Cost of Polybian Hastati vs Principes

[Sand]

To be honest, I believe there is an argument for merging the Hastati and Principe units as they were effectively equipped in a similar manner and performed basically the same roles on the battlefield - an indistinguishable role as far as RTW/EB gameplay goes. Hence the temptation to simply train Principes over Hastati.

The main difference between the two appears to be the younger, less well equipped, less experienced men were deployed in the first line, and the better equipped and experienced men were deployed in the second.

With one unit for both lines [Call it Legionary Infantry or something], that can be simulated by simply putting the raw units in the front line, any units with experience chevrons and armour/weapon upgrades in the second. Frees up a unit slot too. Actually would free up more than that given the Camillian and Polybian units.

Anyway, just something that always bothered me about those particular units.

[Watchman]

AFAIK they were divided on basis of income census rather than seniority and experience though, like the rest of the Republican citizen soldiery (and for that matter much of the Roman society). Now of course the Principes, being better armed and normally only being sent into the fray after the Hastati (and the skirmishers before them) had first "softened up" the opposition, would logically have a higher average survival rate and hence be more likely to accumulate combat experience - but this would have been a side effect rather than any de jure manpower allocation consideration.