Missile TroopsSlingers
Skirmishers
Archers
Peltasts
Kestros Slingers
PezhetairoiDeuteroi - From what I have read they were equipped as Levy Phalangites
Leukaspides - Younger Core, main line troop
Chalkaspides - Veteran Core, main line troop
Kleruchoi/Katoikoi - Settlers
Allied Phalangites - From Greece and other client states
Asthetairoi - Elite
InfantryHoplites
Thureophoroi - Did Macedon use them? Some mods do not include them
Thorakitai - See above
Hypaspists
Sword Hypaspists - Apparently were assault troops for sieges and quick maneuvers. Carried Javelins and Swords I believe. Check RTRPE. Could also be referred to as 'Royal Peltasts'.
CavalryHippakontistai
Prodromoi
Sarissophoroi
Lonchophoroi - See below
Xystophoroi
Hetairoi
Units in QuestionAmphipolitan and Bottian Phalangites:
From CATW:
Phalangites form the western and eastern districts of Macedonia. They were sturdy and disciplined mainland phalangites, differing from veterans by their lack of experience, but still having excellent training and equipment which made them quite impressive opponents for any phalanx.
From RS2:
Amphipolitan
The Amphipolitan phalangites are recruited specifically from eastern Macedon -- the area around the city of Amphipolis. Amphipolitan and Bottian phalangites together form the full levy of Macedonian citizens in the phalanx. They are not as powerful as the Agema phalangites, but they are nonetheless a dependable and necessary addition to any Macedonian army. This is a homeland unit.
Bottian
These men are recruits from two western districts of the Macedonian Kingdom, Upper Macedonia and Bottia. Here Philip II trained the Macedonian phalangitai for the first time and they are considered to be among the best soldiers in the world. They are well trained and brave -- maybe not yet as great as the men whom Alexander led in Asia, but they need just a bit of battle hardening! This is a homeland unit.
Aspidophoroi
From CATW:
In fact, it is still difficult to have a clear view of the tactics of this kind of cavalry unit, rarely mentioned by ancient authors. The main question was "were they just regular cavalrymen using a aspis in an isolated battle action, or was it a regular unit ? " Still debatable. However, the tactic used seems obviously to have a better action in melee combat, against other cavalrymen and infantrymen as well, even dismounted actions, the horse beeing only a way of transportation. In fact, betwwn the noble cavalry and the versatile, but lightly protected prodromoi, a gap existed, which was filled with time by many cavalry units, with many names and varied armament but a single goal : Add their weight in melee combat. The Aspidophroi were specifically designed to deal with javelin armed troops, peltasts and derivated thureophoroi and thorakitai which were common and more agile than the highly static phalanx, and defined new tactical approaches. So the aspidophoroi were first armed as prodromoi, but quite better protected, with an aspis and an armor, and a better hemet, perhaps thracian with large cheeks. It was also a useful melee cavalry, protecting the heavy lancers which leads the charge, making like a "safety corridor" on its sides.
From RS2:
The main weapon of the Aspidophoroi is the javelin -- but this is not skirmisher unit. They are heavy cavalry, armed with javelins for an added punch. They are also armed with a kopis sword for close combat, at which they excel, protected by their large shield. These riders have great skill, an excellent ranged attack, and a powerful charge. They are a particularly devastating evolution of the Macedonian heavy cavalry, and spell death to any light cavalry they close with.
Aspidophoroi are a wing of heavy cavalry that use javelins to skirmish as a primary weapon. They can be compared to a heavier version of the Tarantine style skirmishing cavalry overall in their abilities. Once they have inflicted initial skirmishing casualties on the enemies of the Ptolemaic Kingdom with their javelins, they can opt to switch to their swords and begin slaughtering the target at close range or initiate a charge to disrupt and smash enemy formations with solid single handed lances. As great all-round cavalry, these riders are able to skirmish and melee with heavily armed enemies both mounted and on foot due to their armor and their aspis shield. Against the elite cavalry the hetairoi or the massively armored cataphracts of the Seleucids, they may not have the ability to overcome these powerful cavalry wings without support from other cavarly or infantry suited for the task.
Cavalry in the later time periods after Alexander was no longer used mainly for the hammer and anvil tactic that served Alexander so well against the Persians. Cavarlymen from the Hellenistic powers, such as the Macedonians and Ptolemies, were trained to combine functions of skimishing and melee and along with this they were equipped with defenses that would grant them more protection than normal in melee. Thus, the best cavalrymen trained for this can make a surprising statement on the battlefield by warding off skirmisher foot and cavalry while still being the bane of phalanxes if they can get around the flanks to threaten the phalanx. Commanders should be quick to use them in both roles to achieve the upper hand on the battlefield!
From EB:
Hail Stratege! The men mounted before you are among your most vital cavalrymen. Armored in leather torso armour and carrying stout shields, they are well able to last in melee. After throwing their iron tipped javelins, they will retreat behind the shock cavalry, and then help to exploit the breakthrough made by the lancers by weight and skill. Do not misuse them, for they are an elite among your horsemen, and are difficult to replace. Still, they are well able to hold their own in virtually any melee, since each man's heavy kopis will deal death to those infantry who dare approach them.
Historically, the successor states fielded cavalry different from what Alexandros had used. These men solved a very practical problem: how do you soften up an infantry line for a charge, and then exploit it afterward? After the early days of the successor kingdoms, there were never enough men of this stature to make a massive impact on the battlefield. But, perhaps you will learn from the mistake of allowing your own opulence overshadow the needs of your army?
Lonchophoroi
From CATW:
The "lonchophoi" were in fact "rearmed aspidophoroi", they were equipped with a lance as a main weapon, the machaira still doing its bloody business in close quarters. But their main origin was the prodromoi, they were rearmed with a lance like the sarisphoroi for tactical actions and an excellent protection to deal with medium and light infantymen on the battlefield. With time, some could have been given greaves for added protection.
From RS2:
The Lonchophoroi are the sturdy medium cavalry of Macedon. They are armed with the xyston lance and a heavy shield. Cheaper than the Companions or other Macedonian heavy cavalry, but still able to pack a real punch as they charge into enemy formations, they fill a vital role in the order of battle.
Not all heavy cavalry consisted of the hetairoi. Another notable type, the lonchophoroi, are the sturdy medium cavalry of Macedonian origin consisting of the wealthier nobleman who were trained to formed a sturdy unit of cavalry. These cavalrymen were available and used by the successors after Alexander. Their primary purpose was as shock troops, crashing into the enemy lines trying to breach them, hoping to cause a rout. They are armed with the cavalry lance, linothorax with scales, and a round heavy shield. Cheaper than the Companions or other Macedonian heavy cavalry, but still able to pack a real punch as they charge into enemy formations, they fill a vital role in the order of battle. While many cavalry have to charge, retreat, and charge again, well trained lonchophoroi simply need a good charge to allow their melee abilities to further expand the gap in enemy formations. As with all cavalry, use caution around spearmen, even weaker ones.
Like other heavy cavalry, they can provide shock value at the onset of battle coupled with the melee skill to stay fighting longer than light cavalry but not as long as heavy cavalry can melee. These riders are not as heavily armored as hetairoi or the cataphracts. This makes them much faster in the chase, though not as fast as light cavalry which have little or no armor weighing them down. In a close combat situation the lonchophoroi are a good balance in performance and abilities between the heaviest cavalry and the medium and light cavalry. Like the xystophoroi, these are also ideal on scouting missions, as they all possess the quick speed and strong muscle to fight there way through an ambush and if caught far from friendly forces and can hold their own when required.
From EB:
Hail Stratege! Fine noblemen forming a sturdy body of cavalry whose purpose is to crash into your foe and have the staying power to breach his line are here, arrayed before you. Armed with stout single handed lances and the mighty aspis of our ancestors, they can unleash a terrible charge. Once they have inflicted gruesome casualties on our enemies, they will switch to their melee weapon and begin a close-in slaughter. While men from Epeiros or Makedonia proper would have the sturdy Kopis, men further east may prefer the stout bladed war axe like that used by Alexander at the Granicus. They are armored with scale reinforced linen, greaves, and masked Phrygrian helmets that betray naught but the angry face of Zeus Pater or wrathful Poseidon. They are best used as a general purpose heavy cavalry. However, if facing the sturdier men from the east, or, Gods forbid, the elite Hetairoi or massive Kataphraktoi of the Seleukides and Baktrioi, they may not have the staying power that they would against other heavy cavalry. Use them well, and they will give your enemies naught but the death they so richly deserve!
Historically, the lancers of later Hellenistic armies were divided into several types. Some cavalry performed shock roles as a secondary function, with the charge itself being their goal, and thus it became necessary to develop a specific force of cavalry who could charge in suppport but lend staying power to their comrades. This sort of cavalry was used to great effect by the forces of Syrakousai and Taras in the west, Epeiros, Pergamon and Makedonia in the heartland of the Greek and Makedonian peoples, and the even the great Hellenistic kingdoms of Aigyptos, Syria, and Baktria. They appear on both sides at the battle of Magnesia, where they and the Pergamene Hetairoi checked the advance of more heavily armored Seleukid cavalry, allowing the Romans to roll up the line of Seleukid infantry. Still, they have some weaknesses, and should not be expected to defeat elite troops in prolonged battle.