The Legions

[metatron]

I can't explain the capes (which I think are military cloaks, but why in battle?).

As for the Praetorians, besides having the oval scutum, there should be the scorpion on their designs (well, it's not critical, but I like it), around the upper and lower corners. As for the Imperial Cohorts, I'm a bit dissapointed at the lack of any Capricorn, and I raise an eyebrow at the colors (which, IMO, should basically be white (or at the very most, red) tunics for most late republican/early principate units) and the armor for the antesignani.

Now that I think about it, is that all there is for the cavalry? It seems with the two that it jumps over a period.

[econ21]

Now that I think about it, is that all there is for the cavalry? It seems with the two that it jumps over a period.

I'm not sure the previews reveal all the units for a faction. In the teaser "guess the faction" thread, an Italian allied heavy cavalry unit has been revealed that the Romans hopefully can recruit as allies or auxiliaries.

[Dux Corvanus]

Actually, since around 200 AD or a bit later, lorica segmentata started to disappear from Roman soldier outfit. The reason is that it was a very complex, hard to maintain piece of armor. The tin joints and brochures that held it together were fragile and hard to use, and had to be replaced very often. All in all, the lorica segmentata was a good, resistant, flexible and light armor, but maintenance issues adviced the reintroduction of chainmail.

[jerby]

the lorica hamata was easier in maintenance?
is it me, or do you have it backwards?

Think about how many rings go in a chainmail shirt, now count the pieces in segmata armor...Yup, it was far faster to produce as well as easier to repair, and the protection it offered wasn't much worse (it was better against somethings in fact). Still, despite what TV tells us the hamata clad legionaire was the more common one, was used for a longer period of time, and was the one who fought in most of Rome's conquests (after the reforms of Marius).

so...i'm confused...

[Dux Corvanus]

Lorica segmentata was easier to produce and repair. But... it was much less durable. So, unlike chainmails, it had to be repaired very often, even in non-combat situations. The fault was not of the iron armor parts themselves, but of the tin-made joints.

Lorica segmentata was fit to body with a complex system of feeble hinges, locks, joints, buckles and belt-straps, all made in a less-than-resistant tin. That was lorica segmentata's Achilles heel.

In fact, there are very few examples of well-preserved lorica segmentata: iron parts mostly disappeared due to corrosion. Often, all that's left is the tin parts. Thanks to them we can reproduce lorica segmentata as it was. But they've found also lots and lots of those tin parts detached from their original lorica. They were broken or deformated parts that had to be replaced. It was so common an operation that they were mass-produced.

So, despite its advantages, its unpractical maintenance made lorica segmentata lose his preeminence to the good ol' chainmail, which was harder to repair, but you had not to do it constantly, and it was easier to wear.

[jerby]

thanks for clearing that up!

[cunctator]

As for the Praetorians, besides having the oval scutum, there should be the scorpion on their designs (well, it's not critical, but I like it), around the upper and lower corners.

Now that I think about it, is that all there is for the cavalry? It seems with the two that it jumps over a period.

The scorpion was Tiberius birth sign and not adopted as enblem of the praetorian guard unti his reign.

There will quiet a lot roman cavalry units, they were just not ready for the preview.

[metatron]

The scorpion was Tiberius birth sign and not adopted as enblem of the praetorian guard unti his reign.

There will quiet a lot roman cavalry units, they were just not ready for the preview.

Well, that makes sense.