Should I keep my Triarii and Principes?

**pezhetairoi** · 08-25-2005, 01:14

That doesn't make sense.... if you have three understrength units that are enough to merge to make one then they should merge to make one. Hmm. Try different conbinations of merging, sometimes it works that way. If not, get a new computer :)

Keep your old troops. I once asked this question too, and I eventually learnt that you can either a) use the troops and continue an offensive, or b) halt them all at the frontier and use them as limes garrison troops while you build up new armies of post-marians, upon which you trot out the principes and use them as flank guards (or the centre) in battles, depending on your tactical plans, and take out the triarii as anti-cav troops.

**dulsin** · 08-25-2005, 19:56

There is a bug in 1.2 where after the reforms when you capture an enemy city if that city qualifies to produce the pre-marious unit it can be retrained.

My last game after Bruti destroyed the Juli we had the reforms. Then I sent my large pre-marious force into Spain. As each city was enslaved I got one or two turns of being able to retrain the units.

**Celt Centurion** · 09-15-2005, 02:17

Originally Posted by dulsin

There is a bug in 1.2 where after the reforms when you capture an enemy city if that city qualifies to produce the pre-marious unit it can be retrained.

My last game after Bruti destroyed the Juli we had the reforms. Then I sent my large pre-marious force into Spain. As each city was enslaved I got one or two turns of being able to retrain the units.

I started a new campaign as Julii a few days ago. I am now up to almost 40 territories, and I am still fighting Britons and Spanish with Hastati, Principes, and Triarii, as well as Equites. I have been building newer units, and retraining them with Foundry quality weapons and armour, and then sending them forward to the fringes to fight the murdering barbarians. They really tear them up with the foundry quality equipment, and I merge them as they wear down. I don't know about you folks, but I am not impressed with legion auxillia troops, and it is often a while before the populations are up to being able to build a legion barracks.

Two odd things this time though. One of them is that nearly two generations after the Marius Reforms, The Senate is STILL rewarding me with Triarii for finishing the missions, but I don't think that will go much longer. The last few missions have all offered threats rather than rewards, and the People are encouraging me to take over Rome.

The other odd thing is that the Senate asked me to blockade a Brutii port. I wondered, "Are we in Civil War now?" I looked, and they were still "Ally." Although I had a small fleet right beside that port, I held off, and the next turn got a message telling me not to do it, but there was a Greek fleet blockading the port by then. I was tempted to attack the Greek fleet, but being the nice guy I am, didn't.

I expect the Civil War to start at any turn now, and have made my settlements bordering SPQR and Brutii extremely strong.

My many thanks to the person who taught me about "drag and drop" to merge the depleted units. It is allowing me to keep units going like the Energizer Bunny. Pre-Marius and Mercenary units just keep on going and going and going, allowing me to defend the settlements I take while I get the buildings I need to train the better troops.

I was in a large city two nights ago, and asked about BI. The fellow there said about two weeks from now, about 28 September.

Strength and Honor

Celt Centurion

**econ21** · 09-15-2005, 12:31

In TW SP, the real cost of a unit is its upkeep - not its purchase price. That strengthens the argument for getting rid of obsolete units. However, pre-Marian units will do fine against most factions that don't have post-Marian units so maybe shunt them to another front. The economic situation is not usually so tight that you can't afford to retain your pre-Marian army.

But if you are going to fight a powerful Roman faction that also has post-Marian units, you don't want hastati and principes in your frontline stacks. I had a rude shock when I first tried that and was amazed at how outclassed my hitherto unbeatable Romans were when facing even early Roman cohorts.

Triari are ok as superior anti-cav units, but I am not sure spears are that worth it in vanilla RTW. They are rather slow to intercept AI cavalry - you'd be better off using your own heavy cavalry - and if you have to take a cavalry charge, I imagine cohorts would fare about as well as triari (especially if stationary with fire at will on).

**zukenft** · 09-15-2005, 13:39

There's a reason why Roman Legionary is considered the best heavy infantry of its time: it's because they are versatile. they can fare well against other infantry, phalanx, even cavalry...
So my choice is no. A valour 1 or 2 Early Legion will defend against cavalry as well as a Triarii. (you could keep the Triarii until you have some experienced Legionaries, though)