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Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen Egypt (Imperator Augustus)Egypt (Imperator Augustus) Melee Ship

Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen

With a ramming attack that can break an enemy hull, these ships are deadly weapons.

The harshest landscapes breed the toughest warriors. Nubians are no exception.

The waterline ram was first mounted on a vessel in around 850BC. Warships and naval tactics were transformed. Ships were no longer platforms for infantry battles on the water; the ship itself became the weapon. Galleys changed as the new reality sank in. Ramming at speed would hole and sink an enemy, therefore slimmer, faster, handier ships were required. More speed on demand obviously required more oars a fast ship with a single row of oars ended up being stupidly, impractically long. The solution, then, was to put in a second set of oars above the first, but slightly offset to allow for rowers' benches. These biremes, a Latin word meaning 'two oars', or dieres, the Greek equivalent, were no longer than previous designs but had twice the number of rowers. They were fast, manoeuvrable, and could carry a fighting contingent. Some nations also gave their bireme crews fire pots; these clay pots filled with oil and pitch were hurled at enemy ships in the entirely reasonable hope of setting them ablaze.

(Nubian Spearmen)
Considered by some modern archaeologists to be the birthplace of civilisation itself, the ancient kingdom of Nubia lay between Egypt and modern-day central Sudan. Although much of the country was inhospitable desert, the tributaries of the Nile that flowed through it had fertile valley basins and it was there that Nubian culture flourished. As well as being a crucial water source, the Nile was the main trade route to Egypt for African ivory, animals, incense and other exotic riches. Living in such close proximity to the great river, the Nubians became excellent sailors, which ensured their nation's wealth through trade. Being Egypt’s neighbour, Nubia also became, at times, its greatest enemy, and the population were often enslaved and used as soldiers. In 750BC, Nubians even managed to conquer Egypt, and ruled for one hundred years - such was the deep rivalry that existed between the two. Consisting mainly of mercenaries, Nubian armies were famed for their aggression and fearlessness on the battlefield. Nubian archers even defeated the Romans, and their spearmen fought both against and alongside Ptolemaic armies. Eventually, the greatest threat to Nubia came not from war, but from the humble camel. Its introduction in the 2nd century AD greatly increased the power of nomadic desert tribes, lessening the importance of the Nile as a trade route. Subsequently, the kingdom went into decline.

Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen
Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen

Unit Name

Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen

Main Unit Key

Egy_Nubian_Two

Land Unit Key

Egy_Nubian_Spear

Naval Unit Key

egyptian_two

Soldiers

60

Category

Light Ship

Class

Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost

370

Recruitment Cost

370

Upkeep Cost

74

Ship Health

501

└ Ship

egyptian_two

Ship Speed

7

Melee Attack

25

Weapon Damage

25

├ Melee Weapon

rome_spear

├ Melee Damage Base

20

├ Melee Damage Ap

5

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Large

20

├ Bonus vs Elephants

20

└ Bonus vs Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

24

Melee Defence

53

├ Base Defence

28

├ Shield

thureos

└ Shield Defence

25

Armour

45

├ Armour

cloth

├ Armour Defence

10

└ Shield Armour

35

Health

55

├ Man Entity

rome_infantry_light_fast

├ Man Health

40

└ Bonus Hit Points

15

Base Morale

50

Abilities

Assault Dieres
  • Row Hard 10
    Increases speed for 10 strokes.
    Ship speed
Nubian Spearmen
  • Square
    The unit moves into a close square formation.
    Bracing, morale, melee defence
    Can't move
  • 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

Assault Dieres
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very light crew
  • Fast speed
  • Weak ramming
  • Good boarding
Nubian Spearmen
  • Good defensive unit
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Average attack
  • Normal morale
Requires Buildings
Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen Lv. 0 Shipwright
Shipwright
(greek_port_harbour_2)
Level 1
Docks
Docks
(greek_port_harbour_3)
Level 2
Neosokoi
Neosokoi
(greek_port_harbour_4)
Level 3
Garrison Buildings
Assault Dieres - Nubian Spearmen x 2 Shipwright
Shipwright
(greek_port_harbour_2)
Level 1