roman Auxilia slingers

[mattfriend0]

I dont know when this was introducted into the roman army but i know it was there around 40AD the roman auxilie in 1.5 are under powerd so historlicly the auxila carried slings well i know they did in the britan campiaon in 43AD so i fought they would be good to have in RS 2

[tone]

Have you got the source for that info?

[Nicholas H.C]

Hmm...... I thought the romans stopped using slingers around that time

[mattfriend0]

no it was later when they stop using them

[Octavius-Augustus]

Some more info on that? Interesting topic.

[Blackshamrock.]

This interesting.

[mattfriend0]

ok I cant find any info about auxilia units aways having slings but it is hinted that they where issued to them but it would make auxilia a bit more powerful if they had slings becuse there a bit weak at the momet

[Samuel Adams]

Well, it's now thought that the Roman army's light infantry and skirmishers were not separate arms, but rather legionnaires on detached duty for a battle. So now RS has the 'light auxilia' with more javelins, it would also be understandable, imho not imperative, to have some with slings. I don't recall when they stopped using them, but with all Roman gear, there was no end/start date hardlined for equipment usage. For instance, the Gallic A helm was produced and used primarily in the late BC's and to around 25 AD, but was probably used until the last totally wore out. It's not a far stretch to assume that if most of the Roman army had stopped using slings by 50 AD, in some parts of the empire, especially far flung eastern and Germanic postings would have used them till much later.

[Blackshamrock.]

Intriguing.

[century x]

Intriguing.

Indeed:hmmm:

[Blackshamrock.]

Indeed:hmmm:

I would relay like to look in to this and see what I come with with your permission.

[Samuel Adams]

Actually, iirc, they would have dropped their armor and shields to do skirmish duty with slings, so they could outrun the enemy once they were upon the slingers-so in essence, you could probably give the existing slingers an auxiliary blue tunic and use them...

[mattfriend0]

well they used slings when they were pined down by archers

[Paidonomos]

There is some debate about auxilia using slings. Vegetius seems to suggest that infantrymen can be armed with slings to use in certain situations. Ammianus also suggests the use of slings by ordinary infantrymen rather than special slinger units. It's a lot of conjecture, but an interesting idea. Given that a sling was a light weapon and easily carried would suggest a legionnaire or auxiliae could be equipped with one and ammo was probably easy to find on most battlefields.

[Octavius-Augustus]

Probably the info on infantrymen using slings is another proof of the adaptability of the Romans. The adaptation of the gladius and scutum, maniple formations, cohort formations... The military changed over time, according to the situation. The Legionaries brought a steady ammount of gear with them on the march, they may have used their pila as an anti-cavalry weapon. I'm pretty sure some or even most of them could be trained to use a sling if necessary...
But in RTW terms, I think the Romans simply don't need slingers.

[mattfriend0]

the roman auxilia in RS 1.5 only have spear, sword as weapons and the legionaire have sword and javlin which is a melee and range weapons so the auxilia in RS 2. should have slings becuse the auxilia are points less in RS 1.5 becuse they have such weak attack

[Worm]

No slinger units appear in the diploma record. However, slingers are portrayed on Trajan's Column. They are shown unarmoured, wearing a short tunic. They carry a cloth bag, slung in front, to hold their shot (glandes). It seems likely that at least one cohort of slingers took part in the Dacian campaigns.

In the Republican period however, the standard trio of specialised auxilia were Balearic slingers, Cretan archers and Numidian light cavalry. These functions continued in the 2nd century auxilia.

[mattfriend0]

what i ment is that the auxilia use slings before charging ect like javlins with legionaires

[Worm]

Sorry for missunderstanding, i don´t know if thats possible but it would be cool.

[mattfriend0]

yea i dont mean as a new unit just an new weapon to the unit