Militia Hoplites (RTW unit)
Militia hoplites are levies drawn from cities and thrust into battle with a little training.
Overview
Militia hoplites are levies drawn from cities and thrust into battle with a little training. They fight best as spearmen, and are armed with long spears and each carries the large round hoplon shield which gives them their name. As a type of infantry hoplites have been around for centuries and have changed little in tactics or equipment. These men wear no armor, but then they are drawn from the poorer classes and it is traditional for citizens to provide their own war gear when called into the army. The cities of the Greek world have a long tradition of the people defending their own cities from invaders.
They are at their best when used as a solid block of spearmen and can form a phalanx to attack the enemy.
Details
Militia Hoplites are the first phalanx infantry unit for Macedon, the Greek City-States, the Seleucids, and Thrace. Militia Hoplites are inexpensive units that appear early in the game. Their ability to form a phalanx is vital for their survival on the battlefield. A combination of poor morale, low attack, and little armor make these units poor soldiers without being in a phalanx formation. Because of their low morale, even when they are in a phalanx formation Militia Hoplites can easily be routed if flanked or attacked from behind, despite their stronger front side of the phalanx. Militia Hoplites are also susceptible to missile fire.