Isarelys (ETW Unit)

Isarelys (ETW Unit)
Class	Line Infantry
Unit Size	160 Men
Weaponry	Muskets
Morale
Melee Attack
Ranged Attack
Defence
Charge Bonus
Accuracy
Range
Ammunition
Region	Middle East
Recruitment Cost	820
Upkeep Cost	200
Turns to Build
Unit Limit
Building Requirements	Barracks
Technology Requirements	None
Attributes	Can Hide in Woodland Resistant to Heat Fatigue

These musketeers are a useful addition to any force, even if they lack the fire discipline of regular soldiers.

Overview

For all its smoke and noise, handling the smoothbore, muzzle-loading musket can be taught to all but the most stupid of men. Once the basic skills of loading have been mastered, it is simply a matter of pointing the loud end at the enemy and pulling the trigger. It is in God's hands as to what happens next!

Even the most inexperienced or cack-handed of peasants can be useful with a musket in his hands. The noise of a volley is often enough to frighten, and any casualties in the enemy ranks are a bonus.

Historically, such units of irregular musket men would arrive at a battlefield with all kinds of weapons, from ancient matchlocks handed down from father to son, to modern government-issue weapons looted from the enemy dead. This lack of standardisation did not matter much, as it was the ability to fire at all that made the unit a useful force.

Details

Isarelys are the Ottoman Empire's early-game equivalents of line infantry. Isarelys have all of the same abilities as line infantry, including fire by rank, square formation, and bayonets. Unfortunately, they are also inferior to line infantry in every way. Their very low morale means that even greatly superior numbers of isarelys may break and flee in a melee engagement, and their poor accuracy and reloading time means the firepower they bring to the field is often ineffectual. However, as an army staple they are still superior to almost any other early-game Ottoman unit, until Nizam-I Cedit Infantry can be trained.

Factions

• Ottoman Empire
• Mamelukes