Spartan Hoplites (RTW unit)

Spartan Hoplites (RTW unit)
Class	Spearmen
Unit Size	160 men
Weaponry	Spear Sword
Morale	14
Melee Attack	16 12
Ranged Attack	N/A
Defence	17
Charge Bonus	4 3
Accuracy	N/A
Range	N/A
Ammunition	N/A
Region	Global
Recruitment Cost	1190
Upkeep Cost	460
Turns to Build	2
Unit Limit	Unlimited
Building Requirements	Army Barracks
Technology Requirements	None
Attributes	Can sap Can hide in forest Can form phalanx

Spartan hoplites are trained from infancy to be nothing but soldiers. They are 'perfect soldiers' and nothing else.

Overview

Spartan hoplites are trained from infancy to be nothing but soldiers. They are 'perfect soldiers' and nothing else. All of Spartan life is spent training for war. Weaklings perish soon after birth; youths are taught to thieve and terrorize the slave class to harden them; young men are taught nothing unless it has something to do with the arts of war - even music and dance are there only to help keep step when marching and obeying orders.

The result is a man who thinks nothing of danger, expects to win, and creates a sense of dread in his opponents.

Spartans fight in the traditional fashion as hoplites, carrying a long thrusting spear and the large round hoplon shield, and as a phalanx: a close-packed mass of men moving as one to crush their enemies.

If they have a weakness it is that they are hide-bound traditionalists, and the once-mighty state of Sparta has not moved with the times.

Details

Spartan Hoplites are widely considered to be among the best infantry in Rome: Total War.

Of all the hoplites from the Greek City-States, the Spartan Hoplites are a noticeable outlier. Only Spartan Hoplites have two hitpoints; the rest only have one. While the other hoplites follow a steady progression of increased statistics and price, these units break the pattern. These units have much higher attack and lower defense compared to their preceding Armored Hoplites, but their defense is still enough for arrows from the front to be an ineffective attack method against them. They have exceptional morale.

Spartan Hoplites have a high cost to the point where Elephants are not much more expensive. Despite having high morale, attack, and defense, their heavy price and availability only in Sparta and Syracuse are severe blows to fielding Spartan Hoplites in large numbers on the campaign map.

They can be useful as a reserve force as well, to protect the flanks of the Armoured Hoplites and move in when necessary to prevent them from taking casualties. Better to lose Armoured Hoplites than Spartans because the Armoured Hoplites are much easier to replenish. Unlike most other Hoplites Spartans also strong with their swords, enough that you can consider charging with them in some circumstances. You still want to use them in Phalanx whenever possible, but their sword stats are like Chosen Swordsmen with 2 hitpoints.

Factions

Greek City-States