Ardiaei Melee Ship

Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Marines

These magnificent ships are both intimidating and extremely dangerous.

Sea-legs and unswerving self-belief are essential elements for successful piracy.

As centuries passed, naval tactics and needs changed across the Mediterranean. There was a move towards larger ships, partly as an expression of national or dynastic power: the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt were particularly fond of large ships to show their wealth and influence in a physical way. These 'polyremes', a term meaning many oared, were not suitable for ramming work in battle. In practice many of them had no more oars than smaller ships; what they had were more rowers per oar than smaller ships. A Roman hexareme or Greek hexeres would have a couple of banks of oars with three men per oar, and appear to be an over-sized version of a smaller ship. Even so, thanks to being tremendously heavy and strongly constructed, they were slow moving, and hardly capable of the quick turns needed to take advantage of enemy mistakes. Instead the large ships made use of their wide decks and plentiful carrying capacities and became fighting platforms for infantry and artillery. Boarding or long-range bombardment were the methods to be used to defeat the enemy; naval warfare had come full circle in terms of fighting methods, even if ships had grown significantly.

(Illyrian Marines)
The Illyrian aristocracy advocated raiding for profit, leading to widespread piracy in the Adriatic for several centuries. Over the years, the Illyrians became formidable pirates who struck fear into many a trade ship captain’s heart. Attacks by Illyrian pirates on merchant shipping eventually prompted Roman intervention in the region, and later its total absorption into their growing empire. Like many 'barbarian' peoples, the Illyrians were fearsome fighters who frequently displayed suicidal bravery. Their natural, warlike temperament, along with a fine, long-standing seafaring tradition, made them well-suited to raiding and piracy. Marines were elite melee troops highly skilled in seaborne combat, where the ability to keep upright and balanced whilst fighting hand-to-hand was paramount.

Abilities

Assault Hexeres

• Row Hard 30
  Increases speed for 30 strokes.
  Ship speed

Illyrian Marines

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

Attributes

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Assault Hexeres

• Very good hull strength
• Heavy crew
• Slow speed
• Strong ramming
• Very good boarding

Illyrian Marines

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

Ardiaei Units
General (3)
1.Illyrian Cavalry
2.Illyrian Hoplites
3.Illyrian Noble Hoplites
Melee Infantry (2)
4.Illyrian Levies
5.Illyrian Raiders
Missile Infantry (2)
6.Slave Javelinmen
7.Slave Slingers
Spear Infantry (6)
8.Illyrian Hoplites
9.Illyrian Marines
10.Illyrian Noble Hoplites
11.Illyrian Spearmen
12.Illyrian Thureos Spears
13.Illyrian Tribesmen
Melee Cavalry (1)
14.Illyrian Cavalry
Fixed Artillery (1)
15.Greek Bastion Scorpion
Field Artillery (5)
16.Greek Bastion Ballista
17.Greek Ballista
18.Greek Scorpion
19.Greek Bastion Onager
20.Greek Onager
Admiral (2)
21.Scorpion Trieres - Slave Slingers
22.Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Thureos Spears
Melee Ship (7)
23.Assault Tetreres - Illyrian Marines
24.Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Marines
25.Assault Dieres - Illyrian Raiders
26.Assault Tetreres - Illyrian Spearmen
27.Assault Hexeres - Illyrian Thureos Spears
28.Fire Pot Dieres - Illyrian Tribesmen
29.Assault Dieres - Illyrian Tribesmen
Missile Ship (7)
30.Raiding Hemiolia - Slave Javelinmen
31.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Slave Javelinmen
32.Tower Penteres - Slave Slingers
33.Scorpion Penteres - Slave Slingers
34.Missile Penteres - Slave Slingers
35.Scorpion Trieres - Slave Slingers
36.Missile Trieres - Slave Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
37.Light Artillery Penteres - Greek Ballista (Ship)
38.Artillery Penteres - Greek Onager (Ship)