<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>celtic infantry gaeroas</full_name><dictionary>celtic_infantry_gaeroas</dictionary><category>infantry</category><class>spearmen</class><voice_type>General_1</voice_type><soldier><name>celtic_infantry_gaeroas_balroae</name><soldiers>50</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>1.1</mass></soldier><officers><officer1>ebofficer_celtic_officer</officer1><officer2>ebofficer_celtic_standardbearer</officer2></officers><mount_effect>elephant -3</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, hide_improved_forest, hardy</attributes><formation><side_spacing>1</side_spacing><front_spacing>1.4</front_spacing><loose_side_spacing>2</loose_side_spacing><loose_front_spacing>2.8</loose_front_spacing><ranks>5</ranks><formations>square</formations></formation><stat_health><hit_points>1</hit_points><animal_hit_points>1</animal_hit_points></stat_health><stat_pri><attack>5</attack><charge>6</charge><missile_type>javelin</missile_type><range>45</range><ammo>3</ammo><weapon_type>thrown</weapon_type><tech_type>archery</tech_type><dammage_type>piercing</dammage_type><sound>spear</sound><min_delay>10</min_delay><lethality>1</lethality></stat_pri><stat_pri_attr>prec, thrown</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>15</attack><charge>6</charge><missile_type>no</missile_type><range>0</range><ammo>0</ammo><weapon_type>melee</weapon_type><tech_type>simple</tech_type><dammage_type>piercing</dammage_type><sound>spear</sound><min_delay>0</min_delay><lethality>0.13</lethality></stat_sec><stat_sec_attr>light_spear</stat_sec_attr><stat_pri_armour><armour>1</armour><def_skill>12</def_skill><shield>3</shield><sound>flesh</sound></stat_pri_armour><stat_sec_armour><armour>0</armour><def_skill>0</def_skill><sound>flesh</sound></stat_sec_armour><stat_heat>2</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>1</forest><snow>-1</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>10</morale><discipline>impetuous</discipline><training>trained</training></stat_mental><stat_fire_delay>0</stat_fire_delay><stat_food>60, 300</stat_food><stat_cost><turns>1</turns><cost>1208</cost><upkeep>302</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>50</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>70</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>1208</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>britons, gauls, scythia, slave, romans_julii, romans_brutii, romans_scipii, numidia, macedon, thrace, greek_cities, egypt, carthage, spain, seleucid, dacia, pontus, parthia, armenia, saba, germans</ownership><description><name>Gaeroas (Celtic Spearmen)</name><short>Gaeroas are the file warriors of the tribes of Gaul and Britain. They all utilize well-made long spears, and a few decent javelins, making them both fair melee warriors and impromptu skirmishers.</short><long>Impetuous
Expert at Hiding in Forests

Gaeroas (Guy-rows; "Spear Soldiers") are the file warriors of the tribes of Gaul and Britain. The Gaeroas all utilize well-made long spears, and a few decent javelins, making them both fair melee warriors and impromptu skirmishers. Their versatility, and low relative expense, mean they are a fine warrior band for enterprising warlords looking to expand their lands. They have some experience with combat, but are not yet hardened to battle. However, they are trained well enough to march in a good formation, something actually lost on greater warriors for the Britons. Their longspears may seem a bit unwieldy, but this is likely to help them in combating cavalry and chariot horses as a unit. While unarmored, they have large oval shields, which provides them a good amount of protection. They are fairly well trained with these shields, and they provide a fair amount of protection from ranged attacks, but the lack of armor makes them quite vulnerable to flanking.

Historically, spearmen in Britain and Gaul would have been the young to middle-age warriors, who had not risen greatly in prestige, or who had chosen to continue to fight as a lower warrior. They would use well-made, but not truly exceptional spears, and javelins for skirmishing. This allowed their most basic warriors to perform two duties, and allocate other soldiers to more specialized positions. Their equipment would be self maintained, and they would be expected to keep their weapons and shield in good condition. They likely paid for their own equipment, but spears and javelins are relatively cheap, the most expensive part of their equipment was likely the shield. These warriors represent the most basic professional warriors of almost all of the aforementioned tribes. They would be highly viable for the warchief who couldn't afford to bring in many swords or other weapons for his tribe.</long></description></unit>