Are Polybian Units better than Marian? Discussion about Stats

[Foot]

Okay, we have a misunderstanding of the term. All militias were trained. Training does not equal professional. Professional is where there is no other occupation that hinders their service, as I am aware I believe that members of the roman team have stated that before the Augustan reforms the legions were largely (not entirely) disbanded after a campaign. Over time this would have course led to the same people being called up who would become better and better but we have the Evocata for that. I'm sure a roman team member would be able to answer better, however.

Foot

[QuintusSertorius]

Okay, we have a misunderstanding of the term. All militias were trained. Training does not equal professional. Professional is where there is no other occupation that hinders their service, as I am aware I believe that members of the roman team have stated that before the Augustan reforms the legions were largely (not entirely) disbanded after a campaign. Over time this would have course led to the same people being called up who would become better and better but we have the Evocata for that. I'm sure a roman team member would be able to answer better, however.

Foot

Training was different, though. Polybian soldiers were trained to maneuver at the manipular and legion level, not how to handle a sword and shield. It was assumed fathers, brothers, uncles and so on would be doing that away from campaign. Many men would already have experience of campaigning previously, because they were called up repeatedly.

Post-Marian troops were trained in everything they did, because it was no longer assumed that there would be male relatives to do the training. The point of the Evocata is that they're men who had signed on for the full term, and returned. Most men who were disbanded would actually be demobilised to farming colonies, not re-recruited.

However, many post-Marian units weren't disbanded for a long time, campaigns could last decades, and some units were never brought home. No they weren't fully professional, but they were no longer citizen levies like Polybian men were.