First Cohorts?

[Lord Ovaat]

I've looked all over and can't find any reason why we/I can't train First Cohort units. Only one I've ever seen was a "gift" from the senate for completing an assignment. They are available in custom battles, and I would guess also in multiplayer. I've built everything I can think of and still no obtion. Anyone have an answer? Is this just a tease unit?

[Bob the Insane]

Thats right, you only ever get them as rewards for completing senate missions...

[Oaty]

I think the first cohorts are available after the marius reforms and the right tech building. I can train them in a few provinces due to high tech buildings required

[Bob the Insane]

Are you not thinking of Urban cohorts or Pratoreans (spelling?)...

I am pretty sure you can't build the guys with the legendary eagles...

[Oaty]

I'll check a saved game. but there could be a number of factors ..... owning Rome could be one of them.

[Oaty]

I guess you ca'nt train these guys. Looking at Rome I can train early legionary cohorts legionary cohort praetorian and urban cohorts. With all the available cohorts from training I thought they were in there.

So what was there role in Rome as a first Cohort?

[Jango Fett]

a roman commando unit...

[therother]

I am pretty sure you can't build the guys with the legendary eagles...

And I'm pretty sure you are right, at least there is no mention of "roman legionary first cohort i" or "roman legionary first cohort ii" (early and late) - both of which have the command attribute (*) - in the building list.

But, whilst I'm sure they were of Roman Legend, they are Legionary Eagles!

Edit(*) They inspire your troops like a general, which I suppose means they give morale and attack bonuses to nearby troops. I wonder to what level and at what distance, factors that the command stars determine with a general? Does it depend on the experience of the Legionary Cohorts or is it fixed?

[TinCow]

So what was there role in Rome as a first Cohort?

The first cohort in a legion was usually slightly larger than other cohorts and it was composed of veterans. It was pretty much the elite cohort within the division. Some historians think there might have been an ascending hierarchy from 10th to 1st cohorts in terms of abilities and promotions, but most historians see 2-10 as identical units and only the first cohort as special.

[Szun]

The first cohort in a legion was usually slightly larger than other cohorts and it was composed of veterans. It was pretty much the elite cohort within the division. Some historians think there might have been an ascending hierarchy from 10th to 1st cohorts in terms of abilities and promotions, but most historians see 2-10 as identical units and only the first cohort as special.

in a battle line they had the best men in the 1st and 11th cohort, on each side of the line then moveing inward, haveing the newest troops in the center.
in other words 1st+11th = elite
2nd+10th= vets
3rd,4th, 9th, 8th= regulars
5th,6th, 7th = regular to green

they put the best on the flanks for obvious reason ...

[econ21]

they put the best on the flanks for obvious reason ...

I understand, but I've got into the habit of putting meat shield units on the flank and putting the best in reserve. With the high movement and kill speeds, your flank units can quickly get mangled whereas you can still choose whether, when and where to commit your best.

[Lord Ovaat]

they put the best on the flanks for obvious reason ...
Yesterday 13:10

Those tactics stayed consistent all the way through "linear" combat. Nineteenth Century American infantry regiments, as well as those of most other nations, placed "A" Company--senior captain--on the right of the line, and "B" was on the left. If ya got a good thing goin', don't screw it up. But it still doesn't tell me how I can build First Cohorts. Anyone know how to mod it?

[RedKnight]

If I could ride on yer thread for a sec, Lord O - how do I make regular Urban Cohorts? I think I simply haven't gotten far enough - do I need the highest barracks in Imperial Palace city? Will any city do, or only Rome?

And don't forget to tell Lord O how to make/mod up First Cohorts

[lars573]

in a battle line they had the best men in the 1st and 11th cohort, on each side of the line then moveing inward, haveing the newest troops in the center.
in other words 1st+11th = elite
2nd+10th= vets
3rd,4th, 9th, 8th= regulars
5th,6th, 7th = regular to green

they put the best on the flanks for obvious reason ...

There were only 10 cohorts in a legion Szun (not counting auxillia). Every thing else is almost right. When it deployed in a battle line the legions heavy infantry was in 2 lines with the first cohort on the right front row. Like this,

1st Line – Cohors - 5th – 4th – 3rd – 2nd – 1st
2nd Line – Cohors - 10th – 9th – 8th – 7th - 6th
2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th were the weak cohorts also the 7th and 9th was where you would find trainees and green troops
3rd and 5th had no special designation
6th had the most able young men
8th had selected troops
10th had the good troops
1st double sized and elite commanded by the prime pilus the highest ranking centurion. A centurions rank depended on the century he commanded there were 6 centuries in every cohort so commanding the 6 century of the 10th cohort was the lowest, and the Prime pilus (first file) was the commander of the 1st century of the 1st cohort.

[fastspawn]

why was the prime pilus put in the first line? To die early"?

[metatron]

No, I don't think you can train them. Which sucks, because mine's been whittled down to nine men and it needs retraining.

[discovery1]

Has anyone ever seen them in battle when playing as non-romans? I've destryoed the brutii and senate but never saw one. Is it true that you get some kind of bonus for destroying one?

[troymclure]

i've won two imperial and two short campaigns with the romans and a similar amount of campaigns with non - roman factions (it's uni holidays and yes i've done nothing but play this game) and i haven't even seen a firt cohort yet. Currently the amazon's are more common in my games. :(

[TinCow]

This is from the .com screenshots thread. After being questioned, the poster responded with:

"you get a roman eagle, when you are given a 'first cohort' by the senate, these cohorts are bigger harder and faster than the usual, they give morale boosters to all nearby units. all in all, they're pretty hardcore.

when you KILL a first cohort to a man, you can get the eagle. i'm not entirely sure what it does for you, but my general now has the trait 'eagle taker' which gives +1 to command. the city the eagle is in however, doesnt appear to get much. i could be wrong on that however. "

Later discussion indicated that the city the eagle in becomes a major target for Roman attacks.

[lars573]

why was the prime pilus put in the first line? To die early"?

Think of it this way the prime pilus was the best most experienced soldier in the whole legion. He led the best legionaries in the whole legion. His was the unit with the legionary eagle standard. A standard that the grunts were trained to follow anywhere, no matter the cost.

[rolin]

by the way. Are there more unique units in the game?

[Sinner]

Assuming that there isn't hardcoding that gives you access to the First Cohorts once you have Rome - and presumably the Marius Reforms - why not simply mod them in?

As an idea, copy the hidden resource feature used for Sparta & the Spartan Hoplites and have the First Cohorts only buildable in Rome itself, which would make sense in a way since each Legion was presented with their Eagle by the Emperor. Now that I've thought of that, I'm thinking of doing the same with the Praetorians and Urbans to make them a little more special.

[Lord Ovaat]

If I could ride on yer thread for a sec, Lord O - how do I make regular Urban Cohorts?

If you actually want them, Red Knight, you need to build the Urban Barracks or whatever it's called. I really don't use anything more "expensive" than regular old legionaires. No need. Get 'em the best armour you can, and they're almost unstoppable, easy to replace, cheaper, and build in one turn. I really only want the First Cohort units for the Eagles. I WANT EAGLES!!!!