Rome (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Assault Tetreres - Triarii

Ramming attacks from these ships inflict terrible damage.

Wealth, experience and age make these battle-hardened veterans a fearsome force.

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.

(Triarii)
The wealthiest - which tended to mean oldest, richest, and most experienced - Roman citizen soldiers were the 'triarii'. As befitted their status, they were always kept in reserve until absolutely necessary, with the phrase 'going to the triarii' coming to mean any situation where a last resort was required to turn it around. As the wealthiest Roman soldiers of the age, triarii were well equipped with spears, breastplates and large shields, just like the heavy Greek hoplites from which they evolved. As the heaviest infantry in the early Roman army, they were positioned at the back of very large phalanx formations (and later simpler battle lines), the idea being that should a crisis unfold, the weight and combined experience of the triarii could - and frequently did - turn the situation around and lead to a decisive Roman victory.

Abilities

Assault Tetreres

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

Triarii

• Square
  The unit moves into a close square formation.
  Bracing, morale, melee defence
  Can't move

Attributes

• Expert Charge Defence
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• 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

Assault Tetreres

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

Triarii

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

Rome (Rise of the Republic) Units
General (3)
1.Elite Equites
2.Triarii
3.Veteran Centuriae
Melee Infantry (22)
4.Native Aequi Swordsmen
5.Native Bruttii Tribesmen
6.Native Carthaginian Infantry
7.Native Gallic Axemen
8.Native Italian Hillmen
9.Native Italian Swordsmen
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
21.Ensis Centuriae
22.Ensis Principes
23.Latin Tribesmen
24.Roman Swordsmen
25.Rorarii
Missile Infantry (13)
26.Native Iapygian Archers
27.Native Iapygian Javelinmen
28.Native Bruttii Slingers
29.Native Gallic Hunters
30.Native Greek Archers
31.Native Italian Skirmishers
32.Native Italian Slingers
33.Native Lucanian Ambushers
34.Native Sabine Skirmishers
35.Native Sardi Bowmen
36.Accensi
37.Leves
38.Velites
Spear Infantry (12)
39.Native Carthaginian Spearmen
40.Native Etruscan Spearmen
41.Native Greek Militia
42.Native Umbrian Spearmen
43.Native Volsci Spearmen
44.Centuriae
45.Hastati
46.Latin Spearmen
47.Principes
48.Roman Light Hoplites
49.Triarii
50.Veteran Centuriae
Melee Cavalry (7)
51.Italian Cavalry
52.Native Aequi Horsemen
53.Native Campanian Cavalry
54.Native Gallic Horsemen
55.Native Ligurian Horsemen
56.Elite Equites
57.Eques
Missile Cavalry (3)
58.Italian Horse Skirmishers
59.African Cavalry
60.Native Veneti Raiders
Elephant (1)
61.African Elephants
Fixed Artillery (1)
62.Roman Polybolos
Field Artillery (1)
63.Roman Ballista
Admiral (2)
64.Assault Tetreres - Triarii
65.Assault Tetreres - Veteran Centuriae
Melee Ship (11)
66.Assault Tetreres - Carthaginian Hoplites
67.Assault Hexeres - Sacred Band
68.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Infantry
69.Assault Dieres - Carthaginian Hoplites
70.Assault Dieres - Sword Militia
71.Assault Dieres - Rorarii
72.Assault Dieres - Roman Swordsmen
73.Assault Tetreres - Centuriae
74.Assault Tetreres - Principes
75.Assault Tetreres - Triarii
76.Assault Tetreres - Veteran Centuriae
Missile Ship (3)
77.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Carthaginian Javelinmen
78.Missile Penteres - Velites
79.Missile Trieres - Leves