Equipment.

[spedius01]

Ave

Following my last posting "Promotions", here is the second of the major features of Legion Arena.

Equipment has five main categories and four grades within those categories. Equipment also has five indivual items
with no further upgrades.
They are as follows:-

1. Weapons - (Grades 1, 2, 3 & 4) - Universal
2. Armour - (Grades 1, 2, 3 & 4) - Spearmen, Velites, Hastati, Principes, Triarii, Auxilia, Auxiliary Cavalry, Legionaries & Praetorians only.
3. Boots - (Grades 1, 2, 3 & 4) - Militia, Spearmen, Velites, Hastati, Principes, Triarii, Auxilia, Legionaries & Praetorians only.
4. Helmet - (Grade 1, 2, 2 & 4) - Universal excluding Peasants, Militia, Skirmishers, Spearmen & Elephants
5. Standard - (Grade 1, 2, 3 & 4) - Universal excluding Legate
6. Extra Pilum - (no further upgrades) - Hastati, Principe, Legionaries & Praetorians only (NB. Not Auxilia!!!!!)
7. Extra Javelins - (no further upgrades) - Skirmishers & Velites only (NB. Not Auxilia!!!!!!)
8. Extra Arrows - (no further upgrades) - Auxiliary Archers only
9. Stronger Bows - (no further upgrades) - Auxiliary Archers only
10. Heavy Missiles - (no further upgrades) - Auxiliary Archers only

You need Promotions to buy Equipment!!!

Let me explain.

At the beginning of the Roman campaign you have no fame, no experience and very little money (denari). The equipment button is greyed out, inaccessible to you. You must win your first battle in order to activate the equipment button. Even then you can't afford to buy anything for your troops. As you win battles you earn fame and denari and you gain promotions.

As you gain promotions so more and more equipment items become available for you to buy for your troops. It's your decision as to whether to buy now or wait until later. By later I mean when your army is more numerous. Neither is incorrect, each depend on your short or long term plans. Do you buy now making your current army individually better and retard the growth of your army numerically? Or, do you wait until you army is complete before you make any purchases? It's a tough one. Once again, a lot depends on your personality and confidence.

If you equip your troops early perhaps you wouldn't suffer so many casualties in the early battles? Your army will grow more slowly but be better "equipped" to deal with any and all opponents. It's a bit six of one and half a dozen of the other. In other words, are you confident enough in your own abilities to wait until later or not?

Personally, I'm from the wait-until-later school of thought. I tend to work through a carefully pre-planned growth strategy. Knowing that, if I can just hang on, another unit will be joining the army on move X.

Here's an abstract progression. Think of your troops as currency, no troops=no money, no money=no command, no command=no fame, no fame=no game.

I leave you with a final thought. A famous General was heard to say "The saddest thing is not a battle lost but a battle won". After a battle in Legion Arena I kind of feel sorry for all those dead little guys from both sides.

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

PS. Keep your eyes peeled for more from the desk of M. Spedius Corbulo.

[IainMcNeil]

Didn't Wellington say that at the battle of Waterloo?

I think he said "Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won" after looking at the carnage.

[spedius01]

Didn't Wellington say that at the battle of Waterloo?

I think he said "Next to a battle lost, the saddest thing is a battle won" after looking at the carnage.

Ave Iain,

I'm sure you're right, I'll have to watch the film again and hear Christopher (The Hills Are Alive) Plummer utter those immortal words, or Jack (Zulu) Hawkins say "I think I've lost my leg".

How're things?

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo