An Excubitor stands watch outside the Senatorial Hall
Numerii Excubitors are the stalwart guardsmen elite of the Northern Republic. Dressed in the heaviest Calradian armour and armed with deadly weapons, they are the Republic's tenacity made manifest.
Their history began as foreign auxiliary regiment composed of fearsome tribesmen from Mount Iltan. Their fearsome prowess with the axe, as well as their lack of ties to Calradian politics saw them replace the old Scholae Palatinae as one of many elite guard regiments.
Though no longer exclusively Iltanlar born, the Excubitorii remains a predominantly foreign unit. Beneath their mailed visages could be anyone, from the mixed offspring of those mountain warriors to former Vaegir Guards.
Their foreign natures as well their lack of compunction in enforcing Senatorial authority has earned them the ire of the citizenry. Yet such authority despite their origins have also made them heroes in the eyes of the Foederati peoples who inhabit North Calradia. To them, they represent the possibility of a better life, no matter who they are. After all, it is said that at least one Emperor had been an Excubitor.
An Excubitor takes aim
Although they are the only tier 6 crossbowman in the mod, they are by no means the best at that job. They are however the most well armoured ranged foot unit, with strong shields. With strong axes and swords, along with the skills to use them, they are very capable melee infantry too.
Excubitors excel in siege warfare, combining both the ability to pick precise shots from behind cover and the sturdiness to fight on the ramparts. Though their shields are small, their sturdiness allows them to outlast most warriors in close combat.
They can be useful on the field too, though they will be somewhat susceptible to cavalry charges owing to their slower rate of fire and lack of spears. Against other ranged troops, their armour alone makes them difficult to take out in a shootout. They will not be inflicting as many casualties as an equivalent archer however- no lone crossbowman will.
Logistics wise, they have an even upgrade progression that allows them to safely and reliably reach their full potential. As rare tier 6 nobles however, they are very rare to come across, making them more of an elite complement than a true mainstay.
Four equipment loadouts
Excubitors are actually one of the first troops I've ever designed for this mod, made solely to prove to myself that I can make unique troops for each and every Calradian faction. Since then, I've grown somewhat sentimentally attached to them- and I do not even play Calradians!
Design wise, the Excubitors are based on an approximation of Justinian era Romans and my own need to create a super heavy infantryman. The result is not historically accurate, however I would like to think that they at least evoke a Late Roman/Early Byzantine styling.
I was conflicted on the idea of giving Northern Republic tier 6 crossbowmen, since it is the Vlandians who are crossbow specialists. In the Realistic Battle Mod however, crossbowmen lose to archers. That alone was cause enough to dismiss the idea of a pure tier 6 crossbowman.
A hybrid heavy infantryman with crossbows on the other hand has much more going for them than budget ranged weaponry. Coupled with their defensive style, it made sense for them to be North Calradian.
Older concept design, with helmets that do not fit Justinian era aesthetics
If you have anything you want to say, you are welcome to leave whatever comment you like. If you are interested in more, go ahead and join the discord server here.
