Parthian Secessionists (Imperator Augustus) Missile Ship

Missile Trieres - Parthian Foot Archers

A large contingent of archers can make short work of enemy crews.

If a Parthian can see it, he can shoot at it.

Of all the warships found in the ancient world, it is the trireme, or trieres, that remains the most famous and recognisable. Nearly all Hollywood 'sword and sandal' movies will include a trireme somewhere. The vessel was entirely designed for war. Its name came from the three rows of oars carried on each side, stacked above each other in staggered columns to give the rowers some room to work. The top row of oars pivoted on a rowlock, or oarlock, mounted on an outrigger projecting from the hull. This allowed the top oars to pitch down at a sharper angle to reach the sea without getting tangled in the lower ones. The trireme was a greyhound of a ship, capable of high-speed dashes with a well-trained crew and, contrary to popular belief, not all rowers were slaves. Aboard Greek vessels they were citizens, and were given respect, not the lash. They were also largely fair-weather ships, and unsuited to rough seas such as the Atlantic; the lowest level of oars were, at most, less than half a metre above the waterline. That, however, did not stop the trireme being a superb weapon against other ships: a high-speed ramming attack could rip a hole in the side of almost any target. The type was also large enough to be used in other ways, which lead to it carrying archers and assorted light artillery pieces.

(Parthian Foot Archers)
Eastern archers could inflict heavy casualties when used in large numbers, and their composite bows gave them a good range, accuracy and penetrating power. The composite bow was, as its name suggests, made from many materials, and its layers of wood, sinew and animal horn made it a very effective energy-storing spring. In the hands of a reasonable bowman, an arrow from a composite bow would go through chainmail at respectable ranges. It did not, however, take kindly to getting wet. The glues used in its construction soon broke down in damp conditions. In the deserts of the east this was hardly a problem, but it does explain why the composite bow was never adopted in Europe.

Abilities

Missile Trieres

• Row Hard 10
  Increases speed for 10 strokes.
  Ship speed

Parthian Foot Archers

• Precision Shot
  Improved missile weapon damage for an extended period.
  Missile damage
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Resistant to Fatigue
  Fatigue has less of an effect on this unit.
• Hide (scrub & forest)
  This unit can hide in scrub and forest until enemy units get too close.
• Resistant to Heat
  This unit tires less quickly in the desert.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Missile Trieres

• Poor hull strength
• Light crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Poor boarding
• Average missile combat

Parthian Foot Archers

• Long range
• Average rate of fire
• Good damage but low armour penetration
• Very weak in melee
• Very poor morale

Parthian Secessionists (Imperator Augustus) Units
General (2)
1.Noble Horse Archers
2.Royal Cataphracts
Melee Infantry (3)
3.Hillmen
4.Mob
5.Parthian Swordsmen
Missile Infantry (5)
6.Elite Persian Archers
7.Eastern Javelinmen
8.Parthian Foot Archers
9.Persian Light Archers
10.Eastern Slingers
Spear Infantry (2)
11.Persian Hoplites
12.Eastern Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (3)
13.Camel Spearmen
14.Median Cavalry
15.Noble Blood Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (5)
16.Camel Archers
17.Armoured Horse Archers
18.Horse Skirmishers
19.Noble Horse Archers
20.Parthian Horse Archers
Shock Cavalry (3)
21.Camel Cataphracts
22.Eastern Cataphracts
23.Royal Cataphracts
Elephant (1)
24.Indian War Elephants
Fixed Artillery (3)
25.Eastern Giant Ballista
26.Eastern Bastion Scorpion
27.Eastern Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (7)
28.Eastern Bastion Ballista
29.Eastern Ballista
30.Eastern Scorpion
31.Eastern Large Onager
32.Eastern Bastion Onager
33.Eastern Onager
34.Scorpion Pot Ballista
Admiral (2)
35.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)
36.Tower Hexeres - Hillmen
Melee Ship (5)
37.Tower Hexeres - Hillmen
38.Assault Hexeres - Hillmen
39.Assault Tetreres - Hillmen
40.Fire Pot Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
41.Assault Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
Missile Ship (7)
42.Raiding Hemiolia - Eastern Javelinmen
43.Scorpion Trieres - Parthian Foot Archers
44.Missile Trieres - Parthian Foot Archers
45.Scorpion Penteres - Persian Light Archers
46.Tower Penteres - Persian Light Archers
47.Missile Penteres - Persian Light Archers
48.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Eastern Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
49.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)
50.Artillery Penteres - Eastern Onager (Ship)