Epirus Melee Cavalry

Aspis Companion Cavalry

The Companions are an elite force, capable of great deeds if used properly.

Macedonian Companion cavalry, known in Greek as the hetairoi, were the foremost shock troops of their age. Originally formed from the Macedonian nobility, esteemed friends and companions of their kings, these elite horsemen evolved under Philip II and Alexander the Great into a highly disciplined and formidable force with the adoption of the wedge formation that increased not only their manoeuvrability, but also their impact. Eventually their numbers were extended to include not just nobles, but in fact anyone who had been a friend to the king. Early Greek cavalry had been limited to skirmishing scouts and archers, as square formations of heavy cavalry up until this point were difficult to direct and wheel. However, the adoption of the wedge formation enabled the companions to exploit weak points or break the flanks of enemy infantry with precision. To achieve this they were armed with the 'xyston', a fearsome double-ended lance, designed to counter-balance itself and be reversible should one end break, plus a straight sword or curved kopis for close-quarters fighting. Armour took the form of a shaped bronze corselet, with optional greaves, and an open Boeotian helmet, which afforded some protection without hampering vision. The horse itself was unarmoured. The rider sat on a blanket, as neither saddle nor stirrups were used at this time.

Abilities

Aspis Companion Cavalry

• Diamond
  The unit moves into a diamond-shaped attack formation.
  Charge bonus, melee attack
  Acceleration, melee defence

Attributes

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

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

Aspis Companion Cavalry

• Very good attack
• Average defence
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Good morale

Epirus Units
General (2)
1.Hellenic Royal Cavalry
2.Hellenic Royal Guard
Melee Infantry (3)
3.Mob
4.Royal Peltasts
5.Illyrian Levies
Missile Infantry (5)
6.Agrianian Axemen
7.Archers
8.Javelinmen
9.Peltasts
10.Slingers
Pike Infantry (3)
11.Levy Pikemen
12.Pikemen
13.Hellenic Royal Guard
Spear Infantry (4)
14.Citizen Hoplites
15.Hoplites
16.Militia Hoplites
17.Thureos Spears
Melee Cavalry (2)
18.Aspis Companion Cavalry
19.Citizen Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (2)
20.Skirmisher Cavalry
21.Tarantine Cavalry
Shock Cavalry (2)
22.Hellenic Royal Cavalry
23.Thessalian Cavalry
Fixed Artillery (4)
24.Greek Giant Ballista
25.Greek Polybolos
26.Greek Bastion Scorpion
27.Greek Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (7)
28.Greek Bastion Ballista
29.Greek Ballista
30.Greek Beehive Onager
31.Greek Scorpion
32.Greek Heavy Onager
33.Greek Bastion Onager
34.Greek Onager
Special (1)
35.Molossian Dogs
Admiral (3)
36.Assault Hexeres - Agrianian Axemen
37.Scorpion Trieres - Slingers
38.Assault Tetreres - Thureos Spears
Melee Ship (4)
39.Assault Hexeres - Agrianian Axemen
40.Fire Pot Dieres - Peltasts
41.Assault Dieres - Peltasts
42.Assault Tetreres - Thureos Spears
Missile Ship (7)
43.Scorpion Penteres - Archers
44.Tower Penteres - Archers
45.Missile Penteres - Archers
46.Raiding Hemiolia - Javelinmen
47.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Javelinmen
48.Scorpion Trieres - Slingers
49.Missile Trieres - Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
50.Light Artillery Penteres - Greek Ballista (Ship)
51.Artillery Penteres - Greek Onager (Ship)