Iceni Melee Ship

Medium Assault Raider - Sword Band

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

To carry a sword is to be brave amongst the brave.

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.

(Sword Band)
The longsword was a weapon of high worth and status within the Celtic community. A warrior had to prove himself in battle many times before he was permitted to wield one. The two-handed longsword was first developed during the 8th century BC, but fell from favour before re-emerging around 450BC. It is possible that Celtic ironwork was significantly behind that of the Romans, as apparently their longswords bent very easily and had to be straightened against the ground. On the other hand, since Celtic ironworking was several centuries old, some believe that Roman accounts of this practice mistook this practise, and it was actually a ritual to 'decommission' defeated, dishonoured or damaged weapons.

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.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Medium Assault Raider

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

Sword Band

• Good attack
• Average defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Normal morale

Iceni Units
General (3)
1.Chariots
2.Heroic Nobles
3.Heroic Riders
Melee Infantry (6)
4.Ambushers
5.Chosen Sword Band
6.Druidic Nobles
7.Heroic Nobles
8.Painted Ones
9.Sword Band
Missile Infantry (2)
10.Briton Skirmishers
11.Briton Slingers
Spear Infantry (4)
12.Chosen Spear Band
13.Farmers
14.Spear Band
15.Levy Freemen
Melee Cavalry (3)
16.Heroic Riders
17.Briton Scout Riders
18.Veteran Riders
Chariot (1)
19.Chariots
Fixed Artillery (3)
20.Briton Giant Ballista
21.Briton Bastion Scorpion
22.Briton Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (6)
23.Briton Bastion Ballista
24.Briton Ballista
25.Briton Scorpion
26.Briton Heavy Onager
27.Briton Bastion Onager
28.Briton Onager
Special (1)
29.Celtic Warhounds
Admiral (2)
30.Heavy Raider - Painted Ones
31.Medium Missile Raider - Briton Slingers
Melee Ship (4)
32.Heavy Raider - Painted Ones
33.Persian Assault Teteres - Spear Band
34.Medium Assault Raider - Sword Band
35.Assault Raider - Levy Freemen
Missile Ship (3)
36.Greek Missile Penteres - Briton Slingers
37.Medium Missile Raider - Briton Slingers
38.Missile Raider - Briton Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
39.Roman Light Artillery Quinquereme - Briton Ballista (Ship)
40.Roman Artillery Quinquereme - Briton Onager (Ship)