Late Roman Imperial Troops

[Cornelius Plautus]

Just recently, I began playing Barbarian invasion as the Eastern Roman Empire, and while I've figured out how to stabilize my empire (except Jerusalem) through religious conversion, and how to kickstart my economy again, I am having trouble with my military.

Statistically, I know that the progression of units in quality is: limitanei, legio lanciarii, comitatenses, plumbatarii, yet I cannot help but feel as if each unit has a specialised role in the Roman army of which I am ignorant as of yet.

Historically, I've read that the comitatenses were garrisons, while the limitanei were mobile field armies, but neither of those strategies seem to coinced with my plan of building up heavy garrisons in Sidon, then building two forts on my side of the bridges to Goth territory.

Essentially my question is this: What sort of roles do different Imperial troopers play, and how do you use them in particular to respond to different threats to the Empire (specifically in the East).

Thanks for your time, and enjoy the holiday season!

[Medusa0]

I'm pretty sure limitanei, not comitatenses, are the garrison troops (comitatenses literally means field troops).
Limitanei are light infantries that served as the police force instead of frontline troops.
Lancearii are the anti-cavalry spearmen supporting the comitatenses, similar to auxilia spearmen in RTW, and the plumbatarii are simply advanced comitatenses.

Wiki pages:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...rmy_unit_types
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limitanei
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comitatenses

There's a discussion thread about the plumbatarii legionaries:
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forum...ad.php?t=39726

[Dave Strider]

@Madusa:
....who have longer range and better missile attack. Nice avatar BTW. Catapigs.

[Medusa0]

@Madusa:
....who have longer range and better missile attack. Nice avatar BTW. Catapigs.

Never knew they have better range, I suppose I'm learning something new everyday...

The cataphract pig unit card has been released in the Mod Workshop, under the topic of armoured wardog

[Dave Strider]

Never knew they have better range, I suppose I'm learning something new everyday...

Actually I only guessed that. For me, Plumbtarii can throw their missiles strait up like archers or crossbowmen shooting up. Then, I see them coming down 20+ yards away, and Comitatenses can't throw 5 yards.

[Xellos_Moon]

Well it isnt really important about worrying how each unit is to be used best but it is finding the best stack and the right combination of units so you can kick any AI ass.

I suggest about trying to figure out the best army composition that you are most comfortable with and sticking to that standard.

edit: +rep to medusa0's avatar for making me giggle

[Warhammster]

The limenatii are only useful in the early stages of a Western Empire campaign, to quickly secure all bridges leading into the empire. As the Eastern Empire you will never need them as you can afford comitatenses from the start and peasants make much better garrison troops.

[Cornelius Plautus]

The limenatii are only useful in the early stages of a Western Empire campaign, to quickly secure all bridges leading into the empire. As the Eastern Empire you will never need them as you can afford comitatenses from the start and peasants make much better garrison troops.

Why are peasants better garrison troops?

Oh, and is there anywhere I can get that cataphract-pig you have, Medusa?

[Medusa0]

Although peasants in BI are dirt cheap and has very low upkeep, you'll need quite a few of them to keep public orders as their "is_peasant" attribute lowers their garrison bonus (i.e. only count half of their number).

[Warhammster]

Although peasants in BI are dirt cheap and has very low upkeep, you'll need quite a few of them to keep public orders as their "is_peasant" attribute lowers their garrison bonus (i.e. only count half of their number).

Damn!