Syracuse (Rise of the Republic) Shock Cavalry

Mercenary Thessalian Cavalry

Thessalian horses, Lacedaemonian women and the men who drink from the sacred Arethusa were, according to one oracle cited by Strabo, the three best things in all of Greece. Regardless of whether the last two parts ring true or not, Thessalian heavy cavalry were without doubt a highly disciplined, mobile and esteemed allied unit in Greek armies. Similar in many respects to the hetairoi, the Macedonian companion cavalry, both units used the xyston double-ended lance, but some evidence suggests that at times shorter spears and javelins may also have been used. Their mobility came from the rhombus formation they adopted, reputedly invented by Jason of Pherae, that enabled a unit to turn with cohesion, form up and charge on any of its four points. During Alexander’s campaigns, the contingent of Thessalian Cavalry accompanying him numbered roughly 2,000 men, 200 for every vote Thessaly had in the League of Corinth. They were commonly assigned the left flank, guarding it from enemy cavalry as the right flank spearheaded the attack.

Unit Name Mercenary Thessalian Cavalry

Main Unit Key inv_mercenary_thessalian_cavalry

Land Unit Key inv_mercenary_thessalian_cavalry

Naval Unit Key pel_transport

Soldiers 80

Category Cavalry

Class Shock Cavalry

Custom Battle Cost 700

Recruitment Cost 700

Upkeep Cost 525

Melee Attack 40

Weapon Damage 25

├ Melee Weapon rome_lance

├ Melee Damage Base 14

├ Melee Damage Ap 11

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 10

├ Bonus vs Elephants 10

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 67

Melee Defence 15

├ Base Defence 15

├ Shield none

└ Shield Defence 0

Armour 30

├ Armour chest_improved

├ Armour Defence 30

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 90

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_heavy

├ Man Health 40

├ Bonus Hit Points 20

├ Mount rome_hellenic_horse_lance_h

├ Mount Entity rome_horse_heavy_shock

└ Mount Health 30

Base Morale 65

Abilities

No Ability

Attributes

• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

• Good charge
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Weak in prolonged melee
• Average morale