Right or Left Handed?

[vortex]

I'm not sure if this has already been discussed, or if anyone else has noticed this, but depending on the camera angle, units sometimes appear to have their swords in their left hand. Then when I rotate the camera, the swords switch to the right hand. Has anyone else noticed this?

[Lehesu]

That is an integral part of the graphic system used. Total War uses sprites for it's battles; not fully 3d stuff. The new Rome game will not have that same problem, as it doesn't use sprites.

[Jacque Schtrapp]

Since the units are 2 dimensional sprites, you are literally seeing a mirror image when shifting views from one side to the other.

[A.Saturnus]

Makes me wonder. In RTW will there all men be right-handed? Can a left-handed man fit into a cohort? Does anyone know how this was managed?

[Longasc]

I think he fought right handed in formation and left-handed in one-on-one combat.

Do not think that there are any reliable sources about this, but it is really interesting

[Portuguese Rebel]

Left handed men in cohorts were placed on the right in close formation like the turtle. You see, a man who is left handed will use the right as the shield arm. Left handed men were very appreciated in armys, both in Rome and Greek hopolites. In case of Greek hopolite battles, many times the battle was decided by in how much time the right flank of an army crushed the left flank of the others army. This wsa because commanders used their best men on the right flank to keep them safe from skirmishers (remember they are carrying the shield on the left, and so, mainly safe from arrows/javelins). Left handed men could fit in a formation to deny the enemy the possibility to kill valorous warriors with a lucky shot (like Richard the Lion Heart, killed by a revel crossbow bolt).

[The_Emperor]

Quote[/b] (Longasc @ June 04 2003,07:13)]I think he fought right handed in formation and left-handed in one-on-one combat.

Do not think that there are any reliable sources about this, but it is really interesting

It would be great if they put in a few random left handed guys into a formation... of course given that there are more right handed people in the world the numbers could pan out.

[Hakonarson]

IMO there were no left handed Hoplites - the whole hoplon system depended upon all the sheilds being held the same way and each man covering the open side of the man to his left - a single left-handed hoplite anywhere in the formation would have buggered up the shield wall.

I do vaguely recall some mention of them in a Chinese army - somethign I read 25+ years ago - I think I still have the book but it's quite outdated and discredited now.

I don't recall any mention of them in the Roman army, and would be interested in any reference you have.