Slitherine

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I decided to post it here.':idea:' I look forward to your feedback.

Regards

Sean

Doctrine for a Late Republic Roman Army Without Allies

Part One: The purpose of this document

In this document I analyse the strengths and weakness of Late Republican Roman Army (LRRA) and uses the results of the analysis to make suggestions about:
• how each troop type in a LRRA should be used and how this fits into the tactics for the army as a whole
• what terrain should be selected for a LRRA and how the terrain should be placed
• how a LRRA should be deployed
• how armies that pose particular challenges for a LRRA can be dealt with.

What I don’t do in this document is attempt to describe what the ‘ideal’ LRRA is, as I don’t believe there is such a thing.

Part two: The strengths and weaknesses of the Late Republican Roman Army

The Strengths of a Late Republican Roman Army

The strength of the LRRA is in its legionaries and the raison d’être for legionaries is to defeat opposing troops in hand to hand combat, which the legionaries excel in.

Pikes, heavily armoured knights, heavily armoured cataphracts and armoured offensive spearman all have one Point Of Advantage (POA) over legionaries in the melee phase and are equal to legionaries in the impact phase. But, they all have compensating weakness.

Pikes rapidly loss their POAs if they are disrupted or suffer casualties, because of the loss POAs conferred for having multiple ranks. Superior pikes are more expensive file for file than superior legionaries. Four bases of superior pikes cost 32 points compared to 28 points for two bases of superior legionaries that cover the same frontage. This means legionaries will obtain overlaps on pikes, unless an army containing pikes is able counter this by using terrain, deployment and/or other troop types, etc, to protect the pikes’ flanks. BGs of Legionaries are also more maneuverable than BGs of pikes, especially if the legionaries are in BGs of four bases. Consequently, it is easy for a BG of legionaries that defeat a BG of pikes to turn and attack the flank of another BG of pikes. The historical example of this occurring is the battle of Cynoscephalae in 197BC. Finally, pikes perform worse in uneven and rough terrain than legionaries, so legionaries should seek to use the terrain as much as possible.

Average pikes are less expensive than superior legionaries: four bases cost 24 compared to 28 points of legionaries. But the legionaries have the advantage that they are superior. This translates into 8.3 percent more hits by superior legionaries than by average pikes. And, because the pikes are average they are more like to fail their cohesion tests.

Mounted heavily armoured knights have half as many bases as legionaries, they will, therefore, lose if they are forced to engage in a battle of attrition, and undrilled knights are less maneuverable than legionaries. However, in spite of these weaknesses, my assessment is knights still have a slight edge on legionaries. This can be compensated for though by using tactics or by using other troop types in conjunction with the legionaries.

Heavily armoured cataphracts are expensive. Two bases of drilled superior cataphracts cost 40 points and undrilled cost 36 points compared to two bases of superior legionaries that cost 28 points. Consequently, legionaries will get overlaps. The additional hits legionaries will inflict because of overlaps more than compensate for them being a POA down in the melee phase.

Armoured offensive spearman have two weaknesses. First, they rapidly lose POAs if they are disrupted or suffer casualties, because of the loss POAs conferred for having multiple ranks. Consequently, a LRRA facing an opposing army containing armoured offensive spearman wants force the opposing army to extend out the line of spearman as much as possible, by threatening their flanks. If opposing army refuses to expand out the spearman, the LRRA should attempt to strip away BGs protecting the spearmans’ flanks before engaging the spearman. Second, spearman performs worse in rough and uneven terrain than legionaries. Consequently, legionaries should take advantage of rough and uneven terrain as much as possible. However, unlike pikes, the legionaries are unlikely to obtain overlaps on armoured offensive spearmen, because armoured offensive spear cost 13 points per base compared to 14 points per bases for superior legionaries.

The Weaknesses of a Late Republican Roman Army

The weakness of the LRRA is the types of troops that are available to protect its flanks.

The LRRA can only have two BGs of cavalry. These are armed with lighted spears and swords and are undrilled. However, the cavalry’s armour protection can be upgraded from protected to armoured and its morale can be upgraded from average to superior.

The LRRA can have only two BGs of medium foot to protect the legionaries in flanks in rough terrain. However, you shouldn’t be afraid of using legionaries in rough terrain to make for the lack of medium foot if necessary, because they are reasonably good in it, in spite of being disrupted in it.

The LRRA can have a maximum of two BGs of light horse and only one of these can be armed with bows, unless the Brutus and Cassius option is taken.

The BG of elephants is very useful, because it disrupts opposing cavalry and knights. It is, therefore, perfect to use in conjunction with the legionaries when the legionaries are facing knights or to use on a flank against opposing cavalry. The BG of elephants has three significant weaknesses though. First, it is brittle. If it takes a single casualty the BG breaks. Second, is it is very hard to maneuver, because the elephants are undrilled. Third, LRRA cavalry that come within a base width of the elephants are disordered.

Part three: How to use each troop type

Legionaries

Legionaries are core of the LRRA. The success in getting them into combat determines if the LRRA wins or losses a battle nine times out of ten. Brute force is the strength of legionaries. Consequently, advancing in a single multi-BG phalanx is usually the best tactic for legionaries.

Opposing armies will try to prevent this by attempting to envelop the LRRA’s flanks. The trick is for the LRRA to use terrain, when this is possible, to protect the legionaries flanks and, when this isn’t possible, to use the support troops to delay and pin the opposing army’s BGs, so the legionaries have sufficient time to defeat the main body of the opposing army. The legionaries must advance as fast as possible, because the longer they take to defeat the main body of the opposing army’s main battle the more time the opposing army has to envelop the LRRA’s flanks. If possible, the legionaries should deploy opposite the enemy’s camp and advance towards it. This will hopefully force the opposing army to face the legionaries in order to defend its camp.

I prefer to have the legionaries in BGs of four bases, because it gives them greater maneuverability and I have found no decrease in the survivability of BGs.

Cavalry

The trick with Roman cavalry is not to fight them, unless an enemy BG is silly enough to expose its flank or rear to them, or it is unavoidable. The strengths of the Roman cavalry are the restricted area they exert and their ability to skirmish.

The role of Roman cavalry is to pin BGs in the opposing army, so they cannot attack the flanks of the legionaries. This is achieved by deploying the Roman cavalry in a skirmish line and maneuvering it so opposing army’s BGs are in its restricted zone. The opposing army’s BGs then have to charge the Roman cavalry, stand or move away from the Roman cavalry. Whichever option they choose it prevents them from attacking the legionaries.

It is not a good idea to use Roman cavalry’s skirmishing ability against opposing cavalry, unless you can prevent opposing cavalry moving within 1 MU of the Roman cavalry, because there is a high likelihood they will be caught by the opposing cavalry. On way of preventing opposing cavalry moving within 1 MU of Roman cavalry is to have BG of light horse ‘paired’ with Roman cavalry. The light horse is be positioned 1 MU ahead of the Roman cavalry. This prevents the opposing cavalry coming within 1 MU of Roman cavalry, but still allows Roman cavalry to place opposing cavalry in its restricted zone

Another potential use for superior cavalry is to provide rear support for legionaries. This will provide the legionaries with a +1 modifier when they have to take cohesion tests. In this capacity they can also act as a reserve. However, having attempted this, I found that it rarely happens, as the cavalry are usually required elsewhere. Consequently, I prefer not to upgrade Roman cavalry and use the points elsewhere instead.

Roman cavalry is vulnerable to shooting from bow armed light horse and cavalry. It will get hammered if it comes within range of medium foot armed with bow. Roman cavalry also isn’t the best at maneuvering, because it is undrilled.

It is not a good idea to use Roman cavalry’s skirmishing ability against opposing cavalry, unless you can prevent opposing cavalry moving within 1 MU of the Roman cavalry, because there is a high likelihood they will be caught by the opposing cavalry.

Light horse

Light horse should be deployed on the flanks. Its role is to delay the advance of the opposing army’s BGs, by preventing them moving twice, and preventing the opposing army’s light troops doing the same to the LRRA. A general should be deployed with each BG of light horse at the beginning of the battle, so they can move twice.

Light horse’s shouldn’t go within one turn’s movement plus shooting range of BGs in an opposing army, because they are still able to delay BG’s an opposing army’s while being this far away from. Consequently, going any closer to BGs an opposing army, unless the light horse are intending to charge or shoot at them, will put the light horse at risk for no gain.

If the LRRA is fighting an army that has a lot of light horse it can ‘pair’ its light horse with cavalry, legionaries, elephants or medium foot. If the opposing army’s light horse comes within charge range it will have the dilemma of having to either fight the BG the LRRA’s light horse is paired with, if it chooses to stand, or take the risk of the LRRA’s light horse catching it and attacking in the rear, if it chooses to evade. The odds of the LRRA’s light horse catching evading light horse are 38%, if the LRRA’s light horse is one MU or less away from the evading light horse at the commencement of the charge. The odds are 22% if the LRRA’s light horse is over one MU, but two MUs or less, away from the evading light horse at the commencement of the charge.

Light foot

Light foot plays the same role as light horse at the beginning battle, but in the centre of battlefield. Light foot should be deployed a battle line in the centre of the battlefield and have a general with it, so it can move twice. It should advance as fast as possible, to block attempts by the opposing army’s light troops to prevent the legionaries from moving twice. After doing this the light foot should attempt to disrupt BGs in the opposing army’s main battle line using shooting and prevent the opposing army’s light foot from doing the same to the legionaries.

I prefer to use javelin men, rather than slingers or bowmen, because javelins don’t receive a minus when shooting at armoured troops. Javelin men also receive a POA in impact combat, which helps them chase away opposing light foot.

It is important with light foot, as it is with light horse, to ensure they have good lines of retreat. The commander of a LRRA should avoid the temptation to squeeze in extra bases of shooting at the expense of a clear line of retreat.

Medium foot

The role of medium foot is to protect the flanks of legionaries in rough terrain. Medium foot is also useful for providing support for the BG of elephants.

The strengths of medium foot are that it is not disrupted in rough terrain and that it moves at four MUs, compared to heavy foot that move at three MUs. Its weaknesses are that it suffers big minus for cohesion tests if it losses combat in the open and it is vulnerable to shooting, because it is only protected.

Elephants

The elephant BG is best suited to three roles. First, deploying with the legionaries to disrupt the knights. Second, being deployed on a flank to help compensate for the LRRA’s weakness in cavalry. Third, expanding the legionaries’ battle line.

The elephant BG has three significant weaknesses. First, it is brittle. If it takes a single casualty the BG breaks. Second, it is very hard to maneuver, because elephants are undrilled. Third, LRRA cavalry that come within a base width of the elephants are disordered.

The elephant BG’s brittleness means it is very vulnerable to shooting by light horse and light foot. Its lack of maneuverability means it is susceptible to flank attacks. Consequently, medium or heavy foot should accompany the elephant BG to protect its flanks. This will also reduce the number of bases of skirmisher’s in the opposing army that can shoot at the elephant BG.

The Camp

The LRRA should not attempt to defend its camp, other than its light horse delaying the advance of the opposing army’s BGs. The camp is fortified; consequently, mounted BGs only have a one in six chance of defeating the camp’s defenders each turn. Far more importantly, attempting to defend the camp will pin BGs to it, increasing the chance that the LRRA’s flanks will be enveloped. As the saying goes
“he who attempts to defend everything defends nothing.”

Part four: Selecting and placing terrain

Legionaries are happy to fight any other troop type, except pikes, man on man. What they want to avoid is having their flanks enveloped. Consequently, the LRRA wants as many pieces of impassable, rough and uneven terrain as it can get. Selecting a coastline is also a good option, if the LRRA wins initiative, because it will provide a secure flank.

Rough and impassable terrain should be placed in the centre of battlefield to create ‘avenues,’ if the terrain placement dice rolls permit this. This will give the LRRA the ability to section off the battlefield and refuse a flank. The light horse can then be used to delay the BGs of the opposing army that are on the refused flank.

The commander of a LRRA shouldn’t worry if the avenue that the legionaries are advancing through doesn’t have sufficient room for all the BGs of legionaries to deploy in a single battle line, as long as the flanks are secure. The BGs of legionaries that unable to be deployed in the battle line should be deployed behind it, to provide rear support and act as a reserve. Consideration should also be given to deploying some of the legionaries in the rough terrain in column (as columns will allow them to move at the same speed as the legionaries in the open), so they can obtain overlaps and free up the medium foot to counter other BGs in the opposing army.

There are a couple of expectations to the above. First, when a LRRA is facing an army that is predominantly made up of medium foot it wants as much open ground as possible. Second, when a LRRA is facing a pike army it does want impassable terrain or a coastline, as BGs of pike will be able use this terrain to secure their flanks.

Part five: Deployment

Order of march

It is usually best to deploy the BGs of legionaries first and then to deploy the BGs for the rest of the army, as it is usually clear where the legionaries are going to be deployed. There is, therefore, little value in deploying other BGs before the legionaries. Deploying the other BGs after the legionaries also provides the LRRA with the opportunity to the react opposing the army’s deployment. I particular prefer placing medium foot and the BG of elephants last.

Formations

Line

A line is the traditional formation for the LRRA. The legionaries are deployed in a single battle line in the centre of the army. One BG of light horse is deployed on each flank and the light foot deployed in front of the legionaries.

If possible, the legionaries deployed opposite the enemy’s camp, to hopefully force the opposing army to face the legionaries in order to defend its camp.

When possible, the legionaries’ flanks should be secured by the use of terrain such as coastline. Alternatively, the medium foot can occupy rough terrain on the flanks of the legionaries to protect the legionaries’ flanks.

The cavalry and elephant BGs are placed on either flank or in reserve as required. The elephant BG can also be placed in the battle line of legionaries, to extend the battle line and/or to dispute cavalry and knights.

The advantage of the line formation is that it plays to the legionaries’ strength: advancing in a single multi BG phalanx. The disadvantage is that the formation has weak flanks. If the LRRA fails to adequately protect the legionaries’ flanks there is risk of envelopment, the classic example being the double envelopment at Cannae, in 216 BC.

Caesar’s Special

This formation uses the stratagem that Caesar adopted to defeat Pompey at the battle of Pharsalus, in 48 BC. Caesar used it to counter Pompey’s greater number of cavalry. The formation is best used when one of the flanks of the army can be secured. Caesar had a river on his left flank.

All of the BGs of legionaries, except for one or two BGs, should be deployed in a battle line. The one or two BGs of legionaries that are not in the battle line should be deploy behind the battle line of legionaries at one or both ends of it. The cavalry are then deployed in skirmish formation at one or both ends of the battle line of legionaries. When cavalry are forced to skirmish away the legionaries behind the battle line of legionaries charge the opposing army’s BGs in the flank. This, of course, requires these BGs of legionaries to have been positioned so that they are able to do this.

The advantage of this formation is that it devastating, if you can pull it off. The disadvantages of it are that it can easily be counted, if the opposing army is aware of it, it shortens the legionaries’ battle line, and the commander of the LRRA needs to be spot on with the positioning of the BGs of legionaries behind the main battle line. Caesar had the advantage that Pompeii couldn’t see what was happening behind the battle line of Caesar’s legionaries.

Pincers

Scipio used variations of this formation at the battle of Baecula, in 208 BC, and the Battle of Ilipe, 206 BC. The LRRA’s medium foot are deployed in the centre of battle line and the legionaries are deployed at either end of the battleline. The legionaries advance slightly ahead of the medium foot. The formation takes the form of a shallow U. The legionary BGs are at the tops of the U. The medium foot BGs are at the bottom of the U. The intention is that the legionaries will defeat the opposing army’s flanks. They will then turn and attack BGs that are in the centre of the opposing army, which are facing the medium foot. In other words, the LRRA will envelop the flanks of the opposing army with its legionaries.

The advantages of this formation are it reinforces the LRRA’s flanks and puts the opposing army in a dilemma. Does it split the BGs in the centre to deal with legionaries on flanks? However, if it does this the LRRA’s medium foot will be able to attack them in the flank and/or while they are maneuvering to attack the legionaries.

The disadvantages of this formation is that the legionaries BGs on each flank could be defeated in detail, because they are unable to support one another, or the medium foot in the centre could be defeated before the pincers containing the legionaries can close. This formation worked for Scipio because in both battles he deceived his opponents about this deployment.

A variation on this formation is to place the Roman cavalry in the centre in skirmish formation.

Part Six: How armies that pose particular challenges can be dealt with

Knight armies

The light foot should attempt to disrupt the knights. If the opposing army does not have light horse, or they can be chased away, the LRRA light horse should contribute to the light foot’s shooting by shooting into the knights’ flanks.

The BG of elephants should be placed where knights are expected to attack, so it can disrupt the knights.

If possible, use the cavalry to pin the knights so the legionaries can attack the knights’ flanks.

It is critical to have Roman generals in the front rank of the legionaries when the knights charge the legionaries.

Light horse armies

Line is usually the best formation when dealing with a light horse army, as legionaries can withstand light horses shooting. In a two base deep line a maximum of 12 bases of light horse can shoot at a four base BG of legionaries. On average the light horse will inflict to two hits. The maximum of number of hits they can inflict is six. A maximum of 16 bases of light horse can shoot at a BG of four bases of legionaries if it is in a one base deep formation. The light horse will inflict 2.6 hits on average and can inflict a maximum of eight hits.

Taking into the consideration that superior legionaries re-roll 1s when they are testing for cohesion and that BGs of legionaries that are shoot are likely to have generals with them, which will give them a +2 modifier for their cohesion test, it is very unlikely that superior legionaries will be disrupted by the shooting from light horse, as long as the legionaries in a solid line. They will suffer causalities though.

Consequently, when faced by light horse the LRRA should deploy a line of legionaries, even if the BGs of legionaries are only one base deep, and constantly push the light horse backwards. The LRRA’s light horse can also be paired with BGs of legionaries, to make skirmishing a risky proposition for the opposing army’s light horse.

The elephant BG should be placed behind the legionaries to act as a reserve, particularly behind BGs of legionaries that are in a line only one base deep, because it is vulnerable to shooting.

The cavalry and medium foot can be used to extend the battle line if necessary, cavalry should be skirmish formation if it is doing this, with light foot in front of them to screen them from light horses shooting. If the opposing army’s light horse charge the light foot the light can evade through cavalry if it is charged by light horse. Otherwise, they should be deployed behind the legionaries to act as a reserve.

Light horse acting on its own doesn’t pose threat a LRRA. Light horse and heavy troop types, such as cataphracts, working together does pose a threat to a LRRA. The light horse forces the LRRA to spread out, to prevent the light horse enveloping its flanks. The heavy troops force the LRRA to bunch up, to avoid having its BGs overrun. The LRRA can counter this by: using terrain to shorten the battlefield, refusing a flank, having a reserve.

Medium foot and the BG of elephants are suited to the role of a reserve. However, cavarly can also be used. Thureophoroi are particularly suited to this role, because they are drilled, which makes them very maneuverable. It will usually take the opposing army a couple of turns to position its heavy troops to attack the legionaries. This should be sufficient time for legionaries contract so they are two bases deep and for the BGs that are in the reserve to fill in the gaps.

Pike armies

I recommend line formation against pike armies. Light foot and light horse should attempt to disrupt the pikes with shooting before the pikes and legionaries charge one another. Make the legionaries' battle line as long as possible, while still maintaining a two base deep formation. The LRRA’s goal is to strip away the pikes’ support before the legionaries engage the pike, so the legionaries can get overlaps.

It is critical to have the Roman generals in the front ranks of the legionaries when the impact combat between the pikes and legionaries occurs.

Armies that containing Armoured Offensive Spearmen

This is a very tough match up for legionaries, because unlikely that the legionaries will get overlaps, because armoured offensive spear cost 13 points per base compared to 14 points per bases for legionaries. Legionaries do have two advantages over armoured offensive spearmen that they should attempt to exploit.

First, armoured offensive spearman rapidly lose POAs if they are disrupted or suffer casualties, because of the loss POAs conferred for having multiple ranks. Consequently, a LRRA facing an opposing army containing armoured offensive spearman wants force the opposing army to extend out the line of spearman as much as possible, by threatening their flanks. If opposing army refuses to expand out the spearman, the LRRA should attempt to strip away BGs protecting the spearmans’ flanks before engaging the spearman.

Second, spearman performs worse in rough and uneven terrain than legionaries. Consequently, legionaries should take advantage of rough and uneven terrain as much as possible.

Obviously, the LRRA’s light foot and light horse should attempt to disrupt the spearmen with shooting before they and the legionaries engage in combat.

It is critical to have the Roman generals in the front ranks of the legionaries when the impact combat between the armoured offensive spearmen and the legionaries occurs.

Medium foot armies

A LRRA shouldn’t attempt to root out a medium foot army in rough terrain and legionaries shouldn’t go between pieces rough terrain when facing a medium foot army, unless there is a very large gap between them. It is likely that a battle with medium foot will result in a stand off, with the legionaries refusing to go into rough terrain and the medium foot refusing to come out of it.

very nice. One error though: javelins get a - vs armoured foot and heavily armoured mounted, and a -- vs heavily armoured foot.

Very nice one! Some hints:

In a two base deep line a maximum of six bases of light horse can shoot at a four base BG of legionaries. On average the light horse will inflict to two hits. The maximum of number of hits they can inflict is six. A maximum of eight bases of light horse can shoot at a BG of four bases of legionaries if it is in a one base deep formation. The light horse will inflict 2.6 hits on average and can inflict a maximum of eight hits.

The maximum number of hits LH can achieve is LH bases/2, so in these examples 3 and 4, not 6 and 8.

File for file legionaries are superior to almost any other troop type in combat. The two exceptions are pikes and heavily armoured knights.

I would include armoured spearmen, too. They are even better in melee if you can't disrupt them in impact. Protected spearmen are still equal.
Of course they do not give as much problems as pikes.

Pikes are also more expensive file for file than the same quality of legionaries. Four bases of superior pikes cost 32 points compared to 28 points for two bases of superior legionaries that cover the same frontage.

As superior pikes aren't that common and average pikes give enough problems to legionaries, it it fairer to count 28 points for romans against 24 points for average pikes. So it isn't said that the legionaries always overlap the pikes despite the fact that they often have the higher maximum in their army lists.

grahambriggs wrote:very nice. One error though: javelins get a - vs armoured foot and heavily armoured mounted, and a -- vs heavily armoured foot.

Thank you, I have corrected this.

Regards

Sean

Very nice one!

In a two base deep line a maximum of six bases of light horse can shoot at a four base BG of legionaries. On average the light horse will inflict to two hits. The maximum of number of hits they can inflict is six. A maximum of eight bases of light horse can shoot at a BG of four bases of legionaries if it is in a one base deep formation. The light horse will inflict 2.6 hits on average and can inflict a maximum of eight hits.

The maximum number of hits LH can achieve is LH bases/2, so in these examples 3 and 4, not 6 and 8.

I meant to write:

"In a two base deep line a maximum of 12 bases of light horse can shoot at a four base BG of legionaries. On average the light horse will inflict to two hits. The maximum of number of hits they can inflict is six. A maximum of 16 bases of light horse can shoot at a BG of four bases of legionaries if it is in a one base deep formation. The light horse will inflict 2.6 hits on average and can inflict a maximum of eight hits"

I have corrected this in the edited doctrine.

I would include armoured spearmen, too. They are even better in melee if you can't disrupt them in impact. Protected spearmen are still equal. Of course they do not give as much problems as pikes.

Thank you, I have addressed this in the edited doctrine.

As superior pikes aren't that common and average pikes give enough problems to legionaries, it it fairer to count 28 points for romans against 24 points for average pikes. So it isn't said that the legionaries always overlap the pikes despite the fact that they often have the higher maximum in their army lists.

I have addressed both of these issues in the edited doctrine.

Thanks for the feedback.

Regards

Sean

I love doctrines. They help clarify and document how an army should work. At the bottom of each order of battle I routinely put a text box with an abbreviated doctrinal analysis of the particular OB as a whole, its components, and a quarter by quarter description of default deployment doctrine with normal options. It helps speed things up and discourages trying to be too clever or too reactive - when in doubt, follow the sound doctrine you thought about beforehand. This helps remind me what I intended and is helpful if the army and list are handed to someone who has not played it before and may not be familiar with the army historically.

I looked at comments here and in the other thread. I would summarize the key doctrinal point regarding composition for LRR (and MRR for that matter) as being that some Legionary BGs must be lost before you can be broken. Currently there are enough loose attrition points that you can lose the battle with the Legionary BGs untouched.

I think the priorities for Legionary supports are:

1. Some skirmishers to slow enemy movement early on, shift to the flanks to harass an enemy without lights, and/or help block more numerous enemy lights. The key doctrinal concepts for me is that this army doesn't win by shooting and its skirmishers are for utility - shooting is incidental - and should be used cautiously lest their APs be lost. Thus I suggest 6 Slingers - they are only 24 points, won't be tempted to fight anyone, and with 3 shooting dice might cause a cohesion test now and again. Additional LH or LF can be useful but is optional.

2. One multi-role Superior Cav BG normally used as reserve/flank cover/rear support all in one BG. Protected is too unreliable and less flexible. The problem with having two BGs is the points investment and the corresponding urge to throw them into the fight - you already expressed this point in your doctrine, but also talk about using them to skirmish, which I think is at best situationally useful as a secondary role (safe against heavy foot, but more or less risky against MF and mounted). Keeping them back in flank position to intercept attempts to flank the Legionaries is I think the default doctrine that is soundest and provides the most flexibility. I think trying to keep them as an unengaged reserve as long as possible is an important goal - without a lot of BGs, the Romans can lose if they run out of free BGs before the enemy.

3. One BG of 8 Thureophoroi (tougher, can keep a frontage of 3 even with losses) since you have lots of Impact Foot already and Spears are useful to help vs. flanking enemy mounted, enemy swordsmen, and if taken as MF rather than HF are faster and can help with terrain (although someone observed that two MF BGs are a terrain force, but one is a distraction). If you want a terrain/anti-mounted force, a Jewish ally with MF Off Spears is interesting, but again that dilutes the focus of the army.

Elephants are worth considering to face Knights or if you may be facing Knights or children are playing or spectating (they love Elephants even more than Knights), but are brittle and undrilled and a doctrinal complication requiring skill in placement and manoeuvre to use effectively. The problem with the disordering strategy is that enemy mounted corner to corner with Elephants don't lose a die for disorder, so Elephants don't necessarily help as much as one might hope.

I'd like to put in a kind word for a BG of non-Superior (slack) legionaries. If may free some points and can be more than sufficient for some duties. It's also more representative of the broad run of historical armies.

On philosophy, I think Legionaries are not brute force but force aggressively applied to a suitable target, head-on maybe but also capable of some manoeuvre. Legionaries are not top-drawer troops against all opponents - they need to try to be selective. Undrilled armoured hoplites would be a brute force army - steamroller option 1.

On terrain doctrine, isn't Impassable is best since it is a completely solid feature to rest a flank upon? The same argument may favor Difficult terrain, which impedes lighter troops as well and may block shooting - Romans don't plan to fight in it, just march past it. Rough and especially Uneven (which does not affect enemy LH and Elephants) seem less attractive to drive past (though better to fight in).

The big question is whether to try to put terrain on the flank edges to slow flanking moves along the edge but leave a wide open center or farther in to provide flanking obstacles for the central advance at the cost of leaving the flank edges open.

Cheers,

Mike

Doctrine for a Late Republic Roman Army Without Allies

Part One: The purpose of this document

This document analyses the strengths and weakness of Late Republican Roman Army (LRRA) and uses the results to:
• make suggestions as to how each troop type in a LRRA should be used and how this fits into the tactics for a LRRA as a whole
• identify what types of terrain a LRRA should select and suggest how this terrain should be placed
• identify three formations that a LRRA can use
• make suggestions for how a LRRA can deal with four types of armies – knights, light horse, pikes and medium foot - that pose particular challenges for it.

This document doesn’t attempt to identify what the ‘ideal’ LRRA is, as I don’t believe there is such a thing.

Part Two: The Strengths and Weaknesses of the Late Republican Roman Army

The Strengths of a Late Republican Roman Army

The strength of the LRRA is in its legionaries. The combination of a legionary’s combat capabilities (they are impact foot, skilled swordsman and superior), survivability (they armoured), morale (they are superior) and maneuverability (they are drilled and superior) makes legionaries, arguably, the best all round troops in
hand-to-hand combat. The raison d’être for Legionaries is to defeat opposing troops in hand-to-hand combat. A LRRA will usually win a battle if its legionaries succeed in engaging the main body of the opposing army in a cohesive battle line.

The Weaknesses of a Late Republican Roman Army

Envelopment

The main weakness of the LRRA is the troops that are available to protect it flanks. Its cavalry will usually be out classed and out numbered, it can only have a maximum three Battle Groups (BGs) of light horse, two of which are armed with Javelins, and it can only have two BGs of medium foot.

A LRRA should use terrain, when possible, to protect the legionaries’ flanks.
Medium foot can occupy rough terrain to secure it or to threaten the flanks of opposing army.

Support troops can also be used to delay and pin the opposing army’s BGs, so the legionaries have sufficient time defeat the main body of opposing army.
• Elephants are excellent at countering opposing cavalry, as long they are supported and aren’t exposed to shooting. I deploy the BGs of the elephants in my army last for this reason.
• Roman cavalry can be used to ‘pin’ opposing BGs, by putting them in Roman cavalry’s restricted zone, to prevent charging into flanks of the legionaries. It is not a good idea to use this tactic against opposing cavalry though, as there is a high likelihood that it will catch the Roman cavalry when it attempts to evade.
• Light horse and light foot can be used to delay the advance of BGs in the opposing army, by preventing its BGs moving twice in turn (a LRRA will usually lose initiative, which will allow its skirmishers to move first). This tactic can be combine with the LRRA refusing flank. Skirmishers can be used to delay the advance of the opposing army’s BGs on the refused flank.

The legionaries should advance as fast as possible, because the longer they take to defeat the main body of the opposing army’s main battle the more time the opposing army has to envelop the LRRA’s flanks. If possible, the legionaries should deploy opposite the enemy’s camp and advance towards it. This will hopefully force the opposing army to face the legionaries in order to defend its camp.

Superiority in Hand-to-Hand Combat

There are some types of troops that are superior legionaries in hand-to-hand combat. Pikes, heavily armoured knights, heavily armoured cataphracts and armoured offensive spearman all have one POA over legionaries in the melee phase. But they all have compensating weakness.

Pikes

Pikes are more expensive file for file than same quality of legionaries. Four bases of superior pikes cost 32 points compared to 28 points for two bases of superior legionaries that cover the same frontage. Consequently, legionaries will obtain overlaps on pikes. A LRRA should, therefore, attempt to strip away BGs protecting the flanks of pikes, so it can attack the flanks of the pikes and/or obtain overlaps on them.

Pikes perform worse in an uneven and rough terrain than legionaries. Consequently, the LRRA should attempt to draw pikes into this type of terrain to fight the legionaries. The historical example of this occurring is the battle of Pydna in 168BC.

Finally, the commander of LRRA shouldn’t given despair if the legionaries are forced to face pikes frontally in open terrain. Pikes rapidly loss their POAs if they are disrupted or suffer casualties, because of the loss POAs conferred for having multiple ranks. Legionaries are also more maneuverable than pikes, especially if the legionaries are in BGs of four bases. It is easy, therefore, for a BG of legionaries that defeats a BG of pikes to turn and attack the flank of another BG of pikes. The historical example of this occurring is the battle of Cynoscephalae in 197BC.



Knights

Mounted heavily armoured knights have half as many bases as legionaries, they will, therefore, lose if they are forced to engage in a battle of attrition. A LRRA should also attempt to draw knights into uneven and rough terrain, as the knights fight worse in this type of terrain than legionaries do. The BG of elephants is also very useful in providing support for the legionaries, because elephants dispute mounted.

Cataphracts

Heavily armoured cataphracts are expensive. Two bases of drilled superior cataphracts cost 40 points, and undrilled cost 36 points, compared to two bases of superior legionaries that cost 28 points. The additional hits legionaries will inflict, because of overlaps, more than compensate for them being a POA down in the melee phase.

Armoured Offensive Spearman

Armoured offensive spearman are a tough fight for legionaries, because legionaries won’t obtain overlaps on them (armoured offensive spearman costs 13 points per base compare to 14 points per base for legionaries).

Armoured offensive spearman do have two weaknesses though. First, they rapidly lose POAs if they are disrupted or suffer casualties, because of the loss POAs conferred for having multiple ranks, and they don’t gain POA unless they a have second rank. Consequently, a LRRA should attempt to force the spearman to expand out their line as much as possible by threatening its flanks. Ideally a LRRA wants its legionaries face a line of spearman that is only one rank deep, as the spearman wouldn’t have a POA over of the legionaries in this circumstance. Second, spearman perform worse in rough and uneven terrain than legionaries. Consequently, a LRRA should attempt to draw spearman into rough and uneven terrain.

Part three: Analysis of Each Troop Type

Legionaries

Legionaries are core of the LRRA. The primary role of legionaries is to engage and defeat the main body of the opposing army in hand-to-hand combat.

The combination of the legionary’s combat capabilities (they are impact foot, skilled swordsman and superior), their protection (they are armoured), morale (they are superior) and maneuverability (they are drilled) makes them, arguably, the best all round troop type for hand-to-hand combat.

The disadvantages of legionaries is their expense, which means a LRRA will usually be smaller than the opposing army, and their speed, as they only move at 3 Movement Units (3 MUs) per turn.


Cavalry

Roman cavalry should be used to protect the flanks, as a reserve and to provide rear support.

Roman cavalry are the weakest component of a LRRA. Opposing cavalry will usually outclass it and it is vulnerable to shooting. It is also poor at maneuvering, because it is undrilled. Consequently, Roman cavalry should avoid combat unless it is highly advantageous (e.g. it can charge an opposing BG in the flank or rear) or it is forced into combat because of the circumstances (e.g. to prevents the BG in the opposing army charging the flank of another BG in the LRRA).

Roman cavalry should attempt ‘pin’ BGs in the opposing armies, if it is being used to protect the LRRA’s flanks. To achieve this Roman cavalry should be deployed in skirmish line and be maneuvered so the opposing army’s BG(s) are in its restricted zone. Pinned BGs have to charge the Roman cavalry, stand or move away from the Roman cavalry, thereby preventing opposing army’s BGs attacking the legionaries.

It is not a good idea to use Roman cavalry’s skirmishing ability against opposing cavalry, because there is a high likelihood that the opposing cavalry will catch the Roman cavalry. A way of reducing the likelihood of this occurring (other than not facing opposing cavalry) is to ‘pair’ a BG of light horse with the Roman cavalry. The BG of horse is positioned 1 MU ahead of the Roman cavalry. This prevents the opposing cavalry coming within 1 MU of Roman cavalry, but it still allows Roman cavalry to ‘pin’ to the opposing cavalry by placing the opposing cavalry in the Roman cavalry’s restricted zone

If you intend use Roman cavalry rear support you should considering upgrading them to superior, so they can provide rear support to legionaries. This will also increase their maneuverability, because they will re-roll any ‘1s’ that roll for complex maneuver tests.

Light horse

The primary role of light horse is to delay the advance of opposing army’s BGs and prevent the opposing army’s light horse doing the same to the LRRA. It can also be used to disrupt the main body of the opposing army with shooting, if the opportunity presents it self.

Light horse should be deployed on the flanks of a LRRA, so they don’t get in the way of other troops. It is usually a good idea to deploy a general with each BG of light horse during deployment, so light horse can move twice in the first turn.

Light horse shouldn’t go within charge range of BG’s opposing army in the first turn, unless they intend to engage them in hand-to-hand combat, because it will be forced to evade away if charged, which will allow the rest of the opposing army to move twice.

In general light horse shouldn’t go within charge range plus shooting range of BGs in an opposing army, because they are able to delay BG’s an opposing army’s while still being this far away opposing army. Going any closer to BGs the opposing army, unless the light horse are intending to charge or shoot at them, puts the light horse at risk for no gain.

Always ensure that light horse have a good of line of retreat. Avoid the temptation to squeeze in extra bases of shooting at the expense of a clear line of retreat.

If the LRRA is fighting an army that has a lot of light horse it can ‘pair’ its light horse with cavalry, legionaries, elephants or medium foot. If the opposing army’s light horse comes within charge range it will have the dilemma of having to either fight the BG the LRRA’s light horse is paired with, if it chooses to stand, or take the risk of the LRRA’s light horse catching it and attacking in the rear, if it chooses to evade. The odds of the LRRA’s light horse catching evading light horse are 38%, if the LRRA’s light horse is one MU or less away from the evading light horse at the commencement of the charge. The odds are 22% if the LRRA’s light horse is over one MU, but two MUs or less, away from the evading light horse at the commencement of the charge.

Light foot

The primary role of light foot is to delay the advance of opposing army’s BGs and prevent the opposing army’s light foot doing the same to the LRRA. It can also be used disrupt the main body of the opposing army with shooting, if the opportunity to presents itself.

Light foot should be deployed in front of the main body of a LRRA, because its ability interpenetrate other troop types, and be interpenetrated by them, means, it won’t slow the advance of main body of the LRRA and battle lines won’t have to break up to go around light foot. It usually best to deploy a general with the light foot during deployment, so the light foot can move twice in the first turn.

As with light horse, light foot shouldn’t go within charge range of BG’s opposing army in the first turn, unless they intend to engage them in hand-to-hand combat, because it will forced to evade away if charged. This will allow the rest of the opposing army to move twice.

Always ensure that light foot has a good of line of retreat, either behind friendly troops or into terrain that prevents from being caught because it slows opposing BGs down. Avoid the temptation to squeeze in extra bases of shooting at the expense of a clear line of retreat.

Another use of light foot is to screen BGs that are vulnerable to shooting, such as elephants, medium foot and cavalry.

I prefer to use javelin men, rather than slingers or bowmen, because javelins don’t receive a minus when shooting at armoured troops. Javelin men also receive a POA in impact combat, which helps them chase away opposing light foot.

Medium foot

The primary role of medium foot is to occupy rough terrain, either to protect the flanks of legionaries or to threaten the flanks of the opposing army.

The strengths of medium foot are that it is not disrupted in rough terrain and that it moves at four MUs, compared to heavy foot that move at three MUs, and it cheaper than legionaries, so you can have more bases of it. Its weaknesses are that it suffers minuses for cohesion tests if it losses combat in the open and it is vulnerable to shooting, because it is only protected.

Elephants

The primary role of elephants is to engage and defeat opposing cavalry. They also can be used extend the battle line of LRRA, if needed, because they are good in
hand-to-hand combat versus other troop types.

The strength of elephants is their effectiveness against opposing cavalry – they disrupt cavalry and lancers lose their POA. The weaknesses of the elephants are:
• They are brittle (it only takes a single casualty to break the BG), this makes elephants vulnerable to shooting by light horse and light foot; and,
• they are undrilled, this means that you have a general with the BG of elephants and make a complex maneuver test if the BG is within 6 MUs of the enemy and wants it a make wheel.

The Camp

The advantage of the LRRA’s camp is that it is fortified. Consequently, mount BGs only have a one in six chance of defeating the camp’s defenders each turn.

A LRRA usually shouldn’t attempt to defend its camp, other than using its light horse to delay the advance of the opposing army’s BGs, because BGs that are defending the camp won’t be available to used elsewhere and this will increase the chance of the LRRA’s flanks will be enveloped. As the saying goes “he who attempts to defend everything defends nothing.”

Part Four: The Selection and Placement of Terrain

Legionaries are happy to fight any other troop type, except for pikes and cataphracts, man-on-man. What the LRRA usually wants to avoid is having its flanks enveloped. Consequently, the LRRA wants as many pieces of impassable, rough and uneven terrain as it can get. Selecting a coastline is also a good option, if the LRRA wins initiative, because it will provide a secure flank.

Rough and impassable terrain should be placed in the centre of battlefield to create ‘avenues,’ if the terrain placement dice rolls permit this. This will give the LRRA the ability to section off the battlefield and refuse a flank. The light horse can then be used to delay the BGs in the opposing army that are on the refused flank.

If the avenue that the legionaries are advancing through doesn’t have sufficient room for all the BGs of legionaries to deploy in a single battle line consideration should be given to deploying some of the legionaries in the rough terrain in column (as columns will allow them to move at the same speed as the legionaries in the open), so they can obtain overlaps and free up the medium foot to counter other BGs in the opposing army.

There are two expectations to the above. First, when a LRRA is facing an army that is predominantly made up of medium foot it wants as much open ground as possible, because legionaries have the advantage over medium foot in open terrain. Second, when a LRRA is facing a pike or cataphract army it does want impassable terrain, difficult terrain or a coastline, as the opposing army will be able to use this terrain to secure its flanks.

Part Five: Deployment

Order of March

It is generally best to deploy the BGs of legionaries first and then deploy the rest of the army, because it is usually clear where the legionaries are going to be deployed. Consequently, there is little value in deploying other BGs before the legionaries. Deploying the other BGs after the legionaries also provides the LRRA with the opportunity to the react opposing the army’s deployment. I prefer deploying medium foot and the BG of elephants last.

Formations

Line

Line is the traditional formation for the LRRA. The legionaries are deployed in a single battle line in the centre of the army. Light horse be deployed on the flanks and the light foot should be deployed in front of the legionaries.

If possible, the legionaries deployed opposite the enemy’s camp, to hopefully force the opposing army to face the legionaries in order to defend its camp.

When possible, the legionaries’ flanks should be secured by the use of terrain such as coastline. Alternatively, the medium foot can occupy rough terrain on the flanks of the legionaries to protect the legionaries’ flanks or threaten flanks of the opposing army.

The cavalry and elephant BGs are placed on the flanks or in reserve as required. The elephant BG can also be placed in the battle line of legionaries, to extend the battle line and/or to dispute cavalry and knights.

The advantage of the line formation is that it plays to the legionaries’ strength: advancing in a single multi BG phalanx. The disadvantage is that the formation has weak flanks. If the LRRA fails to adequately protect the legionaries’ flanks there is risk of envelopment, the classic example being the double envelopment at Cannae, in 216 BC.

Caesar’s Special

This formation uses the stratagem that Caesar adopted to defeat Pompey at the battle of Pharsalus, in 48 BC. Caesar used it to counter Pompey’s greater number of cavalry. The formation is best used when one of the flanks of the army can be secured. Caesar had a river on his left flank.

All of the BGs of legionaries, except for one or two BGs, should be deployed in a battle line. The one or two BGs of legionaries that are not in the battle line should be deploy behind the battle line of legionaries at one or both ends of it. The cavalry are then deployed in skirmish formation at one or both ends of the battle line of legionaries. When cavalry are forced to skirmish away the legionaries behind the battle line of legionaries charge the opposing army’s BGs in the flank. This, of course, requires the BGs of legionaries to have been positioned so that they are able to do this.

The advantage of this formation is that it devastating, if you can pull it off. The disadvantages of it are that it can easily be counted, if the opposing army is aware of it, it shortens the legionaries’ battle line, and the commander of the LRRA needs to be spot on with the positioning of the BGs of legionaries behind the main battle line. Caesar had the advantage that Pompeii couldn’t see what was happening behind the battle line of Caesar’s legionaries.

Pincers

Scipio used variations of this formation at the battle of Baecula, in 208 BC, and the Battle of Ilipe, 206 BC. The LRRA’s medium foot are deployed in the centre of battle line and the legionaries are deployed at either end of the battleline. The legionaries advance slightly ahead of the medium foot. The formation takes the form of a shallow U. The BGs of legionaries are at the tops of the U. The BGs of medium foot are at the bottom of the U. The intention is that the legionaries will defeat the opposing army’s flanks. They will then turn and attack BGs that are in the centre of the opposing army, which are facing the medium foot. In other words, the legionaries will envelop the flanks of the opposing army while the medium foot pin the main body of the opposing army.

The advantages of this formation are it reinforces the LRRA’s flanks and puts the opposing army in a dilemma. Does it split the BGs in the centre to deal with legionaries on flanks? However, if it does this the LRRA’s medium foot will be able to attack them in the flank and/or while they are maneuvering to attack the legionaries.

The disadvantages of this formation is that the legionaries BGs on each flank could be defeated in detail, because they are unable to support one another, or the medium foot in the centre could be defeated before the pincers containing the legionaries can close. This formation worked for Scipio because in both battles he deceived his opponents about this deployment.

A variation on this formation is to place the Roman cavalry in the centre in skirmish formation.

Part Six: How to Deal with Armies that Pose Particular Challenges for a Late Republican Roman Army

Knights

Use the cavalry to pin the knights, so that legionaries can either attack pinned knights flanks or they can concentrate on attacking other BGs in the opposing army.

Attempt to draw the knights into uneven and rough terrain, because knights perform worse in this type of terrain than legionaries.

If you have BG of elephants, place in battleline of legionaries where the knights are expected to attack, so the elephants can disrupt the knights.

Light Horse

A LRRA has a good chance against light horse army, because the legionnaire’s armor and their quality (they are superior so they re-roll 1s for cohesion tests) means they shrug off shooting by light horse. The trick is to prevent the LRRA’s flanks being enveloped and adopting a tactic of counter punching.

Counter punching involves some the BGs in the LRRA pinning the opposing army’s cavalry/knights/cataphacts frontally while other BGs charge into attack their flanks. For example, a light horse army I faced had only five BGs of cavalry. This meant that the BG of elephants and four BGs of legionaries in my army could pin his cavalry. This left me with two BGs Roman cavalry, two BGs of medium foot and a BG of legionaries to attack the flanks of his cavalry.

Pikes

A LRRA should attempt to strip BGs protecting the pikes’ flanks before the legionaries engage the pike, so the legionaries attack the flanks of the pikes and/or obtain overlaps.

The legionaries should attempt to draw the pikes into uneven and rough terrain, because pikes perform worse in this type of terrain than legionaries.

Armoured Offensive Spearmen

A LRRA should force the spearman to expand their line out a much as possible, by threatening their flanks. Ideally the legionaries want to face line of spearman that is only one rank deep, as spearman won’t have POA over the legionaries in this situation.

The legionaries should attempt to draw the spearman into uneven and rough terrain, because spearman perform worse in this type of terrain than legionaries.

Medium Foot

A LRRA shouldn’t attempt to root out a medium foot army in rough terrain and legionaries shouldn’t go in between pieces of rough terrain when facing a medium foot army, unless there is a very large gap between them. Consequently, it is likely that a battle with medium foot will result in a stand off, with the legionaries refusing to go into rough terrain and the medium foot refusing to come out of it.

I think you should not be keen on uneven terrain. Yes the legion can fight in it almost fine, but the big impact is the reduced speed.

Also I think BGs of 4 legion run risks of once they take a casualty the -1 on CT often in conjucntion with other -1s adds up to a likely drop in level and that is a big problem. Still I do want 1-2 BGs in 4s.

The elephant imho should not be on the flank. THat is when it is vulnerable to getting swamped by numbers. And if it breaks and flees through the legion you have more headaches.