House rules question

[NoxNoctum]

"6. Never replenish Cohorts when they start to get depleted, Only do so after 20 Turns. In the meantime use Auxilia to fill in thinning Ranks."

Does this apply to Republican hastati/triarii/principes units as well or only post marian reform cohorts?

Also why 20 turns? Just curious.

Thanks!

[Ejergard]

This rule mainly applies to late republican and the imperial era ingame. During the time of the Polybian legions a legion would be raised for a specific task and when the task was fulfilled it would be disbanded. For a period of time the republican legions would recruit their soldiers for a period of 6 years. Replenishing them every 5 years is more of a guideline to emulate this.
This is just from the top of my head, I'm not a historian, so take this with a grain of salt pls

[NoxNoctum]

So why does it not apply to pre-Marius reform legions?

And is it acceptable to stick two units together that have many losses to make room for a merc/auxilia unit or not?

Thanks

[Zel408]

It doesn't matter as much for the Pre-Marius troops, it mostly applies to numbered legions. For example if you sent the 1st legion to conquer a few settlements in North Africa and they sustained heavy casualties, you would send that legion home to recruit/retrain and rotate a fresh legion recruited from a different city to take over. By the time they get back to their home city it should have been several turns. I'm no historian either but I can imagine Rome sending a legion home early to recruit more men if they sustained heavy losses or if their objective was completed.

I think the 20 turns rule is to keep people from sending fresh reinforcements to a numbered legion still on campaign.

[Ejergard]

There is nothing stopping you from doing this with premarian legions aswell. It is actually quite rewarding as you progress into the game. Each legion gains an identity and is shaped by its battles and the theatre they are campaigning in. It also makes you have to household a bit more with the legions you have. If you are too reckless you might end up losing eagles.
Like the legions Caesar brought home with him from Gaul were veterans, but severely reduced in manpower compared to full strength legions.

[czePowerslave]

I believe - pre-marian troops were levied when the need arose. Legions on the other hand were kept thoroughly as armed force and swift fist to take new lands. Thus training professionals take more time.

[Zel408]

You can do this with pre-marian legions but I don't believe it was necessary. With the reforms, there came identity to each legion and a city where they can only be recruited from.