Hoplite Combat

Skill Overview

Hoplite Combat is a skill originally developed by the Aestivans.

The Hoplite style of fighting allows a powerful, coordinated assault using a spear while protecting the user behind their shield.

Hoplite Combat requires the usage of a shield and spear. The spear can be either a short spear or standard spear, and any type of shield will work. Note that you may find the {{1w?ield}} command helpful for explicitly wielding a spear in one hand only. The Hoplite style uses a combination of shield & weapon type in determining how fast and strong attacks ultimately are. Because of this, the type of shield you use is important, because it can affect both attack speed and damage. A bash and jab with a Kelestian assault shield and tin spear will produce a heavy bruise and a light pierce, for example. A combination of boison spear and Kelestian assault shield will be much slower than a retalq spear and buckler.

While this skill set can be optionally complemented by knowledge of spears combat, note that the two styles have different stances. Many standard spears maneuvers cannot be used with one hand, and those that can will not benefit from their usual Ebros' Scorpion stance bonus if used while in Hoplite stance.

For additional guidance on using this skill set, see the Hoplite Combat Guide.

					Skill Info			Ranks Taught by Trainer
Skills/Actions	Difficulty	Hands	Range	Wound	Prerequisite	Krindalus	A short sturdy man
Hoplite Combat	Easy	-	-	-	-	250	500
Hoplite Combat Stance	Easy	2	-	-	Wielded Shield	250	500
Hoplite Phalanx Thrust	Easy	2	Either	Pierce	-	250	500
Hoplite Bash and Jab	Easy	2	Short	Bruise Pierce	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Shielded Stab	Easy	2	Either	Pierce Pierce	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Rising Thrust	Average	2	Short	Pierce	-	250	500
Hoplite Defensive Repel	Average	2	Short	Pierce	-	250	500
Hoplite Rotating Bash	Average	2	Either	Bruise	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Shielded Advance	Average	2	Long	Bruise	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Underhand Thrust	Average	2	Either	Pierce	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Stab and Swing	Average	2	Short	Pierce Bruise	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Leaping Thrust	Difficult	2	Short	Pierce	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Sweep and Thrust	Difficult	2	Short	Bruise	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Spinning Chop	Difficult	2	Either	Cut	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Whirling Strike	Difficult	2	Short	Cut Bruise	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Slam and Thrust	Difficult	2	Either	Bruise Pierce	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Lunge and Strike	Impossible	2	Short	Pierce Bruise	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Feint	Average	2	Either	-	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Swinging Block	Difficult	2	-	-	Hoplite Combat Stance	250	500
Hoplite Accuracy	Difficult	-	-	-	-	100	100
Hoplite Grip	Impossible	-	-	-	-	100	100

Directions to Krindalus (Vetallun): Walk to Vetallun Road, Walk to Vetallun Crossroads, W, W, W, S
Directions to A short sturdy man (Blackvine): Walk to Blackvine, S, SE, E, E, E, E, S, S, S, S, S

Notes on Learning

short sturdy man (Blackvine) will only teach you once you have enough reputation#Franlius.

Skill Details

Hoplite Combat Stance hoplite

This stance gives a bonus to hoplite attacks as well as shield bashes, and is required to perform some hoplite maneuvers.

The maximum bonus for a weapon stance is generally achieved at 100 ranks.

When you see this in use you see:

You grip your bronze-tipped spear and raise your shield vertically before you. A gladiator is holding his spear to the side with a shield vertically before him.

Phalanx Thrust pthrust

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high, mid(default), low.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.

When you see this in use you see:

With a deft twist, you drive your bronze-tipped spear underhanded into a gladiator! He suffers a puncture to his waist.

Bash and Jab bjab

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high(default), mid, low.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.
• Multi-hitting attack.

When you see this in use you see:

Slamming your shield into a gladiator, you follow with a quick spear jab! He suffers a ugly bruise to his face. He suffers a puncture to his right shoulder.

Shielded Stab shstab

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high, mid(default), low.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.
• Multi-hitting attack.

When you see this in use you see:

Using your shield to balance, you stab a gladiator twice with your spear! He suffers a puncture to his waist. He suffers a puncture to his right thigh.

Rising Thrust rthr?ust

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high (default).
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.
• Executing this attack will leave the attacker in a more aggressive posture.

When you see this in use you see:

Rising from a low crouch, you surge into a high stance and stab aggressively at a gladiator with your spear! He suffers a faint wound to his right arm.

Defensive Repel drep?el

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: mid(default).
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.
• This maneuver retreats you from your target (even if the strike is unsuccessful).
• Executing this attack will leave the attacker in a more defensive posture.

When you see this in use you see:

You retreat You push a gladiator with your shield, stepping back defensively while stabbing with your spear! He suffers a puncture to his left thigh.

Rotating Bash rbash

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high(default), mid.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.

When you see this in use you see:

You sling your bronze-tipped spear over your back, feint a stab at a gladiator, then rotate it to bash hard! He suffers a ugly bruise to his head.

Shielded Advance sadv?ance

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: mid(default).
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.
• This maneuver approaches you to your target (even if the strike is unsuccessful). If you were already approached to 3 other targets, you will be randomly disengaged from one of those previous targets.

When you see this in use you see:

You lift your shield high and charge forward, thrusting your spear at a gladiator! He suffers a puncture to his waist.

Underhand Thrust uthrust

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high (default).
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.

When you see this in use you see:

You sweep your shield aside and thrust your spear upward at a gladiator with an underhand grip! He suffers a puncture to his head.

Stab and Swing sswing

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high, mid, low (default).
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.
• Multi-hitting attack.

When you see this in use you see:

With a bold lunge, you stab forward at a gladiator with your spear, then whip it back to slam your shield's inside edge in a grand arc! He suffers a puncture to his left foot. He suffers a ugly bruise to his right foot.

Leaping Thrust lthrust

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high (default), mid.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.

When you see this in use you see:

You step to the side suddenly then leap into the air, striking a decayed recruit with your bronze-tipped spear! He suffers a deep puncture to his neck.

Sweep and Thrust swthr?ust

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: low(default).
• This attack can be aimed at specific (low) body parts, but the aiming has no functional effect. (The damaging follow-up strike will always be targeted at a random high body part.)
• This attack will strike the opponent with a successful roll, even if it fails to knock them down.
• The roll-over-success required to knock the opponent down is based on your ranks in this skill.

When you see this in use you see:

Reversing your grip, you swing your spear's haft in a low sweep at a gladiator and trip him with the haft! You use the momentum of the motion to bring around the head of the spear for a quick stab! He suffers a deep puncture to his face.

Spinning Chop schop

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high (default), mid.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.

When you see this in use you see:

You swing your shield wide, rotate with it close, and chop your spearhead down at a gladiator! He suffers a deep cut to his right hand.

Whirling Strike wstrike

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high, mid (default), low.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.
• Multi-hitting attack. Only one hit is guaranteed; chance of hitting twice is rank-dependent.

When you see this in use you see:

Crouching low, you swing your shield sideways and slash a gladiator with your spearhead! He suffers a deep cut to his left thigh. Crouching low, you swing your shield sideways and slash a gladiator with your spearhead! He suffers a deep cut to his right thigh. You complete the turn and crack a gladiator with the haft! He suffers a ugly bruise to his waist.

Slam and Thrust sthrust

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high(default), mid, low.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.
• Multi-hitting attack.

When you see this in use you see:

You lunge forward, slamming your shield into a gladiator, then leap back off your lead foot to deliver a heavy spear thrust! He suffers a ugly bruise to his chest. He suffers a deep puncture to his left shoulder.

Lunge and Strike lstrike

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high, mid (default), low.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.
• Multi-hitting attack. Only one hit is guaranteed; chance of hitting twice is rank-dependent.

When you see this in use you see:

You lunge forward with a swift spear stab at a gladiator! He suffers a severe puncture to his right thigh. You lunge forward with a swift spear stab at a gladiator! He suffers a severe puncture to his left thigh. You complete the withdrawal and smash a gladiator with your shield! He suffers a fracture to his waist.

Feint hfeint

• This attack can be aimed at the following regions: high (default), mid, low.
• This attack can be aimed at specific body parts.

When you see this in use you see:

You lean forward, feigning a stab at a gladiator with your bronze-tipped spear! A gladiator has left a vast high defensive opening.

Swinging Block n/a

This block counters weapon traps as well as some attacks that shields are unable to defend against.

When you see this in use you see:

You twist your body to one side, aiming a crushing blow at a gladiator's chest with your tin war hammer, but miss. A gladiator swings the head of his bronze-tipped spear in front of him, deflecting the attack.

Hoplite Accuracy n/a

With enough training in Accuracy, you are able to raise your perception in combat situations. A grandmaster in this skill will be equivalent to low-end great perception.

(This is a passive skill that improves your perception, making it easier to hit targets.)

Hoplite Grip n/a

With enough training in Grip, you are able to raise your dexterity in combat situations. A grandmaster in this skill will be equivalent to low-end great dexterity.

(This is a passive skill that improves your dexterity, making it significantly easier to hit targets.)