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HomeHome / Total War: Rome II / Viesul (Rise of the Republic) / Units / Assault Dieres - Etruscan Hoplites
Assault Dieres - Etruscan Hoplites Viesul (Rise of the Republic)Viesul (Rise of the Republic) Melee Ship

Assault Dieres - Etruscan Hoplites

With a ramming attack that can break an enemy hull, these ships are deadly weapons.

Equipped and trained in the Greek fashion, Rome's former masters remain a force to be reckoned with.

The waterline ram was first mounted on a vessel in around 850BC. Warships and naval tactics were transformed. Ships were no longer platforms for infantry battles on the water; the ship itself became the weapon. Galleys changed as the new reality sank in. Ramming at speed would hole and sink an enemy, therefore slimmer, faster, handier ships were required. More speed on demand obviously required more oars a fast ship with a single row of oars ended up being stupidly, impractically long. The solution, then, was to put in a second set of oars above the first, but slightly offset to allow for rowers' benches. These biremes, a Latin word meaning 'two oars', or dieres, the Greek equivalent, were no longer than previous designs but had twice the number of rowers. They were fast, manoeuvrable, and could carry a fighting contingent. Some nations also gave their bireme crews fire pots; these clay pots filled with oil and pitch were hurled at enemy ships in the entirely reasonable hope of setting them ablaze.

(Etruscan Hoplites)
Etruscan armies, like most ancient Mediterranean forces, were drawn from a citizen body who were otherwise farmers when not at war. Soldiers paid for their own equipment and fought for the individual city-state to which they belonged. Etruscan warriors were heavily influenced by the Greek military style, with wealthier fighters going into battle with bronze breastplates and greaves, Corinthian-style helmets and round shields. Hardened leather armour was also used, which was more flexible, but did not offer the same level of protection. Etruria's early armies probably employed the phalanx style of combat, but as Gauls and other barbarians descended from the Alps and into Italy, Etruscan soldiers adopted a looser way of fighting. Common finds in Etruscan grave sites are bell-shaped bronze helmets, sometimes with cheek-guards, as well as shorter melee weapons, including swords and axes. Ultimately, Etruria's downfall was not due to the quality of its warriors, but rather the refusal of the various Etruscan cities to band together and support each other against the rising threat from Rome.

Assault Dieres - Etruscan Hoplites

Unit Name

Assault Dieres - Etruscan Hoplites

Main Unit Key

inv_etr_two_assault_greek_etruscan_hoplites

Land Unit Key

inv_etr_hoplites

Naval Unit Key

greek_two

Soldiers

60

Category

Light Ship

Class

Melee Ship

Custom Battle Cost

550

Recruitment Cost

550

Upkeep Cost

110

Ship Health

501

└ Ship

greek_two

Ship Speed

6

Melee Attack

25

Weapon Damage

26

├ Melee Weapon

rome_hoplite_spear

├ Melee Damage Base

20

├ Melee Damage Ap

6

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Large

15

├ Bonus vs Elephants

15

└ Bonus vs Infantry

0

Charge Bonus

10

Melee Defence

55

├ Base Defence

40

├ Shield

hoplite

└ Shield Defence

15

Armour

70

├ Armour

chest

├ Armour Defence

25

└ Shield Armour

45

Health

55

├ Man Entity

rome_infantry_hoplite

├ Man Health

45

└ Bonus Hit Points

10

Base Morale

40

Abilities

Assault Dieres
  • Row Hard 10
    Increases speed for 10 strokes.
    Ship speed
Etruscan Hoplites
  • Hoplite Wall
    The unit moves into close wall formation.
    Bracing, melee defence, shield strength
    Acceleration, speed

Attributes

  • Expert Charge Defence
    This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
  • Hide (forest)
    This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Assault Dieres
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very light crew
  • Fast speed
  • Weak ramming
  • Good boarding
Etruscan Hoplites
  • Very good defensive unit
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Average attack
  • Good morale
Requires Buildings
Assault Dieres - Etruscan Hoplites Lv. 0 Military Wharf
Military Wharf
(inv_new_etr_port_military_4)
Level 3
Shipwright
Shipwright
(inv_new_etr_port_military_5)
Level 4
Military Harbour
Military Harbour
(inv_new_etr_port_military_6)
Level 5
Garrison Buildings
Assault Dieres - Etruscan Hoplites x 1 Port
Port
(inv_new_etr_port_2)
Level 1
Fishing Port
Fishing Port
(inv_new_etr_port_food_5)
Level 4
Shipwright
Shipwright
(inv_new_etr_port_military_5)
Level 4
Trade Harbour
Trade Harbour
(inv_new_etr_port_trade_5)
Level 4
Assault Dieres - Etruscan Hoplites x 2 Large Port
Large Port
(inv_new_etr_port_3)
Level 2
Fishermen's Quarter
Fishermen's Quarter
(inv_new_etr_port_food_4)
Level 3
Military Wharf
Military Wharf
(inv_new_etr_port_military_4)
Level 3
Trading Port
Trading Port
(inv_new_etr_port_trade_4)
Level 3