Spearman

Available to nearly all civilisations, the Spearman is one of the most common units in the game. They're cheap and early counter-cavalry units.

Vital

 * Type: Heavy Infantry
 * Trained at: Barracks
 * Age: II
 * Cost: 40 food, 40 wood and 1 pop

Combat

 * Hitpoints: 120
 * Resistance: 10% Hand
 * Speed: 5
 * Hand Attack: 10 - 4xCavalry - (ROF: 1.5)
 * Siege Attack: 30 - (ROF: 3)

Strategical Use
Spearmen have a bonus against cavalry, and a decent siege attack. As such, they can be used for both normal combat, and the destruction of enemy buildings. Spearmen are easily the cheapest way to take out enemy buildings, though like all infantry and cavalry units, they cannot attack Walls, and siege equipment is necessary to bring those down.

Spearmen also excel against cavalry, particulalry in the special Spearwall formation. They can hold their ground against other infantry like Halberdiers and Skirmishers, but they're particularly weak against Men-at-Arms and Archers.

Upgrades
The Spearman can be upgraded into the Improved Spearman, Great Spearman and Spearman Legend.

History
Most Spearmen were militia armed with simple polearms. They wore light armor and usually a large shield to protect them from the lances and swords of the cavalry they were meant to counter. Spearmen were disdained in the Early and High Middle Ages, as nobody truly believed that townsfolk armed with pointy sticks could stop a Knight of noble descent. As the Late Middle Ages dawned however, and spears started to become longer and transform into pikes, the Knight started its downfall. Heavy cavalry was still used, but commanders were quick to steer them away from pike or spear formations, as they knew it might cost them dearly. The final use for Spearmen came after the invention of gunpowder, when so called 'Pike and Shot' formations became common. The Hand Gunners would stand behind the Spearmen and take out distant enemies, while the Spearmen held the line against cavalry charges.