Description
The Hetaroi were the elite shock cavalry of the Macedonian kingdom, recruited from among the king’s companions and their clients, well-mounted on strong horses, and lavishly equipped with a metal cuirass, greaves, as well as a large helmet. The latter are mainly of the Boiotian type, but smaller numbers of the Hetairoi have also been equipped with Phrygiboiotian and Ascalon type helmets. The Hetairoi fought in the ‘Macedonian style’, charging home with the typical one-handed cavalry lance, the xyston. This cavalry spear was about seven to ten feet in length, made of tough cornel wood, and generally used to stab and thrust the enemy. When the shaft broke, it was most likely reversed in order to bring the metal butt spike into play – or it was dropped and the sword was drawn (Sidnell, Warhorse (2007), p. 80).
Stats
| Rank in roster | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men per unit | 30 | █········· 8% |
| Attack | 14 | ███████··· 65% |
| Charge bonus | 35 | ██████████ 96% |
| Defence | 36 | ██████···· 61% |
| · armour | 15 | ████████·· 82% |
| · defence skill | 21 | █████····· 54% |
| · shield | 0 | █········· 0% |
| Morale | 15 | █████████· 91% |
| Discipline | Normal | |
| Training | Highly trained | |
| Recruitment cost | 3,213 dn | █████████· 87% |
| Upkeep per turn | 1,423 dn | ██████████ 98% |
| Turns to recruit | 4 |
Weapons
| Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | 14 | 14 | Charge bonus | 35 | 28 | Type | melee · blade | melee · blade | Damage | piercing | slashing |
Defence
| Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | Primary | Secondary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 36 | — | Armour | 15 | — | Defence skill | 21 | — | Shield | 0 | — |
Condition and terrain
| Hit points | 1 | Mount | hetairoi horse | Ground: scrub / sand / forest / snow | -5 / -1 / -8 / -1 | Charge distance | 40 |
| Formations | Square · Wedge |
Technical stats
| Time between blows (primary / secondary) | 2.5 s / 2.5 s | Extra fatigue in hot climates | 4 | Spacing between men: close / loose | 2 × 4.8 m / 3 × 7.2 m | Default ranks | 5 |
Who can recruit it
A core roster unit for one faction, which can raise it anywhere it holds the right building:
Exactly what a settlement must have, route by route (2)
| Building | Also requires | Building | Also requires | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Rule | Tier 3 Military Industrial Complex · Tier 2 Colony · Requires resource horses or horses supplied factionwide | Homeland | Tier 2 Military Industrial Complex |