Lanciarii deployment

As I understood it, lanciarii were light-armed legionary personal bodyguards - and not really battle-line troops except in extremis.

The Late Imperial Roman (East) has them as skirmishers, presumably because they are lightly-armed. I feel this is wrong but I'm not going to argue about it.

I do want a clarification on their deployment. The lists only permit lanciarii if FPs are present. Does it follow then that they can only be deployed in a command that also has FPs in it? This would make sense.

As with many things LIR we don't really know - for many years the wargame fashion was for lanciarii as integral sub-units of legio units. I'm not sure that's the common understanding anymore but these traditions stay with us like Macedonian pikemen in Carthaginian service. . .

The LIR lists also leave you with the decision regarding auxilia as unarmoured LMI or legio HI on less pay. All adds to the flexibility of the list.

There's nothing in the list that says lanciarii must be deployed in the same command as legio FP. I think you are restricted only by your conscience on how to deploy them

"I think you are restricted only by your conscience on how to deploy them."

That just may be the point, Z.

Although your FP does need some protection. The Lanciarnii through self interest may end up being in the same command as the FP.