Town (Marble Cutter) (east_marble_3) Level 2 Large Town (Marble Architect) (east_marble_4) Level 3 Infantry Quarters (east_military_infantry_3) Level 2 Royal Barracks (east_military_infantry_4) Level 3 Town (Mola Olearia) (east_olive_3) Level 2 Large Town (Olive Oil Trader) (east_olive_4) Level 3 Town (Dye Works) (east_purple_dye_3) Level 2 Large Town (Master Dye Works) (east_purple_dye_4) Level 3 Town (Silk Market) (east_silk_3) Level 2 Large Town (Silk Road) (east_silk_4) Level 3 Garrison Town (east_town_garrison_3) Level 2 Garrison Large Town (east_town_garrison_4) Level 3 Trade Town (east_town_trade_3) Level 2 Trade Large Town (east_town_trade_4) Level 3 Town (Winemaker) (east_wine_3) Level 2 Large Town (Master Winemaker) (east_wine_4) Level 3
x 4	Royal Kerta (east_city_royal_3) Level 2 Royal Karka (east_city_royal_4) Level 3 Satrap Kerta (east_city_satrap_3) Level 2 Satrap Karka (east_city_satrap_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Parthia Parthian Nobles
Imperator Augustus	Parthia (Imperator Augustus) Parthian Nobles (Imperator Augustus)