Veneti (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Assault Raider - Italian Swordsmen

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 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.

Unit Name Assault Raider - Italian Swordsmen

Main Unit Key inv_ven_assault_raider_italian_hillmen

Land Unit Key inv_ven_italian_swordsmen

Naval Unit Key barbarian_raider_melee

Soldiers 80

Category Medium Ship

Class Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost 220

Recruitment Cost 220

Upkeep Cost 45

Ship Health

└ Ship barbarian_raider

Ship Speed

Melee Attack 20

Weapon Damage 34

├ Melee Weapon rome_generic_sword

├ Melee Damage Base 30

├ Melee Damage Ap 4

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 0

├ Bonus vs Elephants 0

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 10

Melee Defence 45

├ Base Defence 20

├ Shield oval

└ Shield Defence 25

Armour 45

├ Armour cloth

├ Armour Defence 10

└ Shield Armour 35

Health 45

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_light

├ Man Health 40

└ Bonus Hit Points 5

Base Morale 30

Abilities

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

Attributes

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Average hull strength
• Light crew
• Very fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Average boarding

• Average attack
• Weak defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Poor morale

Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Port (inv_ven_port_1) Level 0 Fishermen's Huts (inv_ven_port_fish_2) Level 1 Fishing Village (inv_ven_port_fish_3) Level 2 Fishing Port (inv_ven_port_fish_4) Level 3 Harbour (inv_ven_port_military_2) Level 1 Boatyard (inv_ven_port_military_3) Level 2 Raider's Port (inv_ven_port_military_4) Level 3

Garrison Buildings
x 1	Port (inv_ven_port_1) Level 0 Fishing Village (inv_ven_port_fish_3) Level 2 Harbour (inv_ven_port_military_2) Level 1
x 2	Fishermen's Huts (inv_ven_port_fish_2) Level 1

Faction Availability
Rise of the Republic	Veneti (Rise of the Republic) Veneti Pretenders (Rise of the Republic) Veneti Secessionists (Rise of the Republic)