Cerneu Melee Infantry

Welsh Swordsmen

As the twelfth-century historian Gerald of Wales put it, the people of Welsh lands were ever-trained for war, from their leaders down to their peasantry. He described a people who, if the situation required it, would rush from their ploughs without hesitation to pick up weapons as quickly as the courtier from court. Their rough and hilly terrain resulted in earlier traditions of Celtic culture being reflected in more military terms – for example, a heavily armoured combatant such as a feudal horseman would have difficulty operating there, so Welsh warriors relied more on agility in war situations, rather than brute strength. Where rival armies who fought them relied on stubborn resistance, the Welsh relied on constant movement.

In broad terms, the organisation of Welsh troops was arranged between those in the essential household force known as the ‘teulu’, and the individuals of the expanded common army, the ‘llu’. Many of them strove to master the broadsword, given its unique ability to maim and kill in the right hands. Sword fighting was generally practised by men of status who could afford the costly weapon, with blades commonly passed between generations as symbols of family honour. The dominant types of swords in north-western Europe were the broad-bladed two-edged forms that were up to 90 centimetres long. Most included a pommel on the hilt to keep the sword from slipping out of the hand when used from horseback, and also handy to dish out blunt-force trauma when the situation required it.

Unit Name Welsh Swordsmen

Main Unit Key wel_swordsmen

Land Unit Key wel_swordsmen

Naval Unit Key vik_ddraig

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Melee Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 600

Recruitment Cost 600

Upkeep Cost 175

Melee Skill 34

Melee Damage 38

├ Melee Weapon vik_sword

├ Melee Base Damage 32

├ Armour-piercing Damage 6

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 0

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 23

Melee Defence 64

├ Base Defence 34

├ Shield vik_medium

└ Shield 30

Armour 12

├ Armour vik_leather

├ Armour Defence 12

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 100

├ Man Entity vik_inf_heavy

├ Man Health 100

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Morale 45

Abilities

• Shield Castle
  "Heads down, lads, things are about to get a little hairy around here!"
  Units cannot move in this formation.

Attributes

• [[col:yellow]]Expert Charge Defence[[/col]]
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• [[col:yellow]]Disciplined[[/col]]
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• [[col:yellow]]Hide (forest)[[/col]]
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

Upgrade
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade To
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade To

Faction Availability
Thrones of Britannia	Brechinauc Cerneu Cumbra Dewet Gliwissig Gwent Gwined Powis Welsh Rebels Seisilwig Gwined Usurpers Strat Clut Usurpers Welsh Usurpers Strat Clut

Faction Pool

Pool
No.	Pool	Faction	Initial Unit Count	Chance To Replenish	Max Replenish Per Turn	Max Count
1	welsh	Brechinauc Cerneu Cumbra Dewet Gliwissig Gwent Powis Welsh Rebels Seisilwig Welsh Usurpers	1	0.1	1	1
2	gwynedd	Gwined Gwined Usurpers	1	0.1	1	1
3	strathclyde	Strat Clut Usurpers Strat Clut	1	0.1	1	1