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Berserker
Description
Norwegian unique Medieval era melee unit that replaces the Man-At-Arms. 4 Movement if this unit starts in enemy territory. +10 Combat Strength when attacking and -5 Combat Strength when defending against melee attacks.
Historical Context
According to a number of Old Norse sources, the berserkers (Ulfheonar or “Odin’s special warriors”) were Vikings who fought in “an uncontrollable, trance-like fury.” Other sagas note they forsook armor and went into battle bare-chested wearing wolf pelts, and were “mad as hounds, bit their shields … they slew men but neither fire nor iron had effect upon them.” Pretty impressive, even to the other fun-loving Norsemen. King Harald Fairhair supposedly used them as shock troops in the front ranks of his army c. 800 AD, and other Norse kings kept some as royal bodyguards, depending on their fierce reputation to keep the unruly in line. As the pious Christians said, “From the fury of the Norsemen, good Lord, deliver us.”
PortraitSquare
icon_unit_norwegian_berserker

Traits

Unique To
Upgrades To
Upgrade From
Promotion Class: Melee

Requirements

Technology
Production Cost
Base Cost: 160 Production
Base Resource Cost: 10 Iron (on Standard Speed)
Purchase Cost
Base Cost: 640 Gold
Maintenance Cost
Base Cost: 3 Gold
PortraitSquare
icon_unit_norwegian_berserker
Description
Norwegian unique Medieval era melee unit that replaces the Man-At-Arms. 4 Movement if this unit starts in enemy territory. +10 Combat Strength when attacking and -5 Combat Strength when defending against melee attacks.
Historical Context
According to a number of Old Norse sources, the berserkers (Ulfheonar or “Odin’s special warriors”) were Vikings who fought in “an uncontrollable, trance-like fury.” Other sagas note they forsook armor and went into battle bare-chested wearing wolf pelts, and were “mad as hounds, bit their shields … they slew men but neither fire nor iron had effect upon them.” Pretty impressive, even to the other fun-loving Norsemen. King Harald Fairhair supposedly used them as shock troops in the front ranks of his army c. 800 AD, and other Norse kings kept some as royal bodyguards, depending on their fierce reputation to keep the unruly in line. As the pious Christians said, “From the fury of the Norsemen, good Lord, deliver us.”

Traits

Unique To
Upgrades To
Upgrade From
Promotion Class: Melee

Requirements

Technology
Production Cost
Base Cost: 160 Production
Base Resource Cost: 10 Iron (on Standard Speed)
Purchase Cost
Base Cost: 640 Gold
Maintenance Cost
Base Cost: 3 Gold