Thracian Skirmishers

Recruitment Cost 330
Upkeep Cost 80
Missile Damage 41
Range 80
Shots Per Minute 7
Ammunition 7
Melee Attack 12
Weapon Damage 24
Charge Bonus 3
Melee Defence 37
Armour 15
Health 45
Base Morale 25
Strengths & Weaknesses
  • Short range
  • Fast rate of fire
  • Very good damage and armour penetration
  • Very weak in melee
  • Very poor morale
Description

The javelin is among the oldest weapons in human hands. Equipped with javelins and little else, skirmishers harried their opposite numbers and peppered hoplite phalanxes before quickly retreating. This was the typical tactic of all unarmoured, javelin-armed troops: to engage at range and then fall back behind more heavily-armoured infantry, or continue attacks while trying to stay just out of reach of the enemy. Such harassment could be highly effective, in 391BC at the Battle of Lechaeum a force of Spartans, lacking the support of skirmishers or cavalry, were severely punished by javelin-armed Athenians who refused to meet them at close quarters. Over time, shields became common, such as those used by Thracian and Greek peltasts, but in turn these were rendered obsolescent by the Hellenic thureophoroi. Nevertheless, javelinmen and other irregulars continued to play a part in many armies throughout antiquity.

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