OK, here are some more unit descriptions. If you really need some images of those, Komninos, I'll provide you with some links later... or I might do so anyway (depends on how work goes http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif ).
Classical Hoplite (or Hoplite)
During the classical era the hoplite became the most feared warrior of the ancient world. The Greek hoplites of the era, with better armor and weapons, dominated the battlefield. All city states of the Greek world used hoplites, but only free citizen with full civic rights had the right to wield the hoplon and take part in the phalanx.
Heavily armored, strong charge, good attack, great defense, armed with spear and round shield. Very high morale.
Ekdromos hoplite
During the late 5th century BC, the abundance of professional skirmishers in the Helladic area, like the Thracian Peltasts, led to the development of a lighter variation of the hoplite, the ekdromos hoplite. They wore no armour at all (no breastplate, no greaves) and their defensive gear was only the hoplon/aspis shield. So they gained more mobility, while keeping the basic sturdiness of the hoplite phalanx. Usually the younger hoplites would serve as ekdromoi.
Lightly armoured, strong charge, good attack, good defence, armed with spear and round shield, high morale.
(you can present them with a cloack, not of red colour of course – those are for the Spartan).
Peltast
From Thrace originates this type of warrior that became the all-around fighter of the classical era. A peltast was as a lightly armoured, highly mobile, well trained professional skirmisher. The name derives from the “pelte”, the light shield they used as a defensive weapon.
Lightly armoured, fast, good attack, mediocre defence, armed with Javelins and sword. Medium morale.
Xistophoroi hippis
The cavalry was developed more during this period, when the Greeks had to face enemies that utilized cavalry as a vital party of their armies. The advantage of the armored xistophoroi hippis was their quite long spear (the “xyston”, hence their name) which was at least 3 meters long, giving them an advantage to many other types of troops. Nobody would expect them to charge into a tight hoplite phalanx, but in any other respect they were a very effective early heavy cavalry.
Medium armor, good attack, strong charge, mediocre defense, armed with spears, no shield.
Toxotes
The Greek archers of the era were better than those of most of their neighbours, although in the majority of the Greek states the bow was not a weapon of choice. But the Greek bow was a decent build and in the hands of trained men could be a lethal weapon. Nobody should expect the toxotes to hold their own against heavier infantry or cavalry.
Light armor, weak attack, weak defence, armed with bows, no shield.
Hippikon
Suited better for reconnaissance missions, for guarding the phalanx’s flanks and for hunting down the skirmishers, the hippikon was the light/medium cavalry of the era. The city states had few of those cavalrymen, but the northern Greek kingdoms produced greater numbers and of very good quality.
Light armor, good attack, weak defense, good charge, fast, armed with swords, no shield.
Phalangites
The Macedonian phalanx, invented by the King of Macedon Philip II, was the evolution of the hoplite phalanx only more effective. The basic unit of this phalanx was the phalangites, a lightly armoured footman, carrying a very long (6-7 meters) pike, called the Sarissa and carrying a small shield. Facing the wall of pikes that was the trademark of the Sarissa, few could hold their ground.
Light armour, very good attack, very good charge, great defense, armed with pikes, little shield.
Thireophoros
The revolutionary military concepts that emerged in the Helladic area during and after the pelloponesian war, included a body of well-armoured footmen, armed with javelins and a sword and carrying a type of oval shield, very much like the early Roman scutum, the “thyreos”. Those men, called thireophoroi, played a vital role in the 4th and 3rd BC centuries battlefield.
Heavily armored, strong charge, very good attack, good defense, armed with javelins, sword and oval shield. High morale
