they have the highest room to grow (population cap − total population)
+5% Morale of armies
−15% Recruit mercenary cost
N/A
Modernized Phalanx
N/A
+15% Heavy infantry offense
Arms for Hire
Specialist Infantry
N/A
−10% Archers cost
+15% Archers offense
Modernized Phalanx
Thyreophoroi
N/A
+10% Light infantry morale
Modernized Phalanx
Centuries of War
A new character is generated with:
8 Martial
Steadfast trait
−10% Heavy infantry maintenance cost
Thyreophoroi
Mastery of the Mountains
N/A
+15% Combat bonus in hills
+5% Combat bonus in mountains
Centuries of War
Greek Naval Heritage
If country has no ports then gain a port in a random coastal city (with available building slots)
Gain a navy with 8 Trireme units in a random owned port city
+10% Combat bonus in coastal sea
+10% Combat bonus in open sea
Arms for Hire
Proud Shipwrights
Gain 2 port building levels in the most populous coastal city
If country has no ports then build in the most populous coastal city (with available building slots)
−15% Ship building cost
Greek Naval Heritage
Embrace Graeco-Levantine Influence
Unlock Levantine tradition groups if any of the below culture groups has either500 pops or is equal to 25% of the country's primary culture pops:
Aksumite
Arabian
Egyptian
Levantine
Nubian
+5% Combat bonus in open sea
Proud Shipwrights
The Victor's Spoils
N/A
Enable Slave Raid ability
+10% Enslavement efficiency
Proud Shipwrights
City State Fortifications
Gain a fortress building level in the capital city
+15% Fort defense
+1 National fort infrastructure capacity
Arms for Hire
Tarentine Advance
N/A
+15% Light cavalry offense
City State Fortifications
Companion Cavalry
N/A
Enable Cavalry Skirmish tactic
−10% Light cavalry cost
Tarentine Advance
The Hipparchos
A new character is generated with:
8 Martial
Confident trait
+10% Heavy cavalry defense
+10% Light cavalry defense
Companion Cavalry
Tradition
Description
Arms for Hire
The Diadochi, despite, or perhaps due to their fractious bickering, were possessed of wealth beyond the dreams of most nascent monarchs. As such, mercenary cohorts were often available in the regions around these Greek despots.
Modernized Phalanx
Whilst partially responsible for the success of Alexander against the hosts of Darius the Third, the phalanx originally evolved out of the need for a highly defensive, armored formation, used by Greek city-states making war upon one another.
Specialist Infantry
Archery and the use of the sling was minor in the Hellenistic period, although the bespoke lead pellets employed by slingers acted as a formidable deterrent to enemy troops. Cretan archers were widely regarded as the best in their field.
Thyreophoroi
These lightly armored infantry were recognizable by the Thureos, a distinctive manner of shield, and were amongst the most mobile of the Greek troops.
Centuries of War
Constant feuds and battles between Greek kingdoms and states have taught our sons to be always ready and willing to give their lives in defense of their home.
Mastery of the Mountains
The soaring mountain ranges of central Greece have taught our people the fickle ways of doing battle in adverse terrain.
Greek Naval Heritage
Throughout the centuries Greek sailors have mastered the fickle mediterranean sea, as traders, soldiers and colonizers.
Proud Shipwrights
Control of the Aegean and nearby seas, demands a great focus on military and civilian shipbuilding. The availability of experienced shipwrights drives down prices considerably.
Embrace Graeco-Levantine Influence
N/A
The Victor's Spoils
Cities during the early Hellenistic era would often spar over the slightest of insults. Due to such frequent battles, wars between states resulted in a style of warfare which yielded the lowest number of casualties, but highest number of prisoners. The victor would then keep them as slaves, or ransom them back to their opponents for a hefty fee.
City State Fortifications
Centuries of infighting between Greek cities naturally resulted in the erection of numerous walls, towers and fortifications, designed to keep marauding armies at bay. The stonework required to develop such comprehensive structures is a testament to the master masons.
Tarentine Advance
The Tarentine cavalry, an elite group of mercenaries originating from Tarentum, utilized very unorthodox skirmishing tactics, which were adopted throughout the Hellenistic world.
Companion Cavalry
The Hetairoi were originally a Macedonian noble force, who pioneered the use of brute, shock charges. The Hetairoi were transplanted into various states, but retained their prestige as feared shock troops.
The Hipparchos
Often a charismatic and skilled general, a Hipparchos commanded a large unit of varying types of cavalry, often proscribing formational details down to a very fine degree.
Those of wealthy, fortunate, or noble birth learn their skills in horsemanship at a young age, often riding as a sport, as well as during warfare.
Agema
The Guard Cavalry formed a cadre of mounted warriors, who held the utmost respect and admiration for their King. It is said they are glad to lay down their lives in service of their overlord.
Peltasts
Ostensibly used as skirmishing troops, the Thracian peltast was equipped with a small shield, and a series of javelins. Later, peltasts were sought after as mercenaries, by many warring states.
Combined Arms
The glorious union of so many diverse styles of combat, is what makes the Hellenistic armies so unique. When each soldier knows their place, rigorous discipline will win the day.
Kataphraktoi
Astride monstrous warhorses, and clad in near-impenetrable armor, the Cataphracts were an expensive form of cavalry, which excelled at punching through similarly heavy armor with their strong lances.
Embrace Graeco-Persian Influence
N/A
Veterans of the Great Campaign
The proud military history of the Greeks reached a climax with Alexander's conquest of the Hellenistic world. What could not be learned from his life, is surely learned from the aftermath of his death.
Siegecraft
Nobody can claim to be masters of siegecraft as much as the Greeks. During the siege of Rhodes, and many years later in Thebes, vast siege towers known as Helepoli were deployed to attempt to bypass the formidable walls of these cities entirely. It is said that the Colossus of Rhodes itself was built using material from the abandoned siege engines of Demetrios.
Phoenician Sailors
The phoenicians forged an empire on the waves many centuries before Alexander's conquests. Encouraging their sailors to work for us is sure to give us an edge in naval warfare.
Forged for War
Alexander's death sparked a naval arms race between the Diadochi, formenting wars over access to Phoenician timber and shipwrights and the construction of ever larger vessels in the struggle for advantage.
Mine's Bigger Than Yours
For hundreds of years, the Hellenistic kingdoms attempted to outdo one another with larger and larger ships. From the huge Quadrireme, a staple warship of Monopthalmos' navies; to the gargantuan Tesserakonteres, a dual-hulled monstrosity rumored to require a crew of at least 4000, the skills of the Greek shipwrights is unmatched throughout the Hellenistic world.
The Sarissa
Phalangites, armed with a buckler, and a spear known as a sarissa, made of the core of the late Greek phalanx. The superior range of the sarissa made getting close to this formation a particularly deadly task.
The Silver Shields
A unit descended from veterans of Alexander's campaigns, the Argyraspides continue in their tradition of being a dangerous, elite cadre of well-armed warriors.
Military Colonies
A time honored way of ensuring that loyal troops were available, and justly rewarded, plots of land were granted to native greek soldiers known as cleruchs, in return for their service in the military.
Deep Coffers
Efficient and swift payment will always attract mercenaries, perhaps even willing to work for less than their neighbors.