<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>iberian skirmisher velites</full_name><dictionary>iberian_skirmisher_velites</dictionary><category>infantry</category><class>missile</class><voice_type>Medium_1</voice_type><soldier><name>iberian_missile_velites_roman_leves</name><soldiers>60</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>0.9</mass></soldier><mount_effect>elephant +2, chariot +4, horse -2</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, hide_improved_forest, hide_long_grass, hardy</attributes><formation><side_spacing>1.6</side_spacing><front_spacing>2</front_spacing><loose_side_spacing>3.2</loose_side_spacing><loose_front_spacing>4</loose_front_spacing><ranks>7</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>2</charge><missile_type>javelin</missile_type><range>57.8</range><ammo>6</ammo><weapon_type>thrown</weapon_type><tech_type>simple</tech_type><dammage_type>piercing</dammage_type><sound>spear</sound><min_delay>10</min_delay><lethality>1</lethality></stat_pri><stat_pri_attr>thrown</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>12</attack><charge>2</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>9</def_skill><shield>2</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>1</stat_heat><stat_ground><scrub>0</scrub><sand>0</sand><forest>2</forest><snow>-2</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>9</morale><discipline>low</discipline><training>untrained</training></stat_mental><stat_fire_delay>0</stat_fire_delay><stat_food>60, 300</stat_food><stat_cost><turns>1</turns><cost>985</cost><upkeep>246</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>30</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>40</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>985</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>egypt, spain, slave, romans_julii, romans_brutii, numidia, macedon, thrace, greek_cities, carthage, romans_scipii, parthia, gauls, britons, scythia, dacia, germans, armenia, pontus, saba</ownership><description><name>Iberi Velites (Iberian Skirmishers)</name><short>Iberian Velites are good light skirmishing infantry. They carry several javelins, each with a hard iron head that plays havoc with lightly armored or unarmored men.</short><long>Expert at Hiding in Woods
Can Hide in Long Grass
Sapping Ability

The Iberians also produce exceedingly good light skirmishing infantry, which these men embody. They carry several javelins, each with a hard iron head that plays havoc with lightly armored or unarmored men. They come from the poorest classes of Iberian society, and only have their "caetra" for protection. These men cannot afford the standard sword that most Iberian soldiers would be armed with, so they must make due with a short spear. They are not particularly adept fighters in melee, and can be chopped to pieces at the leisure of nearly any cavalry. They can be deadly against slow moving infantry, however.

Historically, the skirmishers came from the poorest of the Iberian tribesmen. They were usually landless peasants who were gathered together to fight as a cheap light screening infantry. As such, their morale would normally have been low, but due to the characteristic fierceness of the Iberian tribes, these men often fight until casualty levels compel them to retire. They are effective in melee so long as they are fighting enemy light infantry. Anything heavier would have born a hole right through them. They were hated by the Romans, who had to contend with their nasty javelins at every turn.</long></description></unit>