Legion Reinforcements

**wardyuc** · January 19, 2011, 10:24 AM

For the most part i have my legion structures mastered. One thing that is bugging me is the 1st cohort per legion rule. I love it, but it has raised a problem for me in how i structure reinforcements. I usualy have 5 cohorts 2 spear 2 missle and 2 cav. But i am tempted to have 4 cohorts and 1st cohort.
So how far would this be straying from house rules.

Do it or dont?

**Hesus de bodemloze** · January 19, 2011, 02:24 PM

Take a look at this thread, maybe you 'll find your answer over there.

**wardyuc** · January 19, 2011, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Hesus de bodemloze

Take a look at this thread, maybe you 'll find your answer over there.

Whilst i appriciate you attempting to give an answer. I do not know quite think you understand my question. I do not need Tactial advice as such. It is just a matter of i am trying to stick to the house rules, but anyone who has ever gone on an campaign knows how depleted the 1st cohort can get. And well they are the only unit i never carry reinforcements for. So i am wondering if bringing an extra unit to reinforce it will be breaking house rules.

Thanks

**saienga** · January 19, 2011, 05:01 PM

Well, if you're reinforcing a post-marian legion with roman cohorts at all you're breaking house rules. If you want to be militant about the HR, you're supposed to supplement depleted legions only with auxilia until 5 years have elapsed, whence you bring the legion back to its home city for retraining...thusly you never bring new roman legionaries to the army in the field, but always produce them when the army is at home.

So yeah, technically you're breaking house rules even by reinforcing the other cohorts. However given the system you're describing, I'd say that bringing along a new 1st cohort would be a little bit of a cheat on the rules you're trying to keep. Since the 1st cohort represents the core of the legion, and you want to follow the gist of the house rules, I'd say use the depletion of your 1st cohort as a flag for when you pull the legion from the front lines for refit and reinforcement.

If you're bringing out a new 1st cohort as a reinforcement unit, you're never in any realistic danger of losing the legionary eagle to an enemy...and part of the logistics LT tried to build into the gameplay was the difficulty of keeping legions fit, protected, and supplied while out on the campaign.

So, long story short, my vote is "Don't", and use it as a reason to swing your legions through home base once in a while.

If I've totally misunderstood what you're aiming at, I apologize.

**wardyuc** · January 19, 2011, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by saienga

Well, if you're reinforcing a post-marian legion with roman cohorts at all you're breaking house rules. If you want to be militant about the HR, you're supposed to supplement depleted legions only with auxilia until 5 years have elapsed, whence you bring the legion back to its home city for retraining...thusly you never bring new roman legionaries to the army in the field, but always produce them when the army is at home.

So yeah, technically you're breaking house rules even by reinforcing the other cohorts. However given the system you're describing, I'd say that bringing along a new 1st cohort would be a little bit of a cheat on the rules you're trying to keep. Since the 1st cohort represents the core of the legion, and you want to follow the gist of the house rules, I'd say use the depletion of your 1st cohort as a flag for when you pull the legion from the front lines for refit and reinforcement.

If you're bringing out a new 1st cohort as a reinforcement unit, you're never in any realistic danger of losing the legionary eagle to an enemy...and part of the logistics LT tried to build into the gameplay was the difficulty of keeping legions fit, protected, and supplied while out on the campaign.

So, long story short, my vote is "Don't", and use it as a reason to swing your legions through home base once in a while.

If I've totally misunderstood what you're aiming at, I apologize.

Thank you. Looks like i will have to study the house rules closer then. I was always the impression you were simply not meant meant to retrain for 5 years, not re-suppliment at all.

But thanks

**saienga** · January 19, 2011, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by wardyuc

Thank you. Looks like i will have to study the house rules closer then. I was always the impression you were simply not meant meant to retrain for 5 years, not re-suppliment at all.

But thanks

Well, you can supplement the legion whenever you need to, but with other troops. Italian Auxila, Gallic Auxilia, etc.

**Nano_Magnus** · January 19, 2011, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by saienga

Well, you can supplement the legion whenever you need to, but with other troops. Italian Auxila, Gallic Auxilia, etc.

Sword auxilia can be used to replace legionary cohorts

**saienga** · January 20, 2011, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by Nano_Magnus

Sword auxilia can be used to replace legionary cohorts

Indeed, hence my "etc."

Anything but "true" legionary cohorts, essentially.

**czePowerslave** · January 19, 2011, 05:49 PM

It gets depleted fastest yes. Thats why I keep them in second line when they get down too much.

**lt1956** · January 21, 2011, 05:33 AM

This is correct, if playing using my houserules you will not want to bring cohorts as reinforcements. Instead bring Auxilia Legions as support as the Romans did in real life. I also suggest not using your 1st Cohort in battle if you can avoid it. I usually use them in VERY tight spots or mop up, this keeps their losses down. After all you wouldn't use your best Cohort with your eagle in the front lines. lol Thats why they almost doubled the size to protect the eagle.

I find its alot of fun to have a 50% legion and filling it with auxilia. This lets you feel how the Romans handled legions and why commanders used Mercenaries or Auxilia alot. Imagine have 4 legions under your command on paper, and in reality you only have 2 Legions in strength. Sword Auxilia were specifically added to allow the player to have auxilia that function similar to the Legionaries, yet are still weaker.

Lt1956

**wardyuc** · January 21, 2011, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by lt1956

This is correct, if playing using my houserules you will not want to bring cohorts as reinforcements. Instead bring Auxilia Legions as support as the Romans did in real life. I also suggest not using your 1st Cohort in battle if you can avoid it. I usually use them in VERY tight spots or mop up, this keeps their losses down. After all you wouldn't use your best Cohort with your eagle in the front lines. lol Thats why they almost doubled the size to protect the eagle.

I find its alot of fun to have a 50% legion and filling it with auxilia. This lets you feel how the Romans handled legions and why commanders used Mercenaries or Auxilia alot. Imagine have 4 legions under your command on paper, and in reality you only have 2 Legions in strength. Sword Auxilia were specifically added to allow the player to have auxilia that function similar to the Legionaries, yet are still weaker.

Lt1956

Thanks i guess this will add an extra logistics challenge