Use with the divinity and cult associations from Part I, or alone to generate a plethora of hoplite varieties.
~ARMOR~
Hoplites always have at least a hoplon shield, otherwise they wouldn't be a hoplite. Their other protection can vary though. Select or roll d6.
1. Heavy Hoplite Armor: Helmet, breastplate or linothorax, and greaves (+6 to +8 AC bonus; +4 to +6 vs. rear attacks)
2. Medium Hoplite Armor A: Helmet and breastplate or linothorax (+5 to +7 AC bonus; +3 to +5 vs. rear attacks)
3. Medium Hoplite Armor B: Breastplate or linothorax and greaves (+5 to +6 AC bonus; +3 to +4 vs. rear attacks)
4. Medium Hoplite Armor C: Helmet and greaves (+4 to +5 AC bonus; +2 to +3 vs. rear attacks)
5. Light Hoplite Armor A: Helmet or breastplate/linothorax or greaves (+3 to +5 AC bonus; +1 to +3 vs. rear attacks)
6. Light Hoplite Armor B: None, hoplon shield only (+2 AC bonus; +0 vs. rear attacks)
Armor Color d12: roll once for primary color, twice for highlights
1-5. Bronze
6-7. Silver
8. Golden
9. White (note: linothorax often remains white, even if other parts of armor aren't- a base 75% chance)
10. Black
11. Other, per Referee
12. Combo (two primary colors, one highlight)
Tunic Color d12 (base 50% chance of also having a cape)
1-2. None/ nude
3-7. Red
8. White
9. Black
10. Blue
11. Purple
12. Per Referee
HOPLON SHIELD
+2 AC bonus vs. attacks from the front, +4 when hoplite allies are also defending on either side (as part of a phalanx)
Symbol
1. None
2. Bird
3. Bull
4. Gorgon
5. Horse or Pegasus
6. Legs (3 as a Triskelon)
7. Letter/ Per City-State
8. Other Beast
9. Other Mythical Creature
10. Per Divinity or Cult (see Part I)
11. Spiral
12. Other, Per Referee
HELMET
Corinthian: (full helm) +2.5 AC bonus, -2 to sight and hearing checks (a Corinthian helm plus linothorax grants a +5 total AC bonus, a Corinthian helm only grants +2 AC in other cases)
Chaldician: (partial face and side-covering helm) +2 AC bonus, -1 to sight and hearing checks
Illyrian: (open-faced helm) +2 AC bonus, -2 to hearing checks
Boetian or Pilos: (simple helm) +1 AC bonus, no penalties unless one wants to really show off their hair
Plume/Crest d12 (base 75% chance)
1. Red
2. Red & Black
3. Red & White
4. Black
5. Black & White
6. Blue or Green
7. Uncolored or Color Per Referee
8. Metal (plume is part of helm)
9. Raised/ J-Hooked (reroll 1d8 for color)
10. Transverse (reroll 1d8 for color)
11. Includes Feathers (reroll 1d8 for color, then roll again for plume itself)
12. Per Referee
BODY ARMOR
Breastplate: +3 AC bonus, -3 to DEX checks if bell shaped, -2 to DEX checks if muscled
Linothorax: +2.5 AC bonus, -1 to DEX checks (a Corinthian helm plus linothorax grants a +5 total AC bonus, a linothorax only grants +2 AC in other cases)
GREAVES
+1 AC bonus/ +2 vs. smaller foes or those on lower ground, -1 to DEX checks
DEXTERITY BONUS
Added
with the various combinations of hoplite armor, the total maximum AC
bonus can be just +10 vs. front attacks, since heavier armor would preclude
much dodging. Remember that hoplites can also improve their AC by 1 per
odd level each round though if they choose to focus more on defense, allowing them gain more than the +10 bonus. And
of course, magic armor can grant even greater protection (per Referee)!
~WEAPONS~
Hoplites naturally bear a hoplon shield and dory spear, with either a xiphos or kopis sword as a backup weapon.
Hoplon: included with the +1 per odd level bonus choices, so hoplites can use their shield to add damage rather than improving AC. Otherwise, it can be part of two-weapon fighting if the Referee so wishes.
Dory: good for keeping foes at bay, the hoplite's spear does double damage on a hit vs. a charge, and also allows its wielder to attack before the one charging does.
Xiphos: a straight short sword, it can grant a +1 bonus to AC via parrying or even a +1 to hit those in heavy armor thanks to its piercing quality.
Kopis: a curved short sword, it can grant a +1 to damage those who unarmored or even those who are on lower ground.
Next week: Cyclopes!
