Backup legions

[Aldgarkalaughskel]

So you train those named and numbered legions, and the official guide says to have only one of them each. But is it OK (i mean correct, historically accurate) to have a backup legion?

So you would have a full-stack primary legion which is sent to conquer or defend, and a non-combat backup legion containing a few more cohorts to fill up the inevitable losses.

[Nellup]

Yes, having a reserve which contains a few cohorts of a legion is entirely acceptable. So long as the reserve doesn't engage in combat. I also usually bring along some siege equipment with the reserve, so if the main legion wishes to take a city, then they can swap out a couple of units of auxilia for siege equipment.

[Cyphon88]

It would certainly make life easier if your playing one turn i would imagine.

[MarcusTullius]

Definately ok, indeed its probably neccessary as you dont want to have keep running back having to train up new cohorts to replace your legions. You should probably have a auxillary legion helping out somewhere along the line as well.

[Nellup]

Definately ok, indeed its probably neccessary as you dont want to have keep running back having to train up new cohorts to replace your legions. You should probably have a auxillary legion helping out somewhere along the line as well.

Definitely, and if you are playing 0-turn you'll probably want several auxilia legions to support the main one.

[Rootsie]

look at this topic for more info on Auxilia Legions

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=151875

[Aldgarkalaughskel]

look at this topic for more info on Auxilia Legions

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=151875

This is a very useful thread, thank you.

I will use some aux legions, but named legions are sooo fierce, sooo heavy metal, sooo powerful! I just love to watch them march down the enemy.

Notice the difference betwee VE legions and real (named) legions (H/H difficulty):

My empire included all of Italy, Sicily and the most of Northwest Africa.
I tried to invade Gaul with VE legions, and it took up at least 6-7 full-stacks to conquer the first 3 regions, meanwhile having some serious reinforcement issues and direct threats of reconquest. At this point I just finished the Imperial Palace in Mediolanum, the Imperial Reforms kicked in, and I recruited 2 named legions in no time. I sent them to Gaul and they invaded the remaining 4 regions effortlessly, and without serious losses (70% remained alive)!!!!



Gaul sux. Fighting naked? Get a life, boys!

ROMA VICTOR!

[Caius Antonius]

It's good to always keep some additional cohorts in their original cities, and send them when the legion in the field needs replacements. That's historically correct as well

[century x]

It's good to always keep some additional cohorts in their original cities, and send them when the legion in the field needs replacements. That's historically correct as well

That is true. But I find myself sending these cohorts to the legions time consumming. Time which I can put into ending the war I' am in. I used to do that before I came up with the Auxilia legion system. I would have whole legions under manned due to constant battle and now having to sit in enemy territory while they get reinforced by Noob cohorts.

[Caius Antonius]

Well you can make a fort system, and ship replacements closer to the field legion. And of course, if you play on 1-turn recruitment.

[Coldcall]

I dont replicate named legions as I think it takes the individuality away from them. However builidng new cohorts and sending them as reserves to the front is pretty realistic, or as realistic as taking the whole legion back to its home city every few years.

[Samuel Adams]

I have posted this in other threads, but it's long gone now, so I'll repost-

When I plan a campaign against an enemy, usually an aggressive, imperialistic invasion of nation like a true Roman (in the name of national security ) I will build up three or four legions; Two are field assault legions, backed by Auxilia, one is a siege legion, slower moving and generally taking the rear guard of my army.

As a reconnaissance I usually dispatch a force of Auxilia cohorts that clear the way of enemy raiders (stacks with less than 10 units) and construct my fort chain. By the time I get into the enemy territory, I have a chain of five forts minimum garrisoned by 2 Auxilia units, and my legions have a place to rest, recuperate, and await reinforcements.

Following these legions is a 'baggage train' with 'cohorts' of the legions at the front to be used as replacements. This stack never sees combat as an entity, and is considered to be a training unit of raw recruits. This stack generally holes up in a fort surrounded at the front by 2-3 Auxilia garrisons in their own forts, and this way I can 'promote' soldiers to a more senior cohort (by, after a battle, merging the units) while the new cohorts fill the spot of the junior spot in the battle line (I roleplay a ton, so it's all nitty gritty and personal).

This way, I don't have to wait to reinforce the front line legions, and can replace casualties much faster to bring a unit to combat effectiveness. This also saved me as my conquest of Gaul was completed, as I was almost bankrupt, and before my economy could recover I was attacked by Germania at my limes in Gaul, and Seleucid declared war on me by way of blockading a harbor (they were my allies, and I had very lucrative trade with them beforehand). Fortunately, my trainees were available to reinforce my legions at the front in Germania, so as I plunged into the red depths of debt I was able to carry the war to them, plunder enough cities to establish a barrier between the Germanics and me, and bring my income up, and invade and liberate Armenia from Seleucid tyranny