Comments on a Late Republican Roman Army and its Doctrine

[olivier]

With LRR:
- Don't fight on all the table, an half is sufficient and you enemy must come to you and on your term or face a shameful flee..
- Your enemy want to work your flank? Great, double you line and with general double move some BG to face his troop.
Remember, interior move are shorter than exterior one.
- If your opponent wait your move before beginning his, move very aggressively. One to one your line is better and he must disengage his troop before you catch them, if he leave you the initiative don't give it back, be a Wolfhound and go for the throat. With your superior Cav and may be one BG of legion you can buy enough time for your legion done the job.
- Don't be afraid of knights! They are none in period and in fantasy (open) comp they infantry are utter crap before the legion... Kill the infantry and stand on knight. With a rear support and a general, Kn usually bounce against legionnaire.

[Mehrunes]

>Actually you pay points for being drilled when advancing in a line doesn't need you being drilled. So you are wasting points.

Very true*

But armoured and skilled swordsman is a waste of 4 points per base against cataphracts, armoured is a waste of 2 pts against protected heavy weapon, skilled swordsman is a waste of 2 points against lots of stuff...you can drive yourself crazy if you start thinking this way when trying to choose an army for general use, rather than with the benefit of knowing exactly what your opponent will be.

* well, mostly...it is easier to avoid making a spontaneous charge when drilled; and the ability to make a short move or wheel close to the enemy without a general could sometimes be important.

That's right. The point is that I cannot influence the enemy's troops, but I can influence my play. So I can always make use of being drilled which I did not always in the past.
Being armoured is nearly always better than being protected but I wonder if you always need skilled swordsmen. It almost never helps against the stuff that give you problems (mounted lancers, who are swordsmen too or troops with spikey sticks), it mostly helps butchering troops that are inferior or equal to you (typical barbarians) faster.

[mbsparta]

A LRR army is all about legionaries. It looks to me like to chose a mixed-arms tournament army and added in some legionaries because you had to.

Caesar would be so ashamed.

I think you are being a bit melodramatic

Historically Roman’s armies made extensive use of allies. Scipio had cavalry on both of his flanks (which equates to two BGs of cavalry), medium foot and velites in the centre of his army at the battle of Baecula, in 208 BC, and the Battle of Ilipe, 206 BC, in Spain. In Africa had Scipio 'persuaded' the Numidains to switch sides, resulting in Scipio having more cavalry than Hannibal! Caesar used German cavalry and allied light foot in his campaign in Gaul. Consequently, I suggest that the amount of allied troops in my army (noting that the cavalry in my army are Roman) is more in line with what occurred historically than you are proposing.

Regards

........... Sorry ... I thought we were discussing a Late Republican Army not the manipular army of Scipio. I stand corrected.



Mike B

Sean

[seansmith]

Deleted by the author

[petedalby]

I've just used LRR for the first time and would agree with most of the advice you've been given - especially by Olivier.

It was 650 points. I took 3x TCs, 2 x 8 Legions, 3 x 4 Legions, 2 x 6 slingers, 1 x 4 LH and 1 x 4 Cav, sup, prot. I won all 5 games including 4 army breaks.

The legions are rock hard, hugely manouverable and unless your opponent fights them you can't lose. Max out the legions - the other stuff just gets in the way. Even in a single rank they can take on most opponents.

But important for you to try things out and learn for yourself. Try not to blame luck though - this will stop you from learning lessons - like don't charge LH with LF - unless maybe they're fragmented.

[seansmith]

Here is the link to my battle reports from Natcon 2010, where I used this army. As you will see, I didn't go very well. This, however, had nothing to do with the composition of the army. It was, sadly, all due to how I used it.

viewtopic.php?t=16204

Regards

Sean