The Legion in Civitates Bellatorum

The Legion in Civitates Bellatorum
General Principles
While it is perfectly possible to deploy Roman Legionaries in units of several cohorts or detachments,
Civitates Bellatorum is designed to allow players to field whole legions as single units. This is
particularly appropriate for the Republican period where there are two possible Legion types the
‘Manipular’ (pre-100 BC) and the ‘Cohort’ (post-100 BC) Legion.
A single Manipular Legion Unit should have 6, 9 or 12 heavy infantry stands divided into 3 equal lines.
The first two (Hastati and Principes) are pilum-armed swordsmen. The third line is made up of speararmed Triarii. The Triarii should be as many stands as each of the front lines but count as understrength representing the fact that a Triarii line had 600 men while the Hastati and Principes were 1200
each. From the late 2nd century BC pilum-armed swordsmen could replace the Triarii. Legionary light
infantry and cavalry should be deployed as separated units.
A Manipular Legion Unit may be used to represent a single legion or even two ‘legions’ (one Roman
legion plus their allies), depending on the scale being used. For example, at scale of 1 full strength
stand = 1200 men, a Legion unit of 6 stands could represent both the Romans and their allies. At a
scale of one stand = 300 men, a 12 stand unit could represent a single Roman Legion without allies.
From the late Republic onwards, a Cohort Legion Unit should have 5-10 stands, again depending on
the scale being used. For example, with smaller scale figures, such as 6mm and 2mm on 20mm bases,
it is practical to have each stand representing a cohort of 400-500 men with each Legion Unit
containing 10 stands (or maybe 11 to represent a double-strength First Cohort). With larger figures it is
probably more practical to have each stand representing around 2 cohorts and either deploy a Legion
Unit of 5-6 stands or take a 10-stand unit to represent 2 actual legions. The Cohort Legion can be
deployed in either 1, 2 or 3 lines with the larger number of stands in the first line(s) where numbers are
unequal. For example a 10-stand unit would have 4 stands in the front line and 3 in each of the rear if
deployed in triplex acies (three lines).
The Manipular Legion in Civitates Bellatorum
In Civitates Bellatorum, the manipular Legion is normally deployed in quincunx formation. This
formation simulates the spaces between the maniples and the more ‘open’ order which the early
Romans often fought in. It also permits Legion line relief which allows fresh rear lines to replace those
in front, reducing the Legion’s DPs and giving a bonus in combat. In triplex acies with the Triarii
behind, the Legion also gets an extra +1 for support.
The Legion’s stands are deployed and move exactly as if in reinforced line, but the Legion’s frontage
should be 50% greater than normal with a gap of 1/2 stand frontage between each stand and line. For
example, a Legion with a 4 stand frontage of 6mm figures on 20mm bases will cover 120mm (80mm
for the stands and 40mm for the gaps), a Legion with a 2 stand frontage of 28mm figures on 60mm
bases will cover 180mm. Players will find it helpful to mount their manipular legion on a movement
tray (staggering the gaps in each line). An example of two 12-stand, 6mm Legions, on movement trays
to simulate quincunx formation is shown below:
I have added various supernumeraries to the movement tray such as officers, extra Velites and a few
messengers and Equites for interest. The tray without figures is shown below:
This wider frontage means that a Legion of 4 stands in the front line will cover the same frontage as 6
stands normally. This gives an accurate reflection of relative strengths against Hellenistic and
Carthaginian opponents whose heavy infantry were normally in multiples of 8 ranks compared to a
more shallow and open formation for the Romans. Thus a Roman Legion of 3000 heavy infantry (4
stands in 3 lines) would cover the same frontage on the games table as 12 stands of Macedonian
pikemen in 2 ranks, representing 3600 men on the same 1:300 scale. In games terms, in this instance,
the Romans would be outnumbered 3:1 (4 stands to the Macedonian 12, as the latter can count the rear
rank) but they have the benefit of additional support and line relief.
There may be occasions (as happened in many historical battles – Bagradas, Cannae and the latter part
of Zama, for example) where the Roman player wishes a more compressed, solid front. This can be
achieved by deploying a manipular Legion into regular lines without gaps between the stands. The
Legion cannot then benefit from line relief.
It is also possible to detach stands off to act independently to exploit gaps in the enemy line, to
neutralise flank or rear threats, or to pursue a retiring or routing opponent. In such cases, the detached
unit deploys normally without spaces between stands and cannot conduct line relief.
The Cohort Legion in Civitates Bellatorum
The late Republican and early Imperial Legion deploys in 1, 2 or 3 lines without any extra spacing
between the stands along the front (although there still should be at least a 1/2 javelin throw space
between lines). This represents greater solidity than the earlier manipular system. Rome’s historical
enemies are different - Punic/Hellenistic adversaries are largely a thing of the past and she is facing
barbarians, cavalry armies or other Romans, so triplex acies, although still a valid formation, is often
less practical than its duplex or simplex alternatives. The cohort Legion can also detach units off in the
same way as its manipular predecessor, with the added bonus of all lines being of equal strength and
equally armed and equipped.
Vexillations (ad-hoc groupings of cohorts) of the same command may interpenetrate each other without
the usual penalty allowing a degree of ‘line relief’ while retaining independence for the units involved.
In the Imperial period once vexillations become the norm, units of legionaries are more likely to be
fighting in a single deep line, particularly when facing cavalry armies.
Legion FAQ
• What happens if my differently armed and different stand strength manipular Legion unit has
enemy contact on both the Triarii and Hastati/Principes at the same time?
Answer: This will only happen if the Legion is contacted in the flank or a combination of
flank/rear/front. In this case use the factors of the majority type in contact. For example a straight flank
attack is likely to hit 2 lines of swordsmen and 1 of spear so use the swordsmen factors. If the numbers
are equal (for example a charge from the rear on the Triarii while the Legion’s Hastati are frontally
engaged) resolve it as multiple unit combat as if the Hastati and Triarii were two separate units (rolling
two dice, adding up all the applicable factors and averaging them out. If the Triarii were unable to turn
to face in time the whole legion takes 2 DPs for a rear attack.
• Can Legions still replace their lines if they have enemy in flank/rear contact?
Answer: No. In addition, any reserve lines that have or had enemy in contact no longer count as fresh,
so they can no longer replace a front line. Vexillations of cohorts might be different, as they can react
to such situations as separate units.
• Do I have to fiddle and replace each line in combat when I conduct a Legion line relief?
Answer: No. Simply keep track of the number of fresh lines the Legion unit has left. Also it does not
make any difference in a front only contact with the enemy if the reserve lines have less stands than the
front line, so long as they meet the requirements for support. This simulates steady replacement of
exhausted maniples or cohort centuries in an ongoing combat rather than necessarily a whole line being
replaced at one time.
• How does line relief work for a manipular Legion with its Triarii?
Answer: Most manipular Legion line replacements will be limited to just one exchange between the
Hastati and Principes. If the Triarii are called upon for a line relief, then you are probably in desperate
straits. Leave the lines as they are for the exchange, just as in the example above but simply use the
Triarii factors.