Gaesatae way too overpowered

[Ludens]

The word "Gaesatae" is Celtic for "Spearmen". This implies that the Geasatae warbands could have fought either in a phalanx or that the spear was their primary weapon instead of the sword.

Not necessarily: it may have referred to the javelin. BTW, hastati also means spearmen.

[SaFe]

Not necessarily: it may have referred to the javelin. BTW, hastati also means spearmen.

I agree, names don't mean everything.
For example the Cheruscii, the tribe of the Heruskoz translate into Sword-People. Although not every cheruscain warrior had a sword.

[zonks32]

Not necessarily: it may have referred to the javelin. BTW, hastati also means spearmen.

When the Hastati where oringinaly created their main weapon was the spear (hasta), shortsword (Gladius), oval sheild (Parma).
The oval shield was replaced with the rectangular shield (scutum), that covered the entire body. The hasta spear was replaced by two throwing javelins (pila, singular pilum) which where thrown against the enemy within range, and the short sword (gladius) which was used for thrusting in close combat.

[GodEmperorLeto]

Gaesatae can be beaten if you pin them against a phalanx and then nail their unshielded flanks with missile fire or cavalry hits repeatedly (i.e. after hitting, pull back and reform). It tires your cav out, but if you keep it up, they break.

Anything other than phalanxes and they'll carve your boys up, but the long spears keep them out of hand-to-hand range usually.

Also, yeah, the Gaesatae are drugged up. Although they were not on it, PCP can do incredible things to a regular human being, making them almost super-human for a short time. I knew a guy who kicked a police-car door off, jumped out of the speeding vehicle, breaking his ribs and a leg, and ran five miles home still handcuffed, all on PCP.

In comparison, the Gaesatae don't seem so bad.

[Ludens]

When the Hastati where oringinaly created their main weapon was the spear (hasta), shortsword (Gladius), oval sheild (Parma).
The oval shield was replaced with the rectangular shield (scutum), that covered the entire body. The hasta spear was replaced by two throwing javelins (pila, singular pilum) which where thrown against the enemy within range, and the short sword (gladius) which was used for thrusting in close combat.

True, but what is your point?