Rome (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Assault Tetreres - Principes

There is a good deal of debate as to how large ancient warships worked; the principles are understood, but the details are not always so clear. A Roman 'quadreme' or Greek 'tetreres' would seem to have four rows of oars if the name is translated literally. However, it is unclear how four sets of oars each with one rower apiece could be used without them getting in a terrible tangle even with a magnificently trained crew, or how the top set of rowers would be able to handle the extremely long oars pitched at a steep angle and still produce any power. The chances are that the term 'oar' had become synonymous with 'rower' and that the lowest bank had more than one man per oar. The other option was to go back to a double row of oars, with two men apiece. Two banks of oars would also have made for a cheaper construction task for each ship. Either way, the result was a ship that could rival the lighter trireme in speed, yet had more deck space for a large fighting contingent or artillery pieces.

(Principes)
It is probable that, following many engagements with the Samnites and a crushing defeat at the hands of the Gallic warlord Brennus, who both used lots of smaller, flexible units rather than large massed phalanxes, that the Romans learned the importance of flexibility and the inadequacy of the phalanx formation on the rough, hilly ground of central Italy. 'Principes' as a class of unit evolved from remnants of the old second army class following the reforms of Marcus Furius Camillus. Unlike the hastati, who were young warriors who fought on the frontlines, principes were older men in their prime with some experience behind them and sent into the fray to support the hastati only if they began to waver and break during battle.

Unit Name Assault Tetreres - Principes

Main Unit Key inv_rom_medium_assault_raider_principes

Land Unit Key inv_rom_principes

Naval Unit Key greek_four

Soldiers 120

Category Medium Ship

Class Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost 750

Recruitment Cost 750

Upkeep Cost 150

Missile Damage 30

├ Missile Weapon rome_pilum

├ Projectile pilum_normal

├ Missile Damage 20

├ Missile Ap Damage 10

└ Base Reload Time 15

Accuracy 5

Range 40

Reload 0

Shots Per Minute 4

Ammunition 2

Ship Health 825

└ Ship greek_four

Ship Speed 6

Melee Attack 50

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 35

Melee Defence 65

├ Base Defence 35

├ Shield scutum

└ Shield Defence 30

Armour 60

├ Armour chest

├ Armour Defence 25

└ Shield Armour 35

Health 55

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_medium

├ Man Health 40

└ Bonus Hit Points 15

Base Morale 45

Abilities

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

Attributes

• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• Formation Attack
  The unit will try to stay in formation when in melee.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

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

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

Recuitment Requirement
Required Technology Cost 300 Upgrade From
Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Drydock (inv_rom_port_military_3) Level 2 Military Port (inv_rom_port_military_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Rise of the Republic	Rome (Rise of the Republic)