New Unit: the Peltast

[Kryten]

This unit is for Exsanquination's Alexander the Great mod, but is also suitable for any Hellenistic nation such as the Greeks, Macedonians, Seleucid Syria, Ptolemaic Egypt, Pontus, Pergamon, Bithynia, Rhodes, plus the Aetolian and Achaean Leagues. It could also be used for other nations such as the Thracians, Illyrians, Italian Samnites, Spanish Iberians, Jewish Maccabees and Carthage (as mercenary Spanish troops).

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1) download the zip file to a temporary place on your PC

2) use Windows Explorer to open the CivilizationIII/Arts/units folder on your PC and right-click the units_32 file so that you can rename it (otherwise it will be overwriten, so you may want to keep a copy)

3) now use the unzip browser to unzip the file into CivilizationIII/Art/units. This will create a new folder called Peltast which contains all the .flcs and files, as well as a readme.txt file with full instructions on how to add this unit to CivIII using the CivEditor.

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[Kryten]

Suggested stats for this unit (see the readme file that comes with the unit for more details):-

Attack 2, defence 2, move 2 (the same as the Impi, Jaguar Warrior and Samurai, so that it can retreat from slower heavy troops).

Zone-of-control (so that it can use it's javelins to 'pelt' any enemy columns that try to move pass it).

And for those people that like to give missile units a defensive bombardment (and I'm one of them, as adds a little bit of tactics to the combat system and helps differentiate between similar units), I suggest a modest bombardment factor of 2, range zero and rate of fire 1 (I like to give slingers, javelinmen and archers with light hunting bows a bombardment of 2, while the more powerful composite or recurved bow and the crossbow/longbow has a bombardment of 3).

 

[Kryten]

What is a Peltast? Well here is the Civilopeadia_text file that comes with the unit:-

"Peltasts were first used by the Thracians about 800 BC. Armed with bundles of javelins carried behind their shields, they proved their worth by defeating an elite 700 man Spartan mora by simply outruning the slower hoplites while continuing to pelt them with showers of javelins. Later peltasts were equipped with bronze Thracian type helmets and the larger oval thureos type shield (adopted from the celtic Galatians in 280 BC), and were a part of every Greek and Macedonian army in the hellenistic world, usually as mercenaries. So common were they that by the 3rd and 2nd centries BC the word "mercenary" had almost become a synonym for "peltast".
Used as general purpose medium infantry, they were much better equipped at fighting hand-to-hand than light infantry armed with slings or bows, but were also fast enough to keep out of range of the heavy infantry. They could take on the tasks that these other specialised units could not handle, such as fighting in difficult wooded terrain, ambushing enemy columns, chasing down skirmishers, flank marches and so on.
Their use declined following the expansion of republican Rome, who did not use peltasts. But by the time of imperial Rome in the 1st century AD, the Romans themselves realised the need for fast troops that were capable of performing tasks that the slow heavy Legionary was not suited for, so they created the famous Roman Auxiliary, armed with javelins, swords, helmets and shields, which eventually made up half of all the soldiers in the empire."

(after I've finished all the Macedonian animations I want to make a Roman Auxiliary....)

 

[Exsanguination]

dear god... that is the most beautiful unit yet.. Kryten - YOU ARE THE MAN!!!

(can't for wait for the rest of 'em!!!)

 

[Kryten]

Bleedin' 'ell, that was quick! I was just about to E-mail you!

Next, the Hypaspist and Phalangite. Don't get we wrong, I DO like the AoE Phalanx, but....er.....I looks nothing like a Macedonian, as it has a Roman helmet, an imperial Roman square shield, wears what looks like lora segmenta type armor, and carries the pike in one hand - not bad considering that it's supposed to be some 6 meters/18 foot long! ("you are such a stickler for detail Kryten!").

I have a lot of bodyparts left over from the Peltast ( ), so I should be able to get the Hypaspist done in about a fortnight.
If not, then please remind me .....

 

[Kinboat]

This unit looks great! Waiting with baited breath for those other units

 

[Raw is War?]

That looks COOL! Good job

 

[Smoking mirror]

Originally posted by Kryten


I have a lot of bodyparts left over from the Peltast ( ), so I should be able to get the Hypaspist done in about a fortnight.
If not, then please remind me .....

Body parts! I hope you havn't been using Unearthly methods to create your units!
Seriously though, this unit looks great, must be hard work grafting all those arms and legs on to such a small person, do you use superglue?

 

[Mongoloid Cow]

WOW! Looks heaps good. Death animation rules!

 

[thamis]

Great unit!

I'm sure that nobody minds that I include your units in my Ancient Mediterranean MOD, which will include an Alexander scenario as well.

 

[PCHighway]

Just wanted to bump this one up, its to good to be at the bottom of the page. BTW perhaps it should be upgradable to Jimmyh's skirmisher? Really good job Kryten

 

[Daedalus420]

Actually Mr.Stickler for detail, the Romans did have a similiar Unit. They used special Pilums, which were like javelins except they pierced armor more effectively and broke after being thrown(Don't wanna get that javalin thrown back at you now do you.)

 

[Mithadan]

That wasn't a unit, per se. Legionaries hucked 'em. Like on whatshisname's "Imperial Legion" unit. Apparently, they fired of a volley or two (perhaps one of the pillae was weighted?) and then went in with the short swords after the enemy's shields were somewhat incapacitated etc. etc.

 

[Vuldacon]

Marvelous Kryten...love the Attack. Very unit.

 

[Vuldacon]

Kryten, just wanted to let you know that the Read Me file (with suggested Stats) for the Peltast is not in the Zip. Civilopedia text and all other files OK.

My Mistake Kryten...Redownloaded and found the file.

 

[Vuldacon]

Here are the Large and Small.pcx files and a single units_32.pcx file for Kryten's Peltast if anyone wants them.

 

[Vuldacon]

Here are the adjusted sounds for Kryten's Peltast unit. I Tweaked the sounds and added just a few new parts. This download zip includes all sounds and the INI file. NOTE that the HopliteRun.amb file is all that is required for this unit besides these sounds. I adjusted the timing for the Attack and you can now hear the "whoosh" of the spear. I have tried everything to correct this unit from playing part of the attack sound when turning from battle if set for Blitz. Mostly works ok but nothing will prevent the occasional attack sound being played as the Peltast turns from battle. Need an .amb file. Not sure what is causing ths situation...I noticed that the Default is 15 frames all the same so no movement but takes up time. This probably has nothing to do with the attack sound playing in part as the Peltast retreats but I did notice some hesitation which may be due to the Default. Anyway....Nice Unit throwing spears...The Greeks say Thanks Kryten. Hope you like the sounds.

Size: 190 KB
Get the download here: http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads4/Peltast_Sounds_and_INI.zip

 

[Penguin-Camel]

Originally posted by Kryten
Suggested stats for this unit (see the readme file that comes with the unit for more details):-

Attack 2, defence 2, move 2 (the same as the Impi, Jaguar Warrior and Samurai, so that it can retreat from slower heavy troops).

Zone-of-control (so that it can use it's javelins to 'pelt' any enemy columns that try to move pass it).

And for those people that like to give missile units a defensive bombardment (and I'm one of them, as adds a little bit of tactics to the combat system and helps differentiate between similar units), I suggest a modest bombardment factor of 2, range zero and rate of fire 1 (I like to give slingers, javelinmen and archers with light hunting bows a bombardment of 2, while the more powerful composite or recurved bow and the crossbow/longbow has a bombardment of 3).

I could not help but notise that you said slinger. Where did you get the animations for this?

 

[Kryten]

Thanks very, very much Vuldacon for the civilopeadia pictures and the sound waves.
(I owe you one..... )

Originally posted by Penguin-Camel
I could not help but notise that you said slinger. Where did you get the animations for this?

Ah, well I did make a quick version....but it looked AWFUL!
I can't post a picture as I deleted it a long time ago.
However, I have learnt a lot more about unit creation in the past year, so I will have another go.
I'll add it to my ever growing list.

 

[Yoda Power]

Originally posted by Kryten
I'll add it to my ever growing list.

Any change we could see that list? Just so we know what to expect( in a future far far away).