Apeleutheroi...where?

[paleologos]

Can someone tell me if I am supposed to be able to recruit them at all?

[anubis88]

nope. They spawn when a settlment rebels

[Mediolanicus]

No, they are just rabble. IIRC they were introduced to prevent rebellion CTD's.

They are bad units with low lethality and enormous upkeep for such a bad unit to discourage the player from keeping them around when he happens to get some of them through a settlement that rebels to his faction. This last event is the only way to get them.

[athanaric]

If you get some, disband them ASAP. They're useless.

[Ludens]

If you get some, disband them ASAP. They're useless.

They don't even make good fodder units, as they have no shields and a high upkeep.

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

Only reason to keep them is if you can't recruit any other unit in a town that has rebelled to you but you need to maintain order.

[Ibrahim]

They don't even make good fodder units, as they have no shields and a high upkeep.

yes they do: they're great pin-cushions for when seiging the enemy

[satalexton]

I second that! they are excellent missle fodder and suicidal distractions in siege battles! u can use them to push rams against the gates, w/o worrying about the boiling oil!

[Megas Methuselah]

But they're expensive.

[satalexton]

But often the only men you'll have on that part of the world for the next few years, especially when you are Saba and KH (to a lesser extent)...

[Hax]

Hey, Apeleutheroi managed to conquer Syrakousai in my Epirote campaign >: No bad words about them!

[Teucer]

If you get some, disband them ASAP. They're useless.

I seem to remember those rocks they hurl turning the tide of battle once when Makedon was trying to assault the plaza of a recently bribed city of mine (Byzantion, I think).

When they spawn with gold experience and weapons, they aren't TOO bad...

[Apázlinemjó]

I seem to remember those rocks they hurl turning the tide of battle once when Makedon was trying to assault the plaza of a recently bribed city of mine (Byzantion, I think).

When they spawn with gold experience and weapons, they aren't TOO bad...

Even with 3 gold chevrons, a few Toxotai eats them as they are very vulnerable against arrows.

[Ibrahim]

But they're expensive.

hey, when I'm done with them, none will even be left alive.

so the short time of having them for cannon fodder will be made up by a city that will quickly pay off the damage.

[seriousbusiness]

I use them either to keep order (only a few for as few turns as absolutely necessary), to try to destroy nearby armies (if any), or, rarely, to make a grab for a nearby settlement that I could seize easily and economically. That sack money helps to offset some of their cost and deprives them of it - you'll lose a lot of them in the process anyway.

Disbanding has the added disadvantage of increasing population/lowering order. I've been known to disband them into enemy territory to increase the sack money from that province in the near future instead.

Esp when playing on VH you should make every decision economically :)