Bellovaci (Caesar in Gaul) Melee Ship

Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Warriors

Able to withstand rough seas, these ships' crews can capture enemy vessels in any weather.

There is a deep savagery in these warrior's hearts; a delight in battle for its own sake.

Most of the northern European tribes were not naval powers, but there were still able seafarers to be found amongst them. Shipbuilding techniques were well understood, so while many vessels were small leather-skinned boats for inland and inshore use, bigger sea-going vessels were also made. Shipwrights used heavy planking for hulls, stitched together and then fastened to a wooden skeleton to create sturdy craft able to cope with Atlantic conditions. Julius Caesar was surprised at the quality of the enemy ships when his fleet clashed with the Veneti from modern-day Brittany. The Veneti vessels had flat bottoms to cope with shallows, but were also of heavy oak construction to cope with rough seas. This made them tough opposition for Roman galleys, and capable of shrugging off a ramming attack. Caesar said that the enemy ships "...were constructed of planks a foot in breadth, fastened by iron spikes the thickness of a man's thumb; the anchors were secured fast by iron chains instead of cables”. When the Romans were forced to board, they faced fearsome warriors used to close-quarters fighting at sea.

(Celtic Warriors)
While Celts often lacked the formal organisations and tactics of their more 'civilised' opponents, they did have extremely able metalworkers, and long experience as mercenaries. In battle, they were not outmatched on an individual level by Romans or Greeks. Celts often favoured the spear in battle. It is a simple weapon, and a typical Celtic warrior might carry several into a fight: lighter javelins to hurl at the enemy on the approach or charge, and sometimes an iron-tipped spear for close combat. Some spears were crafted with barbed tips to cause further damage as they were pulled from wounds. Spears were also convenient for displaying trophies, in the shape of rotting enemy heads. This bloody appearance by the Celts, and a ferocious appetite for battle, was often enough to un-man opponents. Celtic warriors would send a chorus of chants, taunts and insults aimed towards foes, and blow their unearthly-sounding 'carnyx' battle horns. The whole display was intended to frighten foes, and put the warriors into the right frame of mind for battle.

Abilities

Medium Assault Raider

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

Attributes

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

Strengths & Weaknesses

Medium Assault Raider

• Good hull strength
• Medium crew
• Fast speed
• Weak ramming
• Good boarding

Celtic Warriors

• Average attack
• Weak defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Poor morale

Bellovaci (Caesar in Gaul) Units
General (2)
1.Noble Horse
2.Oathsworn
Melee Infantry (5)
3.Fierce Swords
4.Guerrilla Swordsmen
5.Naked Warriors
6.Oathsworn
7.Celtic Warriors
Missile Infantry (4)
8.Gallic Hunters
9.Celtic Skirmishers
10.Celtic Slingers
11.Celtic Youths
Spear Infantry (4)
12.Levy Freemen
13.Naked Spears
14.Celtic Tribesmen
15.Spear Brothers
Melee Cavalry (3)
16.Light Horse
17.Mighty Horse
18.Noble Horse
Fixed Artillery (3)
19.Celtic Giant Ballista
20.Celtic Bastion Scorpion
21.Celtic Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (6)
22.Celtic Bastion Ballista
23.Celtic Ballista
24.Celtic Scorpion
25.Celtic Heavy Onager
26.Celtic Bastion Onager
27.Celtic Onager
Admiral (2)
28.Heavy Raider - Oathsworn
29.Medium Missile Raider - Celtic Slingers
Melee Ship (4)
30.Persian Assault Teteres - Levy Freemen
31.Assault Raider - Levy Freemen
32.Heavy Raider - Oathsworn
33.Medium Assault Raider - Celtic Warriors
Missile Ship (3)
34.Greek Missile Penteres - Celtic Slingers
35.Medium Missile Raider - Celtic Slingers
36.Missile Raider - Celtic Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
37.Roman Light Artillery Quinquereme - Celtic Ballista (Ship)
38.Roman Artillery Quinquereme - Celtic Onager (Ship)