Roman legion type faction

[Temuchin Khan]

Well, Dave's "turtle" idea is based on actual Roman tactics. Still, the turtle formation took about a dozen guys, I think. If we give the Romans some such ability, it should only be operative when the unit is adjacent to another friendly unit.

Also, the main strength of the Legions was flexibility and adaptibility. The main strength of a Phalanx was near-invulnerability to frontal attacks. Very different formations. Let's not mix metaphors.

If they are virtually invincible from frontal attacks historically but in danger from other formations, give them a ability that if they were adjacent to a friendly unit then they took 1/2 damage but, they could be flanked and would get as if they were backstabbed even if they attacker doesn't have the ability. Good idea?

Also make sure the centurions have leadership and give them a level 4. Because historically the romans got smashed without good leadership.

Man. You try to be clear, but people still misunderstand. I said the Greek Phalanx was good against frontal attacks, not the Roman Legion! The Roman Legion's strength, when it was used effectively, was flexibility and adaptibility. A Legion is not a Phalanx; a Phalanx is not a Legion!

Oh well, mix-ups happen.

[Disto]

Sorry.... well you can use that idea for the phalanxe

[Temuchin Khan]

Sorry.... well you can use that idea for the phalanxe

And a Greek Phalanx faction would also be very interesting, especially if it were made to reflect the army of Alexander the Great.

And what you have suggested is a very good way to reflect the strengths and weaknesses of the phalanx

But to best reflect the Phalanx, we would have to modify the idea somewhat: When a number of hoplites are standing in a row, each hoplite gives a defensive bonus to the soldier to his left. The guy standing on the right flank gets no bonus! This is based on a passage in Thucydides which I can never seem to find again.

[unsung]

I honestly think that having heals instead of illuminates is a bad idea. it does not sound as fun or as accurate as illuminate, and it makes little sense as the singifiers aren't magical and they aren't doctors. far from it. having heals in the faction somewhere doesn't bother me, but I don't think that this is the best way to implement it.

Ive lost track of what the tree is currently planned to be, (topic gained a lot of pages in not a lot of time) could someone show me?

I downloaded the era and faction that you posted in this topic turin, but I don't know how to get it to work in wesnoth or how to even open it at all.

[Temuchin Khan]

The current tree, AFAICT, is:

Code: Select all

Legionnaire-> Propugnator -> Praetorian Guard
                          -> Centurion
           -> Signifier-> Aquilifier 
Auxiliary Horse -> Eques Socius -> Eques Foederatus
Militia -> Light Infantry -> Veles
        -> Slinger -> Funditor
        -> Skirmisher -> Rorarius

In addition, we could perhaps have a (mounted) officer line:

Patrician -> Tribune -> Proconsul

And, if we are set on a historical era for this and several other factions, why not revive my original suggestions for the names of the cavalry line:

Auxiliary Horse -> Numidian Claimant -> Numidian Champion

I see no reason to avoid the historically-inspired names if this is in its own historical era!

[unsung]

thanks. I thought there wa sgoing to be a branch of legioanree that was a champion type. doesn't matter though.

[Temuchin Khan]

thanks. I thought there wa sgoing to be a branch of legioanree that was a champion type. doesn't matter though.

Never fear! "Propugnator" is the Latin for "champion." Someone asked, so I looked it up and it stuck.

[dtw]

Sorry about the phalanx thing - that was my bad - i thought it was roman!

BUT - should it be tortoise - not turtle. The Americans and their perversion of the English language weren't around then...then again the closest latin I can find is Testudo and the formation was known by this name apparantly.

I also found a site that supposedly depicts a typical legionnaire's attack which involved a forward push with the shield then a jab:

http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/mil ... actics.htm

I live very close to an old roman palace and so our local kids do lots of roman stuff. i just found a website by some of the kids with the coolest animated gif



Also, as someone mentioned, they were heavily reliant on leadership - maybe this should be reflected by low damage which relies on "leadership" to boost it. i think we are back to the old "standard bearer/bard" debate tho if we aren't careful. We it be possible to have a cheap level one bearer that could lead level 1 troops but had little offensive/defensive strength?

[dtw]

Do you guys got a javlineer as well?

[turin]

Do you guys got a javlineer as well?

Well, no, but all of the Legionnaire tree except the Signifer branch gets javelins.

[dtw]

I guess that's a plan then

What about my latin name research - any merits for that?

[Temuchin Khan]

I guess that's a plan then :)

What about my latin name research - any merits for that?

If we include the "testudo" formation (it would have taken a dozen Legionaires, no?), we should certainly use the Latin. I used to know the Latin for "tortoise", thanks for reminding me!

[romnajin]

Homeworld is a cool game!(no this is not random)

[unsung]

yep.
I wish I could play HW2.
I just noticed how many views this topic has..... wow.

[romnajin]

I actually only have homeworld 2 lol, it's cool, battleships are awesome, and so are destroyers, sight shows some cool screenshots showing off the graphics, but none of the really awesome battle scenes common in that game
http://www.homeworld2.com/