according to the books I have read and own on the subject of roman warfare most experts seem to agree that the roman army would deploy in the following formation: (bear with me, theres a point to this)..

xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx
xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx -----> Vangard : hastati+skimishers / legionaries
xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx
xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx



_____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx
_____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx -----> Principes / legionaries
_____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx
_____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx


xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx
xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxx____xxxxx____xxxxx ---------> Triari / Auxilary



Nearing contact with the enemy, the vangard would deploy as such:


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

: this would work by the back two lines moving into the gaps between maniples. This presented a single unbroken line to the enemy - showing no weak points. Should the front line get into trouble the second line (principes / legionaries) would advance and move into gaps made by the front line like so:

hastati maniple, engaged:

vv baddies! vvv
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - hastati retreating
x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x
v v v v v v v

^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x - principes advancing
x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x

My question is how do you fight with your roman legions in EB? I find that if I produce an unbroken line as above the AI always outflanks me with the length of his line. If I, like some players here, fight a battle engaging the vangard as seperate maniples with gaps (see my fist pic) then the casualties are excessive even with a poor quality enemy such as the gauls. Also, fighting like this the principles have to engage because the enemy rushes through the gaps and attack them. Therefore, you may as well have an unbroken line.

I guess my beef is with the AI, They always seem to attack on a very wide front. i usually then deploy, if i have a large stack, thus:

XXXXXHastatiXXXXXXX
XXXXXSkirmishesXXXX
XXXXXPrinciplesXXXXX

XX___XarchersX___XX
XX_______________XX - Triari and Aux on wings
XX_____XXXX_____XX
________Cavalry

My basic rule is try and have a large shock force of renforcements. I usually end up having to swing my principles/second line round my flanks to secure them from attack and then any principles/legionaries/auxilaries/triari left to charge the enemy after it has been engaged and tiring. I often find myself rolling up the enemy, something which it never really does. I ALWAYS have to do this roll up when I fight Macedonian Phalanx formations. If the enemy has a full stack or an advantage\parity of numbers then they will usually attack on one or both wings and one point in the middle, to (im guessing) keep my front troops engaged.

Am I wrong in thinking that the roman army fought from the centre out and buldozed their way through the enemy? like what happened at Canne?

Also, any cavalry that is on my flank gets chased off with the enemy's spear troops. Is this realisic? historically both armies had cavalry on the wings and unless spear troops sprung a trap (like hiding in long grass etc it was horseman against horseman. This almost never happens.

Also, i usually have to end up using my triari... this was considered bad form in republican rome.

So... how do you fight using rome? What addons do you use to help with authentic battle tactics? Are we stuck, on the last EB 1.2 version with these limitations?