The native Spaniard is a pious follower of the cult of cold steel, favoring a valiant, recklessly brave charge with the bayonet over cowardly and pointless engagements of volley-fire. Such courage is something of a obsidian-edged blade, allowing the Spanish Infantrymen to cut hard and fast but without a willingness to suffer in a prolonged or dynamic engagement risk shattering upon the strike. Foreign contingents, from locally-recruited Wallonians and Italians to the expatriate Irish and mercenary Swiss provide a diversification from the Spanish emphasis on the bayonet. The indigenous dexterity of infamous Jinetes and nimble Celt-Iberian has diminished in the esprit de corps of España, with the success of the stoic, legionary-esque Tercio resulting in Spain placing its greatest reliance in infantry of the line.
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Spain
Spain's strength lies in its brave soldiers, both on foot and horse. Artillery relies on power rather than mobility.
This is not to say that adept, individualistic light infantry do not exist, but the infamous Spanish guerrillas of the Napoleonic Era do not present themselves in the 18th century. The bulk of her light troops are limited to Iberia proper, with volunteers of Catalonia, Aragon and mounted volunteers of España dominating the light troop corps until a late emergence of Tiradores and Cazadores.
In cavalry, Spain lies behind most of Continental Europe but ahead of her fellow Southern Europeans. Like the fellow (or soon to be fellow) Bourbon French sturdy cavalry of the line are preferred over light hussars or irregular cavalry, though in the Maghreb and Gibraltar the Spanish may access a limited number of skilled Ceuta Lancers and limitless Moorish mercenaries.
El espíritu de las cruzadas
The spirit of the crusades has never truly left the Spanish people. Spain may have declined in importance and power in the 18th century, the mantle of Habsburg prestige being passed to Austria, but she remains a force to be contended with and played a part in every major engagement of 18th century Europe.
The gameplay of Spain and their military can be summarized into a couple of key gameplay elements:
- Melee dominance - Spain is with Sweden the best melee-capable troops of Europe. Few will be able to match them in a close combat engagement.
- Reckless bravery - Native Spaniards save for the Spanish Guard lack moral shock resistance but amongst the infantry of the line compensate for it with superior moral. As a result in a direct engagement Spaniards will fight longer and harder than their European peers, yet the dynamics of a flank attack or artillery strike risks shattering their composure.
- Restricted AOR - many of Spain's units are more restricted in their recruitment. The Royal Militia (levy line) are limited to Iberia, with Walloonian and Italian Line regiments replacing them in quality and are restricted to Flanders and Italy respectively.