Armenian Archers (ETW Unit)
Armenian_archers_icon_infb.png Seemingly archaic in an age of gunpowder and revolutionary fervour, these bow-armed skirmishers are still a dangerous force.
Overview
They are capable of covering ground quickly and of using the land and cover to best advantage:hiding behind a blade of grass or a pebble if needs must! While their bows might seem outdated, their skills give them a good rate of fire and are accurate an enemy killed by an arrow is as dead as one shot by a musket ball. Armenian archers carry knives to be used in hand-to-hand combat, but they should not be committed to melee without good reason. They are also vulnerable to cavalry attack and can suffer excessive casualties when facing riflemen or specialised musketeers.
Historically, Ottoman subjects could, and did, declare that they were soldiers by arming themselves and joining an army in the field. They could leave the service without penalty just as easily. What looked like lack of organisation was useful: good leaders attracted followers and kept them. However , provincial troops were not always as loyal to the Sultan in Istanbul as they were to their locality or commander, and there was a regrettable tenancy for private, rather than state, armies to flourish.
Details
Armenian Archers are an elite archer unit available only to the Ottoman Empire. Armenian Archers are skirmishers with good stealth capabilities. Their quick reload speed and fast movement mean that they can unleash their payload and then re-position before the enemy can reload. However due to their low melee statistics they should avoid melee at all costs, especially cavalry charges.
As bows shoot arrows that follow an arced trajectory, Armenian Archers can be safely placed behind other infantry for defense without worrying about friendly fire.