Buri (Empire Divided) Melee Ship

Heavy Raider - Germanic Spear Masters

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

These warriors possess unbridled aggression and a reckless bravery.

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.

(Germanic Spear Masters)
In their heart of hearts, the Germanic peoples were warriors first and foremost. When not fighting, they were seeking out the next fight. Only in battle could a warrior earn the glory and wealth needed to improve their position within the tribe. This was not an easy life, and only the toughest lived idly away from the battlefield. Others had to work, toiling in the fields and forests, awaiting glory that could be won in battle or by raiding the tribe's enemies. Spear-armed warriors were the lifeblood of German tribal forces. Brought up on the traditions of feasting and raiding, they craved the opportunity to prove themselves against a worthy enemy.

Abilities

Heavy Raider

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

Germanic Spear Masters

• Shield Screen
  The unit raises their shields in a static defensive formation.
  Bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Can't move
• Wedge
  The unit moves into a wedge-shaped attack formation.
  Charge bonus, melee attack
  Acceleration, melee defence
• Frenzied Charge
  Increases the effectiveness of the unit's charge for an extended period. The unit will suffer a large fatigue penalty after the charge is over.
  Charge speed, charge damage, acceleration
  Melee defence, fatigue

Attributes

• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Heavy Raider

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

Germanic Spear Masters

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

Buri (Empire Divided) Units
General (2)
1.Armoured Germanic Swords
2.Germanic Nobles
Melee Infantry (7)
3.Armoured Germanic Swords
4.Armoured Germanic Swords
5.Germanic Axe Warriors
6.Germanic Band
7.Germanic Nobles
8.Germanic Nobles
9.Germanic Swordsmen
Missile Infantry (4)
10.Germanic Hunters
11.Germanic Hurlers
12.Germanic Skirmishers
13.Test Infantry
Pike Infantry (1)
14.Germanic Pikes
Spear Infantry (4)
15.Germanic Spear Masters
16.Germanic Spearmen
17.Spear Levy
18.Test Missile
Melee Cavalry (3)
19.Germanic Horsemen
20.Germanic Mounted Warband
21.Noble Germanic Horsemen
Missile Cavalry (2)
22.Germanic Horse Skirmishers
23.Test Cavalry
Shock Cavalry (1)
24.Germanic Lancers
Fixed Artillery (2)
25.German Giant Ballista
26.German Bastion Scorpion
Field Artillery (6)
27.German Ballista
28.German Bastion Ballista
29.German Scorpion
30.German Heavy Onager
31.German Onager
32.German Bastion Onager
Special (1)
33.Savage Dogs
Admiral (1)
34.Heavy Raider - Germanic Spear Masters
Melee Ship (4)
35.Assault Raider - Germanic Band
36.Heavy Raider - Germanic Spear Masters
37.Heavy Raider - Germanic Spear Masters
38.Medium Assault Raider - Germanic Swordsmen
Missile Ship (1)
39.Missile Raider - Germanic Hurlers