Taras (Rise of the Republic) Missile Ship

Missile Penteres - Tarantine Peltasts

Archers can shoot down upon many enemies from the deck, doing terrible work in the process.

The nimblest skirmishers, these men have been chosen for the range and speed of their attacks.

The 'five', called a quinquereme in Latin and a penteres in Greek, was a ship first used by the Syracusans against the Carthaginians sometime around 398BC. Like other polyremes, a term meaning many-oared, the chances were that it did not have five banks of oars but that the word 'oar' was used to mean 'rower'. In such a case, the arrangement of rowers would be two-two-one going up from the waterline. It makes sense to keep as much weight as possible low in the vessel to help its stability; a high centre of gravity makes any ship liable to capsize if struck from the side. The quinquereme, then, would be a formidable vessel both in terms of appearance and combat value. With a large fighting contingent aboard and plenty of deck space, this heavy vessel could cope with most enemies and threats.

(Tarantine Peltasts)
Taranto, in Magna Graecia, has a rich history. Founded in 706BC as Taras, it began as the home of the Partheniae, Spartans exiled due to their impure bloodlines. Fortunately, the colony was able to breed superb warhorses, and so its warriors duly grew in reputation. Tarantine cavalry could be combined well with a slow-moving phalanx, providing a rapid and flexible defensive screen for the hoplites’ exposed flanks. Their suitability for such a role, in addition to a growing need for mercenaries in the armies of the Hellenistic world, saw that the Tarantines were much sought after. By the 3rd century BC there was some evidence to suggest that they no longer came exclusively from Taranto itself, the word 'Tarantine' referring more to the unit’s tactics and weaponry rather than its geographic origins.

Abilities

Missile Penteres

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

Tarantine Peltasts

• Quick Reload
  Improved reloading for an extended time.
  Shots per minute
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Resistant to Fatigue
  Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
• Hide (scrub & forest)
  This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Missile Penteres

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

Tarantine Peltasts

• Short range
• Fast rate of fire
• Very good damage and armour penetration
• Large shield
• Very weak in melee
• Poor morale

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