Etruscan Light Swordsmen

Summary
Light Swordsmen are an infantry brigade available to the Etruscan faction group in the mid-late game, with powerful melee stats but unable to boost their defenses through the phalanx formation.

"The short swords and large rectangular shields of the light swordsmen allow them to adapt easily to changing conditions on the battlefield and make them less reliant on their formation for defense than their hoplite forbearers."

- In-game Description

History
It's possible that the incursion of the nearby Gauls caused the Etruscans to adapt more flexible infantry tactics and gradually and/or partially move away from hoplite warfare at some point in the 4th or 3rd Century BC, as happened in most of the Mediterranean in general at this time for various reasons. However, there is a lack of detailed knowledge, aside from the occasional find of Celtic-style equipment, and the late-game swordsmen brigades seem to derive mostly from speculation by the developers and gameplay considerations.

Tactics
Etruscan Light Swordsmen are individually stronger than hoplites and even heavy hoplites in nearly every way, but are unable to boost their defenses through the phalanx formation and have a smaller brigade size than most hoplites and heavy hoplites. However, since Etruscan Heavy Hoplites also suffer from a smaller than usual brigade size and are much more expensive, Light Swordsmen are effectively a stronger and cheaper replacement for them in all melee situations, with Heavy Hoplites only being better at tanking missile fire such as during sieges.

Compared to other late-game swordsmen, Etruscan Light Swordsmen are both cheaper and stronger than Hastati and Sabellic Light Pilum Swordsmen, but lack a ranged attack and require a barracks in order to be recruited. Etruscan Light Swordsmen can even hold their own against heavier swordsmen such as the much more expensive Principes and Heavy Pilum Swordsmen in melee combat.

Etruscan Light Swordsmen are available earlier on than the comparable but even stronger Heavy Swordsmen, and may eventually be replaced by them in the player's army composition. Light Swordsmen are already a very strong and cost-effective melee infantry brigade, however, and a welcome replacement for the lackluster Etruscan Heavy Hoplites in the mid-late game.