What shape shields with rome legionairies have in EB?

**manbaps** · 08-24-2005, 13:00

By this will they be having rectangular one or the more oval ones like in RTR 6.0. Or will there be a slow progression to the scutum style ones? I dont know whats historically accurate for the tie period but i like the rectangular ones they look more 'roman' my legions just dont feel the same in RTR. (im not trying to make this a comparison thread btw just using the shields in RTR as the other example).

**Moros** · 08-24-2005, 13:05

Originally Posted by manbaps

By this will they be having rectangular one or the more oval ones like in RTR 6.0. Or will there be a slow progression to the scutum style ones? I dont know whats historically accurate for the tie period but i like the rectangular ones they look more 'roman' my legions just dont feel the same in RTR. (im not trying to make this a comparison thread btw just using the shields in RTR as the other example).

found two screenshots of them in the lost art of keepping a secret thread:

early legionari

late:

hope this awnsers your post.
do remind these probably are WIP's

**manbaps** · 08-24-2005, 13:09

So what sort of date did the romans start using scutums (is that the right name for rectangular shields) was it after the marian reforms or some time after? Things like the testudo rely on the shape and as equpiment was standardised in roman armies i wouldnt have thought it was gradual.

**Seydlitz** · 08-24-2005, 15:25

The scutum was the Roman name given to all shields that covered most of the body, and had a slight curve to them. It was a design evolution from the flat, oval Celctic shields and was widespread in Italy in the period Rome was rising to power.

Historically, the legions from the early Republic to the early Empire were equipped with the oval Scutum, and it shall be so in EB as well. The square scutum falls mostly outside of the time period, and I can't say 100% if it will be included in the mod as of yet.

Those screenshots are relativley old, and a lot of progress has been made as well. I dare say the legions look really bad ass now

Just wait and you'll see!

**okiN** · 08-24-2005, 15:34

AFAIK scutum is just the latin word for "shield", (It's just become associated with that certain type since it's by far the most famous Roman shield) and the earliest forms of the late Roman legionary (Wearing lorica segmentata and carrying a rectangular shield) evolved towards the end of the first century BC, many decades after the Marian reforms.

Edit: Argh, Seydlitz beat me to the punch.

**Moros** · 08-24-2005, 15:43

look at herets is a mod byromeheus wh's saring roman units with eb for screens:
https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=50355

**manbaps** · 08-24-2005, 17:21

So im no big historian but does that not mean CA got it like over 100 years wrong introducing rectangular scutums with the marian reforms? Though having said that they look better than the oval type ones but i guess EB wants to be historically acurate and having them in with a finish date of AD16 seems unlikely.