Paeligni (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Medium Assault Raider - Italian Veteran Swordsmen

Able to withstand rough seas, these ships' crews can capture enemy vessels in any weather.

Experience of open warfare is a rare commodity, and therefore worth a premium among the generally-peaceable Italic tribes.

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.

(Italian Veteran Swordsmen)
Before Rome's ascension and eventual conquest of Italy, it shared the peninsula with others, such as the Etruscans and Samnites. These various petty kingdoms, cities and tribes often fought each other, but also united against common external threats. It was as the Etruscans waned and Greek influence fell away that the Romans began steadily accumulating land and power. Their conquest of the Apennine Peninsula was possible due to the levied troops of every tribe absorbed into the early Roman Republic. Conflict was common in Italy - most tribes went to war during the summer months, to raid neighbouring settlements for riches and resources. Rome made the most of these warlike tribesmen, drawing soldiers from their ranks in exchange for citizenship and social status within the growing Republic. The earliest example of Rome's alliances with neighbouring states was the Foedus Cassianum, with the surrounding Latin city-states shortly after the overthrow of the Roman monarchy in 510BC. The terms were simple and effective: mutual defence for both parties, based on equal contribution to an annual military levy under Roman command.

Abilities

Medium Assault Raider

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

Italian Veteran Swordsmen

• Killing Spree
  Increases weapon damage for an extended period.
  Weapon damage
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Medium Assault Raider

• Good hull strength
• Medium crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Good boarding

Italian Veteran Swordsmen

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

Paeligni (Rise of the Republic) Units
General (2)
1.Italian Veteran Spearmen
2.Italian Veteran Swordsmen
Melee Infantry (18)
3.Italian Swordsmen
4.Italian Veteran Swordsmen
5.Native Aequi Swordsmen
6.Native Bruttii Tribesmen
7.Native Carthaginian Infantry
8.Native Gallic Axemen
9.Native Latin Tribesmen
10.Native Ligurian Axe Warriors
11.Native Ligurian Swordsmen
12.Native Lucanian Warriors
13.Naked Native Warriors
14.Native Sabine Warriors
15.Native Samnite Infantryman
16.Native Sardi Hillmen
17.Native Sicilian Tribesmen
18.Native Tribeless Warriors
19.Native Umbrian Hillmen
20.Native Volsci Warriors
Missile Infantry (10)
21.Italian Skirmishers
22.Italian Slingers
23.Native Iapygian Archers
24.Native Iapygian Javelinmen
25.Native Bruttii Slingers
26.Native Gallic Hunters
27.Native Greek Archers
28.Native Lucanian Ambushers
29.Native Sabine Skirmishers
30.Native Sardi Bowmen
Spear Infantry (8)
31.Italian Spearmen
32.Italian Veteran Spearmen
33.Native Carthaginian Spearmen
34.Native Etruscan Spearmen
35.Native Greek Militia
36.Native Latin Spearmen
37.Native Umbrian Spearmen
38.Native Volsci Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (5)
39.Italian Cavalry
40.Native Aequi Horsemen
41.Native Campanian Cavalry
42.Native Gallic Horsemen
43.Native Ligurian Horsemen
Missile Cavalry (3)
44.Italian Horse Skirmishers
45.African Cavalry
46.Native Veneti Raiders
Elephant (1)
47.African Elephants
Admiral (1)
48.Assault Raider - Italian Swordsmen
Melee Ship (7)
49.Assault Tetreres - Carthaginian Hoplites
50.Assault Hexeres - Sacred Band
51.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Infantry
52.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Hoplites
53.Assault Dieres - Sword Militia
54.Assault Raider - Italian Swordsmen
55.Medium Assault Raider - Italian Veteran Swordsmen
Missile Ship (2)
56.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Carthaginian Javelinmen
57.Missile Raider - Italian Skirmishers