Silver Shields - how strong will be they?

[Antiochus]

How strong will be Silver Shield phalangites? They were the strongest and most elite of Hellenistic phalangites.
Will be they the best phalanx unit?
Second question, will have they other looking than other phalangites?

[osros]

If they in the game, I would expect they have good stats but don't expect any one unit type to be overpowered there will be a balance.

[Smiling Hetairoi]

I bet they'll be good.

[ariyan]

yea they should be the best phalanx.

[Rhomphaiaphoros]

I think they should be the best phalanx unit in the game; not by a large margin, but somewhat better than any other phalangites nonetheless. And I also think that they should have unique looks - not only the shields, I think that giving them slightly unique gear, like differently coloured helmets with different kinds of plumes/crests, would be a nice touch for the overall look of the unit. You know, to differentiate them on the field better.

Sadly, I fear that the whole Silver Shield unit is not even represented in the core game at all, and will be added only when they release that Seleucid DLC .

[Rittsy]

Sadly, I fear that the whole Silver Shield unit is not even represented in the core game at all, and will be added only when they release that Seleucid DLC .

They'll probably be in the core game, you just wont be able to play as them...just get beaten by them.

[Smiling Hetairoi]

Let's hope their shields and armor is well polished. I want them to SHINE!

[blackheartz]

I want them to be an elite and visually unique unit. Also few in number and of one kind [Phalangites]. Not the madness of silvershield phalangites, silvershield hoplites, silvershield cataphracts, silvershield axemen, silvershield archers, silvershield triremes, silvershield catapults, silvershield silvershields etc.

[Ahmad al-Fareed]

I want them to be an elite and visually unique unit. Also few in number and of one kind [Phalangites]. Not the madness of silvershield phalangites, silvershield hoplites, silvershield cataphracts, silvershield axemen, silvershield archers, silvershield triremes, silvershield catapults, silvershield silvershields etc.

you forgot silvershield legionaries!

[|Sith|Galvanized Iron]

you forgot silvershield legionaries!

And Silver Shield Berserkers and Silver Shield Elephants and Silver Shield Silver Shields and...

[Antiochus]

ROME 1 TOTAL WAR, Seleucid phalanx:

Levy Pikemen

As the name suggests, these pikemen are civilians, conscripted during times of war. They are trained to fight as a phalanx - another reminder of the Seleucids' Macedonian heritage - but are not as highly trained as Greek professional soldiers, obviously. These men cannot hold their own for long in a fight.






Phalanx Pikemen

More professional and with far more experience than their levied comrades, Phalanx Pikemen are accordingly more effective as a unit, and make up the bulk of many Seleucid armies. They carry swords for close combat, although their primary function is to create a wall of pike-points and "fix" the enemy in place while other Seleucid units go on the offensive.





Silver Shield Pikemen

The elite of the Seleuicid phalanxes, Silver Shield Pikemen are drawn from the higher levels of society and therefore have better morale and discipline. They are capable of taking on most other infantry types, although they suffer from the same problems as do all other units who fight in a phalanx. Silver shield pikemen, in combination with more mobile units like cavalry, will be a difficult force for any enemy to combat.

[torongill]

Silver is naturally softer than bronze or iron, so I would assume that silver shields will be less stronger than normal shields. They will also be much more expensive, while at the same time attracting undue attention towards their bearers from greedy cut-throats who want to get rich fast.

[Scythion]

Silver is naturally softer than bronze or iron, so I would assume that silver shields will be less stronger than normal shields. They will also be much more expensive, while at the same time attracting undue attention towards their bearers from greedy cut-throats who want to get rich fast.

They covered the shield with silver, that would be a big waste if you make weapons and armor from gold and silver. Silver and gold were only decorations on weapons and armor like dyes.

[Manuel I Komnenos]

I never understood the difference between levy and phalanx pikemen. There's only one thing: the phalanx, in which the Macedonians/Greeks serve.

In the silvershields serve the sons of the military settlers. The unit is essential for the Seleucid Kingdom: the sons of the military settlers gather in Antioch from every distant part of the Empire, to serve as the King's Guard and develop ties with him which ensures their loyalty. After their service, they return to take the fields of their retired fathers and serve as garrisons throughout the empire. The silvershields should be the most powerful and loyal unit in the king's army. Also, they should be capable of fighting either as phalanx or with sword and shield.

[Rhomphaiaphoros]

I never understood the difference between levy and phalanx pikemen. There's only one thing: the phalanx, in which the Macedonians/Greeks serve.

You're right, but I believe that not every man within the phalanx's ranks was of the same fighting ability, or could afford the same kind of gear. I mean, of course he had his sarissa, his shield, his helmet, and a secondary weapon for close combat, but there could be differences in body armour and greaves, or even a lack of both of those for some men. I'm not an expert on the subject, but I recall having read that some of Alexander's original phalangites had no body armour at all. So, perhaps the developers just wanted to show these differences by creating both a weaker, unarmoured pike unit and a stronger, armoured pike unit, considering that the engine of RTW could not have differently equipped men in the same unit. Just my speculation, though.

[Manuel I Komnenos]

You're right, but I believe that not every man within the phalanx's ranks was of the same fighting ability, or could afford the same kind of gear. I mean, of course he had his sarissa, his shield, his helmet, and a secondary weapon for close combat, but there could be differences in body armour and greaves, or even a lack of both of those for some men. I'm not an expert on the subject, but I recall having read that some of Alexander's original phalangites had no body armour at all. So, perhaps the developers just wanted to show these differences by creating both a weaker, unarmoured pike unit and a stronger, armoured pike unit, considering that the engine of RTW could not have differently equipped men in the same unit. Just my speculation, though.

As odd as it may seem, there's not a single source attributing breastplates to phalangites (except from the Achaean phalanx of Philopoemen). Griffith has argued that Phillip's and Alexander's troops did not wear any sort of armor and applies this to the other Hellenistic armies as well. But according to Bar-Kochva, the increasing use of Cretan archers and other ranged troops might have prompted the Seleucid phalanx to increase the protection of the first ranks at least. In any case, the phalanx was divided in just two units, the 'Macedonian phalanx' and the silvershields. Personally I believe that the silvershields, due to the nature of their service (professional troops stationed in the capital) might have been provided with breastplates by the royal armory at Apamea. The existence of 5,000 troops armed in the Roman fashion serving under Antiochus Epiphanes (all with chain-mail) points to the fact that these men were provided equipment by the state.

[geala]

Firstly, there were no Silver Shield pikemen in the armies of Ptolemean Egypt or Antigonid Macedon. We hear of a unit with silver(ed) shields armed in the Macedonian manner (i.e. with sarisai) in the Seleucid army in battles of Raphia and Magnesia, standing near the king, so maybe of an elite status. Both battles were lost, at Raphia after all Ptolemean cavalry was pushed from the battlefield, so there was only the Ptolemean phalanx left. The true Argyraspides were the former Alexandrian hypaspists and extremely experienced fighters who managed to deal with all other pikemen. The Seleucid Silver Shields seemingly not so. At the starting date of the game all true Argyraspides members were dead because of age. The Macedons had Bronze Shields and White Shields as pikemen units by the way, however the army elite were the Peltasts, of which the Agema was a part of. So just because someone is in a named unit did not make him an elite soldier.

[|Sith|Galvanized Iron]

I never understood the difference between levy and phalanx pikemen. There's only one thing: the phalanx, in which the Macedonians/Greeks serve.

In the silvershields serve the sons of the military settlers. The unit is essential for the Seleucid Kingdom: the sons of the military settlers gather in Antioch from every distant part of the Empire, to serve as the King's Guard and develop ties with him which ensures their loyalty. After their service, they return to take the fields of their retired fathers and serve as garrisons throughout the empire. The silvershields should be the most powerful and loyal unit in the king's army. Also, they should be capable of fighting either as phalanx or with sword and shield.

Agreed, Levies are just the kind of unit they throw in to artificially create more types of unit, but it's existance feels a bit bland since a Phalanx should always be a main combat force in a Hellenistic army.

[|Sith|Galvanized Iron]

Weren't the Gold Shields the most veteran among the Seleucids actually? And aren't you forgetting the Agema?

[tomux7]

I bet CA will make Spartans strongest hoplite/ phalanx unit in the game.