Tylis Melee Ship

Heavy Raider - Oathsworn

Strong warships, constructed to withstand the worst the sea can throw at them.

Great and terrible oaths should be kept, in blood and by the sword.

Most of the northern European tribes were not naval powers, but there were still able seafarers to be found amongst them. Shipbuilding techniques were well understood, so while many vessels were small leather-skinned boats for inland and inshore use, bigger sea-going vessels were also made. Shipwrights used heavy planking for hulls, stitched together and then fastened to a wooden skeleton to create sturdy craft able to cope with Atlantic conditions. Julius Caesar was surprised at the quality of the enemy ships when his fleet clashed with the Veneti from modern-day Brittany. The Veneti vessels had flat bottoms to cope with shallows, but were also of heavy oak construction to cope with rough seas. This made them tough opposition for Roman galleys, and capable of shrugging off a ramming attack. Caesar said that the enemy ships "...were constructed of planks a foot in breadth, fastened by iron spikes the thickness of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables”. When the Romans were forced to board, they faced fearsome warriors used to close-quarters fighting at sea.

(Oathsworn)
The longsword was a weapon of high worth and status within the Celtic community. A warrior had to prove himself in battle many times before he was permitted to wield one. The two-handed longsword was first developed during the 8th century BC, but fell from favour before re-emerging around 450BC. It is possible that Celtic ironwork was significantly behind that of the Romans, as apparently their longswords bent very easily and had to be straightened against the ground. On the other hand, since Celtic ironworking was several centuries old, some believe that Roman accounts of this practice mistook this practise, and it was actually a ritual to 'decommission' defeated, dishonoured or damaged weapons.

Abilities

Heavy Raider

• Row Hard 20
  Increases speed for 20 strokes.
  Ship speed

Oathsworn

• Shieldwall
  The unit moves into a close formation and raises shields.
  Armour strength, bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Limited speed
• Frenzy
  Improves a unit's charge and weapon damage for an extended period.
  Charge damage, Weapon damage
  Exertion: fatigue
• Headhunt
  Gradual increase in effectiveness of the unit's attack.
  Melee attack, morale
  Melee defence

Attributes

• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Heavy Raider

• Very good hull strength
• Medium crew
• Average speed
• Average ramming
• Very good boarding

Oathsworn

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

Tylis Units
General (4)
1.Noble Horse
2.Oathsworn
3.Tarabostes
4.Thracian Chosen Infantry
Melee Infantry (11)
5.Gallo-Thracian Infantry
6.Oathsworn
7.Tribal Warriors
8.Celtic Warriors
9.Thracian Warriors
10.Thracian Chosen Infantry
11.Thracian Infantry
12.Costobocii Axemen
13.Dii Swordsmen
14.Triballoi Swordsmen
15.Thracian Trained Swords
Missile Infantry (5)
16.Celtic Skirmishers
17.Celtic Slingers
18.Tribal Garrison
19.Thracian Noble Peltasts
20.Dacian Elite Archers
Spear Infantry (7)
21.Levy Freemen
22.Spear Warriors
23.Celtic Tribesmen
24.Bessi Spearmen
25.Getohellenic Hoplites
26.Thracian Levy Spears
27.Geto-Hellenic Veteran Hoplites
Melee Cavalry (3)
28.Light Horse
29.Noble Horse
30.Tarabostes
Missile Cavalry (2)
31.Raiding Horsemen
32.Thracian Chosen Cavalry
Fixed Artillery (3)
33.Dacian Giant Ballista
34.Dacian Bastion Scorpion
35.Dacian Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (5)
36.Dacian Bastion Ballista
37.Dacian Ballista
38.Dacian Heavy Onager
39.Dacian Bastion Onager
40.Dacian Onager
Admiral (2)
41.Heavy Raider - Oathsworn
42.Medium Missile Raider - Celtic Slingers
Melee Ship (4)
43.Heavy Raider - Oathsworn
44.Persian Assault Teteres - Spear Warriors
45.Assault Raider - Celtic Tribesmen
46.Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Warriors
Missile Ship (3)
47.Missile Raider - Celtic Skirmishers
48.Greek Missile Penteres - Celtic Slingers
49.Medium Missile Raider - Celtic Slingers