<?xml version="1.0" ?><?encoding UTF-16?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../xsl/unit.xsl"?><unit><full_name>celtic missile sotaroas</full_name><dictionary>celtic_missile_sotaroas</dictionary><category>infantry</category><class>missile</class><voice_type>General_1</voice_type><soldier><name>germanic_missile_bugimannoz_sotaroas_toxotai</name><soldiers>30</soldiers><extras>0</extras><mass>0.95</mass></soldier><mount_effect>chariot +2, horse -2, elephant -2</mount_effect><attributes>sea_faring, hide_improved_forest, very_hardy, hide_long_grass</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>4</ranks><formations>square</formations></formation><stat_health><hit_points>1</hit_points><animal_hit_points>1</animal_hit_points></stat_health><stat_pri><attack>3</attack><charge>0</charge><missile_type>arrow</missile_type><range>143</range><ammo>15</ammo><weapon_type>missile</weapon_type><tech_type>archery</tech_type><dammage_type>piercing</dammage_type><sound>none</sound><min_delay>15</min_delay><lethality>1</lethality></stat_pri><stat_pri_attr>no</stat_pri_attr><stat_sec><attack>11</attack><charge>0</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>2</armour><def_skill>7</def_skill><shield>0</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>-1</snow></stat_ground><stat_mental><morale>8</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>411</cost><upkeep>103</upkeep><upgrade_weapon>30</upgrade_weapon><upgrade_armour>40</upgrade_armour><custom_battle>411</custom_battle></stat_cost><ownership>britons, gauls, scythia</ownership><description><name>Sotaroas (Celtic Archers)</name><short>Celtic archers, while not great or exceptional, are good. They are well trained, disciplined, and can put a fair deal of range behind their attacks.</short><long>Expert at Hiding in Forests

Celtic archers, Sotaroas (Sow-tah-rows, "Bow Soldiers"), while not great or exceptional, are good. They are well trained, disciplined, and can put a fair deal of range behind their attacks. While their arrows aren't too notable, their ability to swiftly pepper an enemy with arrows is always of use. They are not really meant to defeat an enemy force, or even truly damage one, so much as they are meant to irritate and draw attention away from a main force, so it can position itself for flanking. As such, they are good runners, who fire a few volleys as a distraction, and then withdraw to a safe position to hide. If caught in a melee, they would be slaughtered for sure.

Historically, archers in Celtic culture had little variety, with only a few truly notable types of archers. They were irritative forces, and intended to soften large enemy forces, but rarely meant to be truly effective in the manner of eastern archers. However, if positioned properly, or experienced enough, they could be truly devastating. Their skill was good, they could fire many volleys swiftly. The Celtic concept of archery was more often to simply blacken the sky with arrows, than it was to fire few, effective volleys. However, their arrows were well made, though not great, and would be capable of puncturing lighter armors, and were quite deadly in their own right. All the same, these men were better off as hunters than field warriors.</long></description></unit>