Unit officers and banner bearers

**Wingman** · 06-16-2006, 19:51

What's the deal with the little guys standing to the side of a unit. Do they confer any special bonus? Why do some units have them and others don't? Why keeps them from dying along with the rest of the front rank in a prolonged combat?

**Severous** · 06-17-2006, 07:42

I wondered this for ages.

The little banners are from experience, weapon/armour upgrades. If you have 2 red chevrons of experience and a red shield you will see three small banners in the unit.

I think they fight like any other soldier. Like the standard bearer the banners switch to another soldier if the one holding them is killed. So they appear to be the last standing.

SPQR army has some experience troops...5 small banners clearly visible. My Carthage ruffians have only 2 experience...you can only see one of their small banners.

**Conqueror** · 06-17-2006, 08:00

I think Wingman was talking about the centurions and standard-bearers (IIRC they are wearing wolf pelts) that some units include.

**Ludens** · 06-17-2006, 09:25

Originally Posted by Wingman

What's the deal with the little guys standing to the side of a unit. Do they confer any special bonus? Why do some units have them and others don't? Why keeps them from dying along with the rest of the front rank in a prolonged combat?

As far as I can see their only function is decoration. They appear to have two hitpoints, and possibly a high defense/armour level, which allows them to survive prolonged melee.

Historically, banners were useful to keep units together, but sometimes they were prestige-objects (like the Roman eagles) so not every unit got them. Off course, no Roman game would be complete without centurions and SPQR-standard bearers.

**Nelson** · 06-18-2006, 17:21

In the Roman army they are signifiers. Each century had one.

IIRC, these guys were so reliable and trustworthy that they handled the mens’ saving accounts.

**Wardruid** · 06-19-2006, 11:28

The banner bearers were supposed to have at least a gladius and a pugio (a stabbing knfe) I always wondered why the developers didn't give one.

<< developer
Anyway these guys are supposed to be the one who take over the century if the centurion is unable to continue carrying out his duties

**Ludens** · 06-19-2006, 14:29

Originally Posted by Wardruid

The banner bearers were supposed to have at least a gladius and a pugio (a stabbing knfe) I always wondered why the developers didn't give one.

<< developer

I am not quite sure what you are saying here. The signifiers do have a sword, however due to a graphical glitch they sometimes lose it and fight (seemingly) with their bare hands. This happens to centurions and captains as well, though I have not seen it sofar with family members. If you are talking about the pugio, many legionaries would have one too, but CA has not given one to them either. The units even lack swordsheaths. CA apparently decided to go for a rather low level of detail when it comes to making units. I consider this a pity, but I suppose they would have difficulty with giving an equal level of detail to all units.