Difference between hoplites and spearmen in RTRPE 1.8?

[Morte]

I'd be grateful if you kind folks could clear up something that's puzzling me...

In my Thracian army, I can build spear warbands and levy hoplites. They both have the same attack rating, defence is 1 point in 20 different, and neither can form a phalanx. Judging by the unit card, they're pretty much the same thing. But the hoplites cost twice as much to build/maintain. So what's the difference?

[I can understand why the hoplites don't form a phalanx -- in the 4th and 3rd centuries spear hoplites steadily became more mobile, and phalanx formation was reserved for pikemen. It's the price difference that's puzzling me, it suggests the hoplites have some big advantage.]

[florin80]

I am not sure what the original developers wanted with this. But making a unit to coast more is not necessarily to reflect the higher stats it has. You might do that if you want that particular faction to not recruit too many of those units and so try to reflect the historical use of some units. Of course, I was talking in general. About your dilemma. I think(haven`t looked in EDU yet) that the hoplites have higher chances to defeat cavalry then regular spearmen.