Slitherine

I know these are often intended to be Palace Guards but they seem hugely over powered, There are Guard and "Guards" and these guys are not and should not be the 10th Legion. While they might still b a nationally "elite" formation that does not need to be so internationally - real elites ought to be few and far between developing into the role through stellar battlefield performance over a significant period

Consider this is in part (a significant part) a gameplay trick to offer some resistance when conquering the national capital of a nation. Weakening them to 'Ceremonial troops' as many were would make a lot of nations even more brittle as they are right now.

Some good points there. With my experience of fighting them (Ptolemaic Egypt versus Nubia with that series of wars finally ending in 211 BC) they are just too good. Meanwhile Rome hasn't even had the Marian reforms yet so shouldn't the Imitation Legionaries actually reflect the pre Marian legions instead (eg Hastatii or Triarii. Arguably legionaries of the imitation legionary brand should be similar to Romans of the same time Regarding effectiveness O am far from arguing that they should not be effective. Just that they are not and should not be the 10th Legion. Giving the Imitation Legionaries the same rating as the typical average Roman cohort would be about right as well as making them tough to beat.