| Raiders | |
|---|---|
| |
| Unit type | Javelin Infantry |
| Base cost | 20  Food, 10  Wealth,
10 |
| Ramping cost | 1 Wealth, 1  Timber
|
| Creation time | 4.7 seconds |
| Hit points | 50 |
| Line of sight | 11 |
| Movement speed | 32 |
| Attack strength | 23 |
| Attack range | 6-11 |
| Armour | 0 |
| Population cost | 
|
| Created at | Peasant Dwellings |
| Prerequisites |   ,  
|
| Upgrades from | none |
| Upgrades to | Velites |
| Available to | 
|
Raiders in Kings & Conquerors are warriors who have gained combat experience either (oxymoronically) as sellswords or bandits, preying on the unwary. Javelins provide them with a handy and effective weapon that can be easily created from the elements of the world, meaning that they are often self-sufficient and confident warriors endowed with plenty of prowess. Unlike Skirmisher Levy who are vastly weaker, these are highly proficient warriors, who are extremely fast on foot within your own borders, and also enjoy slightly better range, making them useful as skirmish units, in addition to their anti-archer bonus with their being javelin infantry. The one problem with these units, however is that unlike conventional Skirmisher Levy, they have a ramp cost in Wealth and take a little longer to train, but that is the price one pays in order to raise good infantry.
Even so they have their limits, Raiders are best employed behind a screen of Warriors, owing to their vulnerability to cavalry strikes, so never try to use them on their own in the field.
History
A javelin is a highly versatile weapon, being capable of being used as a projectile weapon every bit as a spear. As a result, they are always often the favourite weapon of prehistoric peoples who tend to eke their living in the wilds. Equally, it is also sufficiently sturdy that it has a strong chance of recovery after a battle, so it is a weapon that is often associated with primitive societies who have little in the way of manufacturing facilities.