most people form their front lines with weaker troops, i do the opposite. i make my front line my best infantry (so they get big kills and lots of chevrons) with the hopes that they will hold while i use supporting troops to flank. i rely heavily on skirms/slingers to pester flanks while lighter/quick/good charge infantry charges the lines that my solid roman line is holding. i do alot of cycling of troops, where i send units with casualties and experience back to rome to train and send in fresh troops. lots of movement.

my cavalry is more of distraction as i rely on my solid front line, and my general who rides with another unit does alot of fighting.





1) optimal army



1- pedites extraordinarii

2- lesser roman infantry, usually leftover principes. sometimes green extraordinarii.

these provide forward support if the momentum is lost and (1) wavers, and the unit on the flank moves outwards while the inner most moves up.

or they move in to form a longer main battle line if need be

or, they simply move up and out to creat3 a solid flanking move

3- triarii or mercs. used as spear line, move forward to provide support as line 1 falls back in case of heavy cav charge. held in reserve if not needed.

4- these are generally fast assault infantry, usually celtic swordsman. something with a solid charge i can flank or gain the rear with and do the old "hammer and anvil"

5- skirmishers. usually slingers (ascensii, celtic slingers etc)

once battle is engaged they sweep down and out to pelt from the flanks.

6- equites or mercs, the left most is more of a diversion. and is sometimes a double stack of barbarian light cavalry.

7- general unit acompanied by cavalry (good for distractions so i can charge the general freely)


similarly stack 2 is my more "assault" army and is very similar, where 2 is usually green troops/mercs who either umbrella out to support or flank or simply create the second line if 1 falls.