Iolei (Rise of the Republic) Missile Ship

Medium Missile Raider - Noble Sardi Archers

Tough warships for harrying the enemy, constructed to take on the worst of seas.

Distinguished accuracy is as beautiful as it is deadly.

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.

(Noble Sardi Archers)
The Iolei were an ancient Nuragic tribe who lived on the island of Sardinia during the Bronze and Iron Ages. According to legend, recorded by Greek historians, their name can be traced back to Iolaus, a hero, who led the sons of Heracles to Sardinia and founded a colony there. The Sardinian people were content to live quietly in peace, keeping to the mountainous regions in central Sardinia, building nuraghe and subsisting on agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing. However, around 900BC Phoenicians began sailing to Sardinia, establishing trade routes and relations with local merchants. As Carthage grew and set its sights on conquest and empire-building, an expedition was launched in 540BC against the Iolei, led by Malco. The expedition failed, as the Sardinians used guerrilla warfare - their skill with the bow and knowledge of the arduous terrain drove the Carthaginians from the island. Subsequent invasions of Sardinia, first by Mago in 509BC (as a response to Iolean attacks on coastal cities) and later by his brother Hamilcar. Eventually, the onslaught proved too great and the Sardinians were overcome. Coastal Sardinia was occupied by Carthage, but the Nuragic people remained unconquered, retreating into the island's central mountain range. According to Strabo, the Iolei were never truly subjugated, even following the rise of the Roman Empire.

Abilities

Medium Missile Raider

• Row Hard 10
  Increases speed for 10 strokes.
  Ship speed

Noble Sardi Archers

• Precision Shot
  Improved missile weapon damage for an extended period.
  Missile damage
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Resistant to Fatigue
  Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
• Guerrilla Deployment
  This unit can deploy outside of the deployment zone.
• Snipe
  This unit remains hidden while firing.
• Stalk
  This unit can move hidden in any terrain.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Medium Missile Raider

• Good hull strength
• Medium crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Poor boarding
• Good missile combat

Noble Sardi Archers

• Long range
• Fast rate of fire
• Good damage but low armour penetration
• Very weak in melee
• Poor morale

Iolei (Rise of the Republic) Units
General (3)
1.Noble Sardi Archers
2.Sherden Horsemen
3.Sherden Swordsmen
Melee Infantry (23)
4.Heavy Nuragic Runners
5.Nuragic Runners
6.Nuragic Warriors
7.Sardi Axemen
8.Sardi Hillmen
9.Sherden Swordsmen
10.Native Aequi Swordsmen
11.Native Bruttii Tribesmen
12.Native Carthaginian Infantry
13.Native Gallic Axemen
14.Native Italian Hillmen
15.Native Italian Swordsmen
16.Native Latin Tribesmen
17.Native Ligurian Axe Warriors
18.Native Ligurian Swordsmen
19.Native Lucanian Warriors
20.Naked Native Warriors
21.Native Sabine Warriors
22.Native Samnite Infantryman
23.Native Sicilian Tribesmen
24.Native Tribeless Warriors
25.Native Umbrian Hillmen
26.Native Volsci Warriors
Missile Infantry (15)
27.Iolean Javelinmen
28.Noble Sardi Archers
29.Nuragic Ambushers
30.Sardi Bowmen
31.Sardi Skirmishers
32.Sardi Slingers
33.Native Iapygian Archers
34.Native Iapygian Javelinmen
35.Native Bruttii Slingers
36.Native Gallic Hunters
37.Native Greek Archers
38.Native Italian Skirmishers
39.Native Italian Slingers
40.Native Lucanian Ambushers
41.Native Sabine Skirmishers
Spear Infantry (8)
42.Nuragic Shield Wall
43.Sardi Spearmen
44.Native Carthaginian Spearmen
45.Native Etruscan Spearmen
46.Native Greek Militia
47.Native Latin Spearmen
48.Native Umbrian Spearmen
49.Native Volsci Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (6)
50.Sardi Cavalry
51.Sherden Horsemen
52.Native Aequi Horsemen
53.Native Campanian Cavalry
54.Native Gallic Horsemen
55.Native Ligurian Horsemen
Missile Cavalry (3)
56.Sardi Horse Skirmishers
57.African Cavalry
58.Native Veneti Raiders
Elephant (1)
59.African Elephants
Fixed Artillery (1)
60.Iolean Polybolos
Field Artillery (1)
61.Iolean Ballista
Admiral (2)
62.Medium Assault Raider - Sherden Swordsmen
63.Medium Missile Raider - Noble Sardi Archers
Melee Ship (8)
64.Assault Tetreres - Carthaginian Hoplites
65.Assault Hexeres - Sacred Band
66.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Infantry
67.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Hoplites
68.Assault Dieres - Sword Militia
69.Medium Assault Raider - Nuragic Warriors
70.Medium Assault Raider - Sherden Swordsmen
71.Assault Raider - Sardi Axemen
Missile Ship (5)
72.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Carthaginian Javelinmen
73.Medium Missile Raider - Noble Sardi Archers
74.Medium Missile Raider - Sardi Bowmen
75.Missile Raider - Iolean Javelinmen
76.Missile Raider - Sardi Bowmen