Mercenary Rodian Slingers

Recruitment Cost 410
Upkeep Cost 300
Missile Damage 29
Range 150
Shots Per Minute 8
Ammunition 25
Melee Attack 12
Weapon Damage 24
Charge Bonus 6
Melee Defence 24
Armour 25
Health 55
Base Morale 55
Strengths & Weaknesses
  • Very long range
  • Average rate of fire
  • Low damage but average armour penetration
  • Very weak in melee
  • Very poor morale
Description

Perhaps not as famous as their counterparts from the Balearics, Rhodian slingers were nevertheless famed for their skill. As Rhodes was protected by the sea, slingers could hire themselves out as mercenaries across the Mediterranean. They were deadly at 100 metres and could hit targets at 400 metres. Unencumbered by armour, they were highly mobile and could outpace or at least match the pace of most other infantry. Rhodian slingers sometimes made use of small shields with a single handgrip to protect them from any return fire. During the Greco-Persian Wars shaped shot gave the Greeks, including the Rhodians, an advantage over the Persians. This proved essential in covering the retreat of the Ten Thousand, after Cyrus the Younger’s death at the Battle of Cunaxa in 401BC. The Rhodian slingers were the only missile troops able to engage the enemy with some safety, as Cretan archers and Greek javelinmen had the same range as enemy missile troops.

Requires
Regions
Mytilene Ambrakia Messenia Aigai Kolossai Xanthos Lindos Sestos Kos Ephesos Delphi Phaselis Lamia Karpathos Zakynthos Mantinea Kypsela Pergamon Argos Orestiko Torone Arnisa Korinthos Thasos Oreos Korkyra Mende Rodos Laurion Naupaktos Antigonia Ainos Opos Kythera Ilion Larisa Pherae Kydonia Dodona Abdera Smyrna Khios Anaktorio Myrina Miletos Knidos Athenai Pharsalos Kyzikos Paros Oinoi Knossos Olinthos Krinides Kibyra Kalkis Amphipolis Argos Patrai Perinthos Dion Sardeis Andros Sparta Karystos Elis Melos Gortyna Halikarnassos Naxos Maroneia Olympia Byzantion Pylos Samos Pronnoi Thermon Thebai Elaea