why are the roman units so cheap?

[anubis88]

is that for rapresenting their numerical superiority over the other nations? I mean their units are so cheap i never even bother playing with them for a long time, since i always swim in cash

[Tartaros]

because they are levy units.

like pantodapai phalangitai
330mnai / 122 persons = 2,70 mnai per person

hastati
256mnai / 82 persons = 3,12 mnai per person

[/Bean\]

During the Republic the men of the legions supply their own equipment. Thus the upkeep represents the food costs and such, compared to the more elite units of other factions' proffessional armies whose weapons and equipment were supplied by the state.

[antisocialmunky]

I'm not sure what factions were actually 'professional' during this time period. The Roman Legions are cheap to represent the Roman Republic massive manpower reserves.

[/Bean\]

Professional armies, not professional factions. The Romans had professional armies after the Marian reforms, as an example. Beforehand they had a civilian army, like many other city state based empires.

[Prussian to the Iron]

so then the next question i guess is:

what other countries historically had profesional armies, when and how professional?

im especially curious about carthage, because north africa would be hard to have professional armies bbesides maybe seleukia and egypt.