[Preview] new Seleucid!

**AqD** · June 22, 2009, 03:35 PM

New Seleucid Empire

Macedonians

Hetairoi

The famous Companion cavalry; Like other elite cavalry the unit can only be led by generals (non-recruitable).

Most heavy cavalry in Seleucid empire have been re-armed to be even heavier, and the Companions are no exception: they're depicted with barded horses, metal breastplates or scale cuirass, and persian arm-guards. They should also carry shields, as indicated by several Hellenistic coins, however the size is reduced due to game limitation.

Note their primiary weapon xyston is now wielded in over-handed style. The xyston includes a larger counterweight and was supposed to be held in the middle by one hand only, despite of the extraordinary length.

Hippeis Xystophoroi

The Xystophoroi (Lance-bearer) is not the name of some historical Seleucid cavalry unit, but refers to the heavy cavalry class as a whole; Cavalry in Successor kingdoms are divided into two classes: the first is "Xystophoroi", armed with xyston for charge and melee combat, and the second, "Akrobolistai", carrying javelins and supporting the heavy cavalry.

The Xystophoroi are just like the Hetairoi, but with lighter equipments. In this mod you should find them very useful to make up the number of lancers, because the Seleucid empire is too large and you would never have enough generals to spam in battles...

Hippeis Elaphroi

Hippeis Elaphroi (Light Cavalry) are part of "Akrobolistai" class (skirmishers) in Seleucid cavalry force. The "Akrobolistai" are further divided into 2 subclasses: the first being the well-known Hippeis Tarantinoi, who are pure skirmishers - they would hurl javelins and then retreat or running in circles to keep safe distance, while the Hippeis Elaphroi would then close in for melee combat.

PS: Hippeis Tarantinoi is not directly included because you can easily recruit similar cavalry from locals for the role.

Hypaspistai

The Hypaspistai is not the same unit as the Hypaspistai under Alexander or Philip of Macedon, but more similar to the Agema Hypaspistai, who act as the King's personal guards and lead the assault force in siege battles or any situations in which bloody hand-to-hand combat is required.

There were perhaps only 1,000 or 2,000 of these men. Like the original Macedonian Hypaspistai, they're trained for all kinds of roles and weapons. It's unknown what exact equipments they had, but judging from the development of Thorakitai (or Imitation Legionaries), they probably wore galatian mail with scale reinforcements, and carried spears or javelins, and the kopis sword.

PS: The unit is only available in a few "Capital" cities, ex: Seleucia, Antioch, Alexandria, ..

Argyraspidai

The Argyraspidai (Silver-Shields) are the sons of veterans settled by Alexander in the east. They are the royal guards in Seleucid empire and kept roughtly at the strength of 10,000 men.

Like other Phalangites, their job is simply to march with sarissa and hold the line. The only difference between elite and ordinary phalangites is that how they would face a hopeless situation - the Argyraspidai are those who would fight to death rather than to turn and run.

They're also bette trained in melee combat and would have no problem to fight like the usual heavy infantry. But even so you should not never deploy them in phalanx without other infantry or cavalry to cover the flanks, because their superior melee skill is useless when they're holding the pikes and unable to defend themselves!

Argyraspidai Peltastai

The Argyraspidai Peltastai is the peltast version of Silver Shield Pikemen. Unlike the common phalangite soldiers in Successor kingdoms, the Argyraspidai retained the tradition of being trained for dual-roles - they can fight either as phalangites or as peltasts, similar to the original Pezhetairoi created by Philip.

The peltasts, alongwith other light infantry recruited from local tribes and mercenaries, should be used to watch the flanks and rear of the phalanx line and close any gaps to protect the phalangites from getting slaughtered in melee, just as they were used historically. They could also be very helpful during siege assaults, as long as there is no risk of enemy missles piercing their small shields and light armours...

Chalkaspidai

The Chalkaspidai (Bronze-Shields) are the common Macedonian phalangites in Seleucid empire. They're reskinned to have more a more exotic look!

The role of phalanx units in this mod has been changed from defensive to offensive: the wall of their pikes is not really a defensive one like the wall of hoplite apis or scutums. It's terrifying and lethal, but it's not without gaps for enemies to get into the phalangite soldiers and stab them to death, if they're not routed first; But it doesn't mean the phalanx can be used as the "arm"; rather, they are to be used to attract enemy's attention and force them to engage, and let the cavalry or other types of heavy infantry to do the work.

A typical, large-scale deployment would be one line of phalangites, with the most experienced units being stationed in the rightmost and leftmost positions, and should march fast to face the enemies before they can arrange the proper formations to avoid the pressure of the wall. Behind them are the Galatians, Thracians or whatever light/medium infantry you may find - those are to close the gaps between each of phalanx unit during march, and to support them in melee once enemies manage to get to the phalangite solders (they always do, and now it does hurt!). While the cavalry wing, the general's Hetairoi and Xystophoroi, followed by a number of medium and light cavalry, wrap up the enemies.

Sounds easy? only if you can afford those very expensive Macedonians ...

Persians and others

Agema Kataphraktoi

The Agema are pre-cataphracts recruited from Median and Persian nobles, riding the best Nisean breed and wear the thickest armours on earth. They're the elite of the elites - there was only one such unit in the entire kingdom, and it always accompanied the King himself to battle, leading the cavalry wing together with the Hetairoi.

Note that they didn't employ two-handed kontos or carry bows as secondary weapon (though the Median nobles were also skilled in archery), instead they simple charge with xyston and use kopis for close-combat - they're not really dissimilar to other Hellenistic heavy cavalry in terms of weaponery and tactics.

Misthophoroi Galatikoi

The everyone-loves Mercenary Galatians in Seleucid army (not as same as the AOR one). It's a mix of typical celtic warrior and a galatian soldier depicted somewhere: They wield the typical spears and celtic longswords, but wear hellenistic-style breastplates and pteruges in place of the mail shirt. Those galatians also seem to be more disciplined and less hot-headed, and wouldn't charge cluelessly like their gallic brothers. However, even though the galatian valour and swordsmanship put them on the level equal to most of elite soldiers in other factions, their loyality to the Seleucid King is never as high as that of Macedonians, and it's not uncommon to see them runnig away when things went badly - as they're highly-sought too by your enemies and would never run out of employers!

Persikoi Pantodapoi Phalangitai

Persians trained to fight as phalangites; The Seleucid rulers always feared the locals for rebellion and rather unwilling to train these men to fight, therefore the persians formed only a small part in Seleucid army despite of their great population and well-known valour and fierceness, if not superior to that of Macedonians.

In RTW, however, the solders cannot rebel anyway

These persians are very cost-effective, and can be easily raised in huge numbers. Their only disadvantage is the lack of experience and may be routed under difficult situations, but this should never be a problem to a good commander!

Syriakoi Pantodapoi Phalangitai

Syrains Native Phalangites; They're similar to Persikoi Pantodapoi Phalangitai, with better equipments but weaker melee skill and lower morale.

Toxotai Syriakoi (Syrian Archers)

Replace the original [AOR] Syrian Archers in RTR. They had been famous mercenary archers since the days of Assyrians, employeed in every major battles in Near East. The Syrians not only outshoot most of levy archers in Asia, but also have better protection - cuirasses of scales or lamellars - against enemy arrows during missile exchange.

Medoi Doryphoroi

Median Spearmen; The medes are specially mentioned in Antony's parthian campaign as being able to hold against his legionaries!

Medoi Lonchophoroi

Median heavy cavalry re-armed in the Macedonian style. The practice began with Royal "Huvava" (Kinsmen) by Darius after the battle of Issos, and continued after the end of Achaemenid empire. Most of persian/median heavy cavalry in 280BC were probably armed that way and their function in Seleucid army is no different than that of Seleucid Xystophoroi, though without shields (or perhaps they're simply a part of it

).

Here is an overview of all new units (highlightened ones), and new AOR/mercenaries added in previous version:

(Elephants, scythed chariots, and original AOR units in RTR remain there, so you'll actually have much more!)

Credits: thanks to KLA, Lithuania mod, Hannibal Smith, RTR VII team and many many people. For details for see the credits thread (if you want to borrow my units....