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Warfare battle of Cunaxa

Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:26 pm by ejc

Sorry for short notice we are putting on the above scenario on Saturday 11th …

Comments: 4

Ilipa 206BC Society of Ancients Battle Day

Tue Mar 19, 2024 12:54 pm by ejc

This year's SOA Battle Day is Ilipa206BC will be about a dozen games all re …

Comments: 1

SELWG 2023 Thapsus 46BC

Sun Oct 08, 2023 8:29 pm by ejc

We will putting on the above game at SELG 2023 on Sunday 15th October. Forum …

Comments: 6

Colours 2023

Wed Sep 06, 2023 9:14 pm by ejc

Sorry for very short notice. We are putting on a game at colours on Saturday …

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Salute 2023

Sat Jan 28, 2023 2:49 pm by jorneto

Any Impetus games in this event?

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Society of Ancients Battle Day

Wed Mar 29, 2023 9:15 pm by ejc

Sorry for the short notice.
Our group is attending this event in Newbury on …

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How to Represent a Roman Legion

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Gaius Cassius
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How to Represent a Roman Legion Empty How to Represent a Roman Legion

Post by AncientWarrior Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:13 pm

On page 13 of his book THE ROMAN ARMY AT WAR, Professor Goldsworthy informs that a Roman legion contained 10 cohorts, each one - ideally - at a strength of 480 men. The “indicative game scale” for IMPETVS is 1 unit of heavy infantry represents something like 600 - 1,200 soldiers.

How then, to represent a Roman legion if one is interested in conducting a battle against the Gauls?

We could say that 8 units of HI could be used. From a points perspective, this would make a legion worth 224 points, not counting command structure or general. I suppose 6 units of HI could be employed, figuring 800 men per unit, so that the cost becomes a more manageable 168 points.

How have others approached this question?

Thanks.

Chris


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Post by Gaius Cassius Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:20 pm

Since the scale of the game is 1U equals 7 metres a Roman legion Impetus unit would represent approximately 40 men wide by 6 deep or about 1/2 a cohort. Obviously that isn't going to work for most gamers. Since Impetus has a degree of abstraction within it I have given up really being worried about what a single unit represents. If I had to be pinned down I'd say an Impetus Roman legion unit represented 2 cohorts and a Roman legion is represented by 5 Impetus units.
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Post by AncientWarrior Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:18 pm

GC -
It's regrettable that I came across as worried about how to represent a legion. I was simply interested in how others have tried to address this or even if they have. Judging from the number of replies versus views, it appears that this question is not all that important. OK, I get it.
I accept and appreciate your position as well. I guess my interest stems from wanting to use IMPETVS to refight historical battles - or at least quasi-historical battles.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.

-AW

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Post by Gaius Cassius Mon Jun 09, 2014 10:04 pm

AW, I think you can fight historical battles with the right proportions but I think it would be at a scale distinct from the ground scale. I have 8 units of Hastati in my collection and I see this as representing 4 legions with each Hastati stand representing 500-600 men. But in truth that doesn't conform to the ground scale of Impetus as the ranges are distorted (I presume to allow a good representation of movement and fire rates.) Its a fudge but a good one in my opinion. Consider FOG where the ranges conform to the ground scale but the overall effect is not that appealling.
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Post by dadiepiombo Tue Jun 10, 2014 4:42 pm

what Gaius says. 8 units per Hastati/Principes to represents 4 legions are the best visual approach.

Distances in Impetus are distorted to allow a playable game. Distortion of game scale and timing is the best way to achieve the so called fog of war.
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Post by AncientWarrior Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:35 am

Gentlemen,

Thanks for responding and advising. Technically, I was looking at a Gallic Wars scenario, so the Hastati/Principes division does not apply but still.

I guess I will just have to review what rule books I have and see what can be done. Interestingly, some folks on other forums say that it can't be done.

Thanks again.

Chris

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Post by Macro Wed Sep 17, 2014 5:12 pm

So, if I want to do an Early Empire Legion, I am not aware that the numbers in a cohort are markedly dis-similar, but would there be anything additional I should do for basing my army?

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Post by yorkie Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:01 pm

Personally I would use 10 separate units, 1 for each cohort. Would the 1st cohort be double size? so maybe a large unit in impetus terms?

Steve
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Post by Dennis Maxentius Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:31 am

The 1st Cohort was usually double strength but the tactics were the same as other Cohorts and the frontage, not the depth, was the big difference. Large Unit would not necessarily apply.

Scale is not so important but if you work out the size of your battlefield you can use X number of Impetus Units to represent X number of historical units depending on the ground coverage. All depends on the size of the battle you want to portray. You could use 1 Impetus Unit to represent 1 Legion or you could go right down to individual Maniples.

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Post by yorkie Thu Sep 18, 2014 4:48 am

Yeah, so you could use an Impetus unit to represent a century if you wanted to, so 6 units would be a cohort, its pretty flexible.

Steve
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