Royal Scythia Missile Ship

Greek Missile Penteres - Steppe Archers

Archers can shoot down upon many enemies from the deck, doing terrible work in the process.

Men who cannot shoot go hungry on the steppes.

The 'five', called a quinquereme in Latin and a penteres in Greek, was a ship first used by the Syracusans against the Carthaginians sometime around 398BC. Like other polyremes, a term meaning many-oared, the chances were that it did not have five banks of oars but that the word 'oar' was used to mean 'rower'. In such a case, the arrangement of rowers would be two-two-one going up from the waterline. It makes sense to keep as much weight as possible low in the vessel to help its stability; a high centre of gravity makes any ship liable to capsize if struck from the side. The quinquereme, then, would be a formidable vessel both in terms of appearance and combat value. With a large fighting contingent aboard and plenty of deck space, this heavy vessel could cope with most enemies and threats.

(Steppe Archers)
Far from being simple, ignorant barbarians, the various steppe tribes had a great cultural wealth. Living in an area stretching from the Caspian Sea to the northern shores of the Black Sea; the Greeks called them 'Scythians' and the Persians 'Saka', while a western group became known as the Sarmatians. Wearing trousers marked them as barbarians as far as the Greeks were concerned, before their tall, pointed caps and swarthy appearances were even considered. Looks apart, they were, however, exceptional horsemen, highly-skilled with composite-recurve bows and deadly hand-to-hand fighters. Grave goods suggest that Scythian women were as warlike as their men, and probably fought alongside them in battle. This may well be the origin of the Greek myths of Amazon warrior women.

Abilities

Greek Missile Penteres

• Row Hard 20
  Increases speed for 20 strokes.
  Ship speed

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 Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Greek Missile Penteres

• Average hull strength
• Medium crew
• Average speed
• Average ramming
• Poor boarding
• Good missile combat

Steppe Archers

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

Royal Scythia Units
General (3)
1.Noble Horse Archers
2.Royal Horse Archers
3.Scythian Royal Horse
Melee Infantry (1)
4.Young Axes
Missile Infantry (1)
5.Steppe Archers
Spear Infantry (2)
6.Steppe Spearmen
7.Tribesmen
Melee Cavalry (1)
8.Scythian Royal Horse
Missile Cavalry (8)
9.Scythian 'Amazonian' Riders
10.Armoured Horse Archers
11.Steppe Horse Archers
12.Steppe Horse Skirmishers
13.Noble Horse Archers
14.Scythian Noblewomen
15.Royal Horse Archers
16.Scythian Royal Skirmishers
Shock Cavalry (2)
17.Steppe Armoured Lancers
18.Steppe Noble Lancers
Field Artillery (2)
19.Steppe Bastion Ballista
20.Steppe Ballista
Admiral (2)
21.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Archers
22.Heavy Raider - Steppe Spearmen
Melee Ship (4)
23.Medium Assault Raider - Young Axes
24.Persian Assault Teteres - Steppe Spearmen
25.Heavy Raider - Steppe Spearmen
26.Assault Raider - Tribesmen
Missile Ship (3)
27.Greek Missile Penteres - Steppe Archers
28.Medium Missile Raider - Steppe Archers
29.Missile Raider - Steppe Archers
Artillery Ship (1)
30.Roman Light Artillery Quinquereme - Eastern Ballista (Ship)