How the Maniple Formation worked?

[cmacq]

I have to point out that the manipular system of the Romans, just as the phalanx or any other 'system', was not an abstract method of tactics developed by a fore-sighted Roman General Staff and War College. There was no such thing. The maniples developed over time, due to many factors, few of which could be expressed in the stats. It was deeply rooted in the roman notion of virtus and the importance of single combat, and although it was successful for the Romans, it would be a mistake to apply it to anyone else. Read Lendon for the best discussion of this, but remember, a real live roman Triarius didn't know what his AP rating was or how many hit points he had.

Actually the Romans did have a General Staff with a fore-sighted eye on survival and it was called 'the Senate.' Additionally, they had two War Colleges, and these were called 'the School of Hard Knocks, and 'the Battle Field.' Also with their homestead in the middle of a very bad neighborhood, their Senate's abstract method of tactical development was called, 'adapt or die.' Otherwise the Romans developed very little themselves, instead they took nearly everything they had from others, even the concept of single combat. One may want to look more at the move to medium and light infantry to combat Hellenistic type heavy infantry, as well.


CmacQ