Media Atropatene Missile Infantry

Elite Persian Archers

The bow and the spear make the man who can use them doubly dangerous.

Very few Persians were professional soldiers and, apart from the earlier elite Achaemenid Immortals and some mercenary hoplites, none were formally trained or drilled. Instead, troops were levied by rich land owners as an obligation during times of war. Levied infantry included slingers, archers and javelin throwers, all wearing little armour but some with shields for protection. As might be expected due to the local terrain, cavalry was an important component in an eastern army, and several types were raised. Lighter cavalry wore iron or bronze scale armour over a tunic; these mounted warriors carried javelins and a sword but had no shield. Horse archers were used to wear down infantry with fast, ruthless attacks. Heavy cavalry included a royal bodyguard. The Parthians, and later the Sassanid Persians, developed all-over horse armour to protect their valued steeds as well as the fearsome cataphract warriors. These were as armoured as any late medieval knight.

Abilities

Elite Persian 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

Transport

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

Elite Persian Archers

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

Media Atropatene Units
General (2)
1.Elite Persian Archers
2.Persian Cavalry
Melee Infantry (2)
3.Hillmen
4.Mob
Missile Infantry (5)
5.Eastern Archers
6.Elite Persian Archers
7.Eastern Javelinmen
8.Persian Light Archers
9.Eastern Slingers
Spear Infantry (2)
10.Persian Hoplites
11.Eastern Spearmen
Melee Cavalry (1)
12.Median Cavalry
Missile Cavalry (1)
13.Horse Skirmishers
Shock Cavalry (1)
14.Persian Cavalry
Fixed Artillery (3)
15.Eastern Giant Ballista
16.Eastern Bastion Scorpion
17.Eastern Scorpion (Fixed)
Field Artillery (6)
18.Eastern Bastion Ballista
19.Eastern Ballista
20.Eastern Scorpion
21.Eastern Large Onager
22.Eastern Bastion Onager
23.Eastern Onager
Admiral (2)
24.Scorpion Penteres - Eastern Archers
25.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)
Melee Ship (3)
26.Assault Tetreres - Hillmen
27.Fire Pot Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
28.Assault Dieres - Eastern Spearmen
Missile Ship (7)
29.Scorpion Penteres - Eastern Archers
30.Tower Penteres - Eastern Archers
31.Missile Penteres - Eastern Archers
32.Raiding Hemiolia - Eastern Javelinmen
33.Pursuit Trihemiolia - Eastern Javelinmen
34.Scorpion Trieres - Eastern Slingers
35.Missile Trieres - Eastern Slingers
Artillery Ship (2)
36.Light Artillery Penteres - Eastern Ballista (Ship)
37.Artillery Penteres - Eastern Onager (Ship)