Historical army compositions

[Cheexsta]

A single Polybian Roman Legion contained 10 maniples each of Velites, Hastati, Principes and Triarii. A maniple consisted of two centuries of 60 men each (or 30 in the case of Triarii). This gives 4200 infantrymen, which were accompanied by 300 cavalrymen. So with the scaling of RTW, it's simply not possible to represent a Legion (even if you assume a 1:5 or 1:10 ratio - would be easier if units were 120 men, but that would cause gameplay problems), but my Legions tend to look like this:

- 2 Generals (one the main commander 30+ years old, the other leading the cavalry 18-30 years old).
- 2 Hastati (320 men).
- 2 Principes (320 men).
- 1 Triarii (160 men).
- 2 Velites (320 men).

Regional units and Italian alae (ie the same as above, since historically they eventually fought in a very similar manner to the Romans) fill in the gaps. During deployment, I keep units in their default wide formation - deploying them in blocks as if they were individual maniples doesn't work when each unit represents five maniples.

That's my take, anyway...

[Gazius]

Cheexsta, what do you tend to use for Camilian? If you play that far, Marian?

I wish QuintusSertorius would revise his play guide for EB.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

1 General
4 Hastati
4 Princepes
2 Triarri
2 Velites
2 Equites

That leaves me with five units of mixed Allied infantry and Cavalry. I like big armies and I tend to like the AI to mass before I attack. I wander around in his terretory like a Roman Hannabal, when he presents me with a tempting target I engage him.

[Zaknafien]

i do the same..nothing worse than being attacked by meddlesome 2-3 unit armies when you're a full Consular legion marching around.

[The Persian Cataphract]

For the early Parthian (Pahlavâ) army, the figure of 10,000 (Being a "beivâr" or a myriad) was considered the ideal, in which the composition would roughly be 90% light cavalry to provide the missiles, and 10% being heavy cavalry in the form of cataphracts. This is the so-called "Carrhae-template" which has a basis in the battle of the same name. However, in the later stages of the Parthian empire, the cataphracts got an increasingly more important role and also became more heavily armoured, in the style of the Grivpanvâr (Clibanarius). Sometimes, the Parthians would field expensive all-cataphract armies (Such as the successful, but also dreaded campaign of Pacorus). I cannot give a secure ratio, but 70-80% light horse and 20-30% cataphract cavalry is reasonable and would not interfere too much with the fleet nature of the Parthian army.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

1 General
4 Hastati
4 Princepes
2 Triarri
2 Velites
2 Equites

That's the same exact army I build. (With acceni instead of velites in the camilian times.)

[-Praetor-]

1 General
4 Hastati
4 Princepes
2 Triarri
2 Velites
2 Equites

That leaves me with five units of mixed Allied infantry and Cavalry. I like big armies and I tend to like the AI to mass before I attack. I wander around in his terretory like a Roman Hannabal, when he presents me with a tempting target I engage him.

Like above, I used exactly the same army with the romans, but with the peculiarity that I substitute one Equites with one general. Thus, on one alae, I have the lesser general (usually the one that has less bodyguards) with the equites, and on the other I put the bigger general (which usually had many more bodyguards...).

Now I tend to be more historical (even though I loved having an army comprised exclusively of romans), and I usually replace 2 hastatis with 2 allied light or medium infantry (preferrably Lucanians, Medium Samnite infantry will do though) in order to accompany them on the first line. I also replace 2 principes with 2 medium infantry (preferrably Heavy Samnites), and I add a couple of Cretans or Rhodians as auxiliary missile units.

So my legion goes:

1º Row=_Thureophoroi_//Hastati__//Hastati___//_Medium Samnites
2º Row=_Lucanians___//Principes_//Principes_//_Heavy Samnites
3º Row=______________//Triarii___//Triarii

+1 Equites, +2 Generals, +2Velites (or 1 Rorarii + 1 Leves + 1 Accensii)

The rest of the unit slots (4 or 5 depending if it`s Camilian or Polybian) I leave vacant, or I fill it with just anything, from siege weaponry to botroas, thureophoroi, etc.

Cheers!!!

[NeoSpartan]

hum.... I like urs K raso. I think I MIGHT use it in my Romani campain.

When I faced carthed I had 4 Pezetaroi (sp) in my armies, because those Cartheginian hoplites and phalangies where HARD to kill!

But if I wanna be a proper Roman I need to stop fighting like a Hellen.

[-Praetor-]

hum.... I like urs K raso. I think I MIGHT use it in my Romani campain.

When I faced carthed I had 4 Pezetaroi (sp) in my armies, because those Cartheginian hoplites and phalangies where HARD to kill!

But if I wanna be a proper Roman I need to stop fighting like a Hellen.

lol , a good tactic against hellenic and carthaginean phalanxes is the following:

First, form your first rank of hastatis and allies on a straight line. (Note, the 1rst rank of allies must have good stamina)

Stop the enemy phalanxes. Tire them up a little with your hastatis, but not so much as to tire your own hastatis. The idea is to make them get all together.

Then, as soon as your hastatis get "winded", retreat your first rank through your second line, and then, quickly form your second rank, the principes and 2nd line allies, as a solid line. They should have better defensive capabilities, and can be expected to hold enemy phalanxes by their own on defensive stance.

By now, you should have defeated the enemy flanking cavalry with your own cavalry, together with your support troops (accensii and leves, don`t use the rorarii and leave them as a last resort defense). So their flanks are vulnerable.

Once your hastatis and 1st rank allies have rested a little (and your 2nd line tire the enemy phalanxes), send them round the enemy formation, obliterate anything that the enemy have got guarding their flanks (usually units of skirmishers and such), and, using 1 maniple on each flank, and the other 2 maniples behind the enemy phalanxes, crash over the enemy formation.

If during the process, the 2nd line (principes and 2nd line allies) begin to shake, reinforce them with the triarii and rorarii (that`s what they are for). If they get into a very bad shape, replace them alltogether, and just use the triarii where`s hottest, and the rorarii and the less mauled principes where the fighting isn`t too gruesome...

The result is a simple envelopment. Keep any supporting enemy troops away from the encirclment with your cavalry and skirmishers.

If you`re lucky, the whole army will panic in a domino-effect, and start fighting to the death. I usually chew them up, and leave no one to get out of that pocket alive.

Easy peasy, Japanesey.

PS: Off course, you should use good`old manipular formation!!!!

[NeoSpartan]

I see.... I will most defitely run it tomorrow. And learn to fight like a Roman.... eventhough its H battle difficulty. And I hate wasting the lives of my men in battle.

[NeoSpartan]

lol , a good tactic against hellenic and carthaginean phalanxes is the following:

First, form your first rank of hastatis and allies on a straight line. (Note, the 1rst rank of allies must have good stamina)

Stop the enemy phalanxes. Tire them up a little with your hastatis, but not so much as to tire your own hastatis. The idea is to make them get all together.

Then, as soon as your hastatis get "winded", retreat your first rank through your second line, and then, quickly form your second rank, the principes and 2nd line allies, as a solid line. They should have better defensive capabilities, and can be expected to hold enemy phalanxes by their own on defensive stance.

By now, you should have defeated the enemy flanking cavalry with your own cavalry, together with your support troops (accensii and leves, don`t use the rorarii and leave them as a last resort defense). So their flanks are vulnerable.

Once your hastatis and 1st rank allies have rested a little (and your 2nd line tire the enemy phalanxes), send them round the enemy formation, obliterate anything that the enemy have got guarding their flanks (usually units of skirmishers and such), and, using 1 maniple on each flank, and the other 2 maniples behind the enemy phalanxes, crash over the enemy formation.

If during the process, the 2nd line (principes and 2nd line allies) begin to shake, reinforce them with the triarii and rorarii (that`s what they are for). If they get into a very bad shape, replace them alltogether, and just use the triarii where`s hottest, and the rorarii and the less mauled principes where the fighting isn`t too gruesome...

The result is a simple envelopment. Keep any supporting enemy troops away from the encirclment with your cavalry and skirmishers.

If you`re lucky, the whole army will panic in a domino-effect, and start fighting to the death. I usually chew them up, and leave no one to get out of that pocket alive.

Easy peasy, Japanesey.

PS: Off course, you should use good`old manipular formation!!!!

I DID IT I FOUGHT LIKE A ROMAN!!!!! AND WON!!!!

still.... I had to fight the urge to deploy my Triarii and Pezetaroi (sp) like a Hellen.