What to build legions out of before triarii and principes?

[azithinkibe]

Before you advance far enough to start training triarii and principes, what do you build your legions out of? Just replace triarii and principes with hastati? If so, isn't that against house rules for pre-Marian legions?

[lt1956]

Baiscally it doesnt take long to get one of the cities like Capua to have the upgrade. So there isnt really an issue for a but a few turns, Hastatii to replace the otehr 8 would be needed to just tie you over. Basically Capua is ready for the new palace right away which will allow you to build the barracks for Triarii and Principes.

[jegui]

Before you advance far enough to start training triarii and principes, what do you build your legions out of? Just replace triarii and principes with hastati? If so, isn't that against house rules for pre-Marian legions?

I normally wait for all my cities to upgrade before building Principes and Triarii and that takes ~ 8-10 years... In yhe meantime I use Mercenary units to fill the gaps and I match them against the units they are replacing... So for example Principes are replaced by Swordmen, Equites by Barbarian or noble cavalry and Triarii by Italian Spearmen which are available in the southern provinces I find merc units really handy and very strong against their own kind

The important thing is to always keep the same unit balance in your pre-marian legion (5 hastatii, 5 Principes or swordmen, 3 Triarii or Italian spearmen and 2 Equites or Barb cavalry... the rest are missile units)

[lt1956]

Too many mercs can make the unit BETTER than a full legion. IMO Mercs should only be used as a filler on Campaign. Rome still had the regular citizen Legions, Allies were on the sidelines to help. They didnt add them to the legions, just as auxilia back them Example is the Numidian cavalry didnt replace their cavalry they just added them. So if anything Mercs should be used Seperate from the Legions and not in Great number that replaces the actual legion. Thats one of the reasons I had the High cost, too many people start building Merc armies which is stupid IMO. Why play Rome were is Rome weaknesses if your cavalry is merc all the time? In essence it becomes an exploit over time.

Lt

[jegui]

Too many mercs can make the unit BETTER than a full legion. IMO Mercs should only be used as a filler on Campaign. Rome still had the regular citizen Legions, Allies were on the sidelines to help. They didnt add them to the legions, just as auxilia back them Example is the Numidian cavalry didnt replace their cavalry they just added them. So if anything Mercs should be used Seperate from the Legions and not in Great number that replaces the actual legion. Thats one of the reasons I had the High cost, too many people start building Merc armies which is stupid IMO. Why play Rome were is Rome weaknesses if your cavalry is merc all the time? In essence it becomes an exploit over time.

Lt

That's very true and thats why I said only use mercs to FILL the gaps and until you can recruit Principes and Triarii As soon as auxilia become available I normally stop using merc units as there is no point.

[Alatar]

I've recruited two barbarian noble cavarly after my equties got wiped out, and 2 numidian mercs, used instead of slingers in my greek legions.
Sounds fair I think, I still havn;t used cavarly auxilia as I'm saving it for the marians.