African Rebels Spear Infantry

Large Shield Warriors

Javelins to anger your enemies; spears to kill them.

The thureos, a large oval-shaped shield, became common throughout the Hellenistic world from the 3rd century BC. Made from wood covered in hide, it differed from the earlier Greek hoplon in having a central handgrip, which was protected by a vertical spine running the length of the shield. This in turn could be further reinforced by the addition of a wide metal strip that protected the grip and the user’s hand. Inspired by the sub-rectangular and oval shields of the Celts, possibly through contact with the migrating Galatians, its usage seems to have spread through the Illyrian and Thracian tribes before it was adopted by the Greeks. Although large, the thureos was light in comparison to the traditional hoplon, and was adopted by heavily-armoured peltasts. Named after their shields, 'thureophoroi' could fight as common peltasts, skirmishing with javelins, but could also form up with their larger shields and longer spears in a similar fashion to a phalanx. The versatile and useful design of the thureos meant it was used by many armies, including the auxiliaries and cavalry of the later Roman Legions.

Abilities

Large Shield Warriors

• 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.
• Resistant to Heat
  This unit tires less quickly in the desert.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport

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

Large Shield Warriors

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

African Rebels Units
General (2)
1.Chariot Raiders
2.Large Shield Warriors
Melee Infantry (1)
3.Swordsmen
Missile Infantry (4)
4.Archers
5.Javelinmen
6.Tribal Slingers
7.Tribesmen
Spear Infantry (1)
8.Levy Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (1)
9.Aethiopian Cavalry
Fixed Artillery (3)
10.African Giant Ballista
11.African Bastion Scorpion
12.African Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (6)
13.African Bastion Ballista
14.African Ballista
15.African Scorpion
16.African Heavy Onager
17.African Bastion Onager
18.African Onager
Admiral (2)
19.Scorpion Trieres - Tribal Slingers
20.Assault Hexeres - Large Shield Warriors
Melee Ship (3)
21.Assault Hexeres - Swordsmen
22.Fire Pot Dieres - Levy Spearmen
23.Assault Dieres - Levy Spearmen
Missile Ship (6)
24.Tower Penteres - Archers
25.Missile Penteres - Archers
26.Scorpion Trieres - Tribal Slingers
27.Missile Trieres - Tribal Slingers
28.Raiding Hemiolia - Libyan Javelinmen
29.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Libyan Javelinmen
Artillery Ship (2)
30.Light Artillery Penteres - African Ballista (Ship)
31.Artillery Penteres - African Onager (Ship)