Stoinowerponez (Germanic Slingers)

Stoinowerponez (Germanic Slingers)
Stoinowerponez (Germanic Slingers)
Primary Weapon	Type: sling Attack: 9 Charge: 0 Lethality: 1 Range: 110 Ammo: 32
Secondary Weapon	Type: knife Attack: 2 Charge: 1 Lethality: 1
Defence	Armour: 2 Shield: 0 Skill: 3
Recruitment	Soldiers: 48 Cost: 163 Upkeep: 41 Turns: 1
Mental	Morale: 2 Discipline: low Training: untrained
Other	Hit Points: 1 Mass: 0.8 Attributes: Can board ships, Improved hiding in forests, Hardy, Peasant, Free upkeep Formation: square Side/Back spacing: 1.82/3.3 Ownership: Aedui, Arverni, Boii, Getai. Lugia, Sweboz

The Germanic sling infantry is a lightly armed skirmisher troop type whose sole purpose is to harass, wound and possibly kill enemy warriors from a safe distance.

Description

The Germanic sling infantry is a lightly armed skirmisher troop type whose sole purpose is to harass, wound and possibly kill enemy warriors from a safe distance. This unit is only armed with a sling made of rope or leather strips bound together, stones which were selected for size and shape so they would be good projectiles and lastly a low quality iron knife for personal protection. This unit type represents the lowest strata of the Sweboz society and because they are not full members of the tribe they are not allowed to use a shield and spear which were the symbols of free men in early Germanic society. His low status is also reflected in the simple clothing this unit wears. The most important piece of clothing of the Germanic sling infantry is his cloak, not only to protect him from the often cold and wet climate in Northern Europe but also because he uses his cloak to carry his sling ammunition around in the battle field. This unit is only really effective as a skirmish unit and maybe to chase routing enemy warriors.

Historically, the sling/shot combination was a very popular weapon in Iron-age Europe and beyond and the ancient Germanic tribes were no exception regarding use of the sling. For example, Germanic sling infantry are depicted on Marcus Aurelius Column in great detail.