Illyrian Archers
(bow + dagger)
Very Fast, light armor, fast reload, increased ammunition, reduced range, reduced damage, reduced armor penetration, poor accuracy
While the region is known for its light infantry, archery was never a point of pride for the tribes inhabiting the Adriatic coast. Despite the region's relative dearth of quality timber, Illyrians were adept in the use of the short bow, compensating for poor range and accuracy with increased ammunition for long raids.
Illyrian Spear Warband
(spear + javelin, Celtic shield)
Fast, inexpensive upkeep & recruit cost, unarmored, low morale
Still little more than an armed mob, hard lives spent fending off barbarian raids and coastal pirates have tempered the men in this unit into something approaching martial competence. However, the loyalty of these conscripts is suspect as they would likely turn to banditry without the promise of gold.
Corcyran 'Free-Company' Spearmen
(spear + javelin, Celtic Shield)
Fast, medium armor, effective vs cavalry, good morale
Scions of the wealthy castes of Corcyran society, these heavy spearmen were outfitted with quality weapons acquired from Greek merchants. More adventurous men would regularly form mercenary bands, or Free-Companies (in the Victorian parlance), and had little qualm accepting coin in exchange for temporary allegiance. These forces often fought on the side of whichever Adriatic chieftain or king was willing to pay for their services. Even Alexander the Great found himself employing the very same troops hed spent time, blood, and treasure pacifying, as the need for quality soldiers outweighed the lingering distrust of Macedons fractious neighbors to the West.
Illyrian Levy Footmen
(Axe + javelin, small Celtic shield)
Very Fast, light armor, poor morale
Conscript troops from the Adriatic coast. Some may have experience as coastal pirates and raiders, but the vast majority are peasant farmers coerced into service for their king. Offered only a shield, some javelins, and a week's rations, these men are often armed with implements taken from the fields. A decent harassing force, but their low morale and lack of armor make them unsuited for front-rank combat.
Illyrian Infantry
(Sword + Javelin, Celtic shield)
Fast, medium armor, high stamina, average morale
Warriors drawn from the landed class of the Adriatic coastal provinces. Those young men with families wealthy enough to provide full battle kit were compelled by local rulers to join loosely organized infantry companies during times of conquest and plunder, or when their lands were under threat of foreign invasion. While they lack the discipline of professional soldiers, their youth and hunger for glory make for energetic warriors.
Illyrian Veteran Company
(Sword + Javelin, Celtic + Thureos shield)
Medium armor, increased hitpoints, increased stamina, high morale, strong charge
Successful warriors were often resettled in the border regions of Pannonia where they could be recalled to service to stave off incursions from barbarian tribes to the north. These are men who can be relied to keep their heads when the fighting turns ugly.
Taulantian Noble Guard
(sword, Thureos shield)
Elite, heavy armor, high morale, strong charge, can inspire nearby units
Partially Hellenized barbarians with a long history of resistance against their northern neighbors, the Taulantii produced fine warriors who benefited from the Greco-Roman turmoil by hiring themselves out as elite mercenaries. Loyal only to their patron, these warriors were often the last fall in battle and rarely suffered desertion. As a result, they were highly prized as bodyguards by monarchs and military commanders. Outfitted with the finest Greek weapons and armor, these elite Gallo-Illyrian mercenaries are now employed by the King of Epirus as personal troop.
Illyro-Italian Infantry Cohort
(sword + javelin, Italian shield)
Fast, strong charge, heavy armor, can form testudo
The result of years of experienced on the battlefields of the Italian peninsula, principally composed of former Albani, Daorsi, and Parthini mercenaries. This unit is organized and outfitted in an approximation of the style of the Marian-period Roman manipular legionary, with an eye towards mobility and protection. While their weapons and armor are inferior to their Italian counterparts, these shock units are more than capable of breaking enemy lines.
Illyro-Italian Light Infantry
(bow + spear, Italian shield)
Fast, heavy armor, reduced ammo capacity, reduced range, increased fatigue, good charge
Comfortable in either a support or assault roles, these versatile troops shower the enemy with arrows from afar before advancing into the melee. Their heavier armament makes them quick to tire, but they are far less vulnerable to cavalry charges and opposing ranged units.
Illyrian Light Cavalry
(axe, javelin)
Very fast, can skirmish, low morale, poor charge, no armor
Drawn from the Adriatic coast, these light troops are effective scouts and provide a passable screening force for Epirote armies. Most of these men are herders and farmers and as such lack the training and horsemanship to perform complicated maneuvers. Between their poor training and light armament, they are best suited for breaking up missile troops and chasing down fleeing enemies rather than facing down opposing cavalry.
Dardanian Bondsman Cavalry
(Spear + javelin, Celtic shield)
Very fast, light armor, can form wedge
Medium cavalry raised from Thraco-Illyrian contact zone around Galabri. These men might accept Greek gold, but their true loyalty is to Dardania and its Illyrian Kings. Though their spears make them better suited for charging at the flanks of enemy formations than other skirmish cavalry, they lack heavy armor or proper melee weapons. A wise commander would do well to keep them out of the fray, peppering the enemy with javelins before committing to the charge.
Illyrian Coastal Raiders
(Axe, Javelin, Celtic Shield)
Very fast, low morale, rapid advance
Pirates drawn from the coastal communities of the Adriatic, in the lean times these men would form raiding bands and ravage the Italian coast, often extracting great wealth in plunder and tribute from vulnerable coastal communities Illyrian piracy reached its height around 230BC when Teuta, queen of the Ardiaei tribe, declared that, according to the law of the Illyrians, piracy was a lawful trade and that her government had no right to interfere with this as a private enterprise. She also implied that "it was never the custom of royalty to prevent the advantage of its subjects they could get from the sea". Though her tribe was eventually defeated by later Roman expeditions, Illyrian pirates continued to harass Roman holdings in Italy and stymie efforts of Roman conquerors to initiate sea-crossings into the region.
Encheleian Marines
(Sword, Greek hoplon)
Very fast, high morale, high stamina, rapid advance
Drawn from the ranks of skilled river raiders, these warriors were known as 'eel-men' by their contemporaries for their ability to appear suddenly in force, then melt back to their boats after inflicting maximum damage. Rumored to be the descendants of Cadmus and Harmonia, these men styled themselves inheritors of the Trojan naval tradition and were purported to be unbeatable when fighting near water. In truth, their humble backgrounds as fisherman plying the waters of Lake Ohrid belied skill at arms impressive enough to stymie Macedonian domination for generations.
Epirote Expansion Project (EEP) [Updated 01/06/2014] -patch8.1 compatible!
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Re: [WIP] Epirote Expansion Project (EEP)
Originally Posted by beos777
