Origins of Velites

[Tarkus]

I'm in the early (and difficult!) phases of a Romani campaign -- now 262BC -- when I see a small stack of Aphistamenoi southeast of Arretium. This stack includes a unit of velites.

I haven't been able to find a satisfactory answer to when velites began to appear on the battlefield. Why do they show up in Eleutheroi armies in 262BC when I can't get them for at least 20 more years?

Thanks in advance...GREAT sim!

By the way -- while I solidify my gains on the Italian peninsula and eastern Sicily, it's rather amazing to watch the Makedonians, Epirotes and KH slug it out across mainland Greece...a real bloodbath.

[Ludens]

There is no way of restricting the appearance of certain units as brigands. Either Velites can appear as brigands in all eras, or they won't appear at all. The EB team has chosen to make them appear in all eras.

[Urnamma]

There is no way of restricting the appearance of certain units as brigands. Either Velites can appear as brigands in all eras, or they won't appear at all. The EB team has chosen to make them appear in all eras.

Indeed. Velites arise out of the old classes of light infantry. I'd say a good bet is right after the first punic war is when they appear, though actual dates for them becoming more formalized are hard to come by.

[Tarkus]

Thanks, Ludens and Urnamma...understand the issues surrounding this.

I knew that velites, at least in the context of EB, are one of the defining characteristics of the Polybian reforms, which would therefore put them in place around the time of the Punic Wars gearing up. I was just envious of the Eleutheroi having them so much earlier!