Right flank

[GFX707]

Does anyone know if the weakness of the right flank of roman legionary(sp?) formations will be modelled in the game?

[IrishMike]

Mabey a helpful and friendly CA god will drop in and give us the info we require. Sounds like a good ideal though to counter Rome obvious advantage in millitary might.

[Oaty]

So what was the weakness of the Roman right flank?

[lonewolf371]

Wasn't it just because they had to hold their shield with their left hand? Or the positioning of the cohorts (i.e. the first "super" cohort, can't remember proper name, placed on left?). In both cases I don't think it would have made any major historical difference, most things I've read on Roman battles don't list the right flank as an active weakness in Roman armies. In addition, despite the fact that the position of the "super" or "first" cohort (can't remember proper name) may be on the left, such an overall weakness in the legion would be demonstrated in the game by, oh say, having one unit of praetorians (or does the game actually have "first" cohort legionarries?) positioned on the left in your battle formation.

[GFX707]

I always thought this was a well documented thing. Yes, the above reasons are correct.

Mainly due to the shield being held in the left hand of course. Obviously it applies to more than just the Romans, but I was just wondering if such a thing would be included.

[Kommodus]

If you watch the Time Commanders battle of Silarus River, they point out that the Roman armies at the time placed their best troops on the right flank (i.e. first cohort). The web site www.roman-empire.net has some good information about the typical Roman battle order. If I remember correctly, the cohorts were numbered 1-10, with five in the front and five behind, arranged according to experience and other factors. In the end, the left flank of the army ends up being weaker than the right.

Since players will, of course, be able to deploy their cohorts however they wish, it seems unlikely that there is an effective way to model this in the game (except by setting up the initial formation in a certain way). The strongest part of your army will be the part where your strongest troops are concentrated. You could follow the Roman pattern, or you could change it.