Hellenas Sarissas
The exile and destruction of the Aryidannan from their ancestral lands and cities
in the south-east of the Helenas created a volatile political situation for the other
Helenas states. The alliance that held them together against the theocracy dominated
Aryidannan quickly fell apart and from a trickle to a flood the states were fighting
each other for supremacy.
In the past wars between the states were ordered affairs timed not to affect the harvest
season or during relogious periods. The new Hellenan war threw away the old conventions
replacing them with unrestricted war. Battles could be fought any time and defeat
had a far greater impact on the loser. Battles also had to be over faster and with
a decisive outcome. The usual Hoplite push and grind was too slow and tiring. A new,
bolder, more aggressive and decisive mode of combat was required.
The answer was a pike twice the lengh of the Hoplite spear called a Sarissa.
Hoplite maidens re-armed with the 16ft sarissa.
At sixteen feet in length, the sarissa is held with both hands and engages the enemy
well before there spears are able to be thrust into contact. The length of the weapon
made it unweildy to use in close fighting; in fact the maiden caught in a close struggle
with a sarrisa was at a considerable disadvantage. The aim of the sarrisa was to force
the enemy backwards and break open their formation, or let a wild charge impale themselves
on the many rows of the phalanx.
The Hoplite phalanx was not abandoned. Instead it became deeper with up to double
as many ranked maidens. The length of the sarissa allowed most of them to have the
leaf-headed bladed of their pike projecting from the front rank creating a layered
wall of steel any enemy had to maneouver their way through.
Maidens willing to giveup the traditional Hoplite way were able to adapt quickly.
However to make up the numbers required for such deep formations many lesser ranked
maidens such as Peltae or even 3rd Class Hoplites were given the new weapn and placed
in the back ranks were their lack of armour and experience was less of a danger compared
to the front ranks.
Armoured Hoplites were the front-rankers of the Pike
Phalanx with those lacking armour or experience taking
the rear.
Game Play
Sarissa Maidens can be added to any Hellenas Army after the first year of the war.
Each unit of Sarissa Maidens replaces any one available unit of Hoplites. This represents
the rearming of the Hoplites, not the recruitment of new maidens.
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Damsel
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M
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A
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D
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H
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Notes
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P
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Base
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Fig
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Sarissa Maiden
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3
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2
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2
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4
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Sarissa
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8
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8 x 3
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4
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|
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+2
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Hoplite armour
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+2
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Type
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Min |
Max |
Unit Size
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Sarissa Maiden
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0
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*
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2-8
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* Each Unit of Sarissa Maidens replaces one of that army's Hoplite Units. There can
be no more Sarissa Maiden Units that the Max of all Hoplite Units for that army.
Sarissa: Each rank supporting in melee adds A+2 up to a maximum A+6.
In case of a tied melee, the enemy Stand is pushed back 1 base depth.
Painting Guide
Rearmed Hoplite damsels kept their cuirass, shin guards and Helmet. The Hoplon
was too heavy to carry with the sarissa and has been abandoned. Tunics are simple
white; some wealthy damsels would have coloured tunics and possibly patterned.
Low rank Hoplites are unarmoured. With the sarissa even nude maidens can keep
better armoured foes at a distance.
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