Auxiliary Barracks

[Double A]

I'm like 10 or 20 turns into the game as Rome. I just built an aux barracks in northern Italy (which I fully control) and I can't say I actually understand why I'd want to use any of the units over Romans. The Celtic swordsmen have like 5 more melee damage than the hastatii but a considerable less melee skill, and presumably lack a thrown weapon (which really should be shown somewhere on the damn unit card). Also, the Celtic light horse has more melee attack than equites but doesn't have as much charge or armor, and the Celtic skirmishers have more or less the same stats as velites. The generic aux infantry is pretty crap and I haven't had the chance to play around with war dogs to actually know if they're worth it in this game (but they were in RTW, so I dunno). Now, I'm sure that aux barracks are absolutely wonderful in Parthia, but is there any reason at all for me to build Celtic units over Roman, aside from the 10% Romanization recruitment discount?

[Sevachenko]

While I do agree they are a bit on the weak end compared to true Roman units, they're also pretty cheap and expendable. I'm sure they were meant to be raised quickly to combat rebellion, and or defending less important outlying provinces. Some Auxiliary units can be particularly useful in support roles, I've added a few units of Auxiliary Longbow Hunters for example to bolster one of my Legions.

[Double A]

While I do agree they are a bit on the weak end compared to true Roman units, they're also pretty cheap and expendable. I'm sure they were meant to be raised quickly to combat rebellion, and or defending less important outlying provinces. Some Auxiliary units can be particularly useful in support roles, I've added a few units of Auxiliary Longbow Hunters for example to bolster one of my Legions.

I mean, those particular units are less powerful than their same cost/tier equivalent, they even have the same upkeep. What's the point of using them over more hastatii, equites, or velites?

[Coleus]

I mean, those particular units are less powerful than their same cost/tier equivalent, they even have the same upkeep. What's the point of using them over more hastatii, equites, or velites?

Well they're a bit cheaper. Also remember that if you don't go Rome but invade Italy as another faction they can be quite useful to raise when you're far from home.

[NavyBee]

Well they're a bit cheaper. Also remember that if you don't go Rome but invade Italy as another faction they can be quite useful to raise when you're far from home.

But can other factions apart from Rome recruit units from auxiliary barracks? I do not think Carthage and Macedon can, but maybe I just missed something.

[ikyu828]

But can other factions apart from Rome recruit units from auxiliary barracks? I do not think Carthage and Macedon can, but maybe I just missed something.

it's only for rome
for other factions they can only hire mercenary version, which has a much higher upkeep

[johannlo]

Bump, since its so difficult to test these units (due to per region/province recruitment requirements) has anyone got a guide as to what each aux unit does and whether they're worth it?

So far the only real use I can see for them is to get proper cavalry

[bzhou]

I would use them to make me feel better about armies historically! In my game I have auxiliary forces separate from main Roman legions.

[ikyu828]

for range infantry and range cavalry the auxiliaries are better than the rome's unit roster
rhodian's slingers, cretan's archers, thracian peltasts and tarantine's cavalry, their location are also close from italy

[Viljanen]

Also the generic auxiliary spearmen are cheaper than triarii and definitely cheaper than the spear mercenaries. Sometimes you just want to have a couple of spearmen to fight the enemy cavalry.

[Drowsy]

Using those units means it's the Socii doing the dying while the second line of good honest Romans clean up

[rrgg]

There doesn't seem to be much point to having both manipular and auxillary barracks in the same province. I generally build manipular in and around Italy, but aux barracks elsewhere for the unique units.

Also both the celtic infantry and cavalry should have throwing spears I think.

[Ecthelion]

Auxiliary Barracks Lvl III is crucial as it gives you your most valuable cavalry unit, the Auxiliary Cavalry. Probably overpowered IMO cause it's way too good a cavalry unit for a faction that is supposed to be weak in cavalry. It's very good in melee and has heavy unit mass allowing for a powerful charge. Good morale too.

Without these, you can't really have a proper Legion. And none of the other regional cavalry auxiliary units like Iberian or Celtic ones are nearly as good. Only the Cappadocian cavalry is better in across the board (worse armor though), but that's limited to a landlocked out of the way province that's rather hard to recruit from.

At Level IV you get Cretan Archers, which are awesome.

[Swerg]

House rules.

You only get to recruit real Romans once you've occupied the province for 50 turns.

[SinerAthin]

I think the Auxillary units should have a price reduction in comparison to Roman units.

After all, they were mostly used when either;
A) There was a desperate need for immediate manpower.
B) The situation was not deemed fit to waste Roman lives on.

Also, why can I only train the Socii extraordinary from the Auxil barrack? You'd think true Roman units like those would fit in the manipular barracks.

[TWWolfe]

I think the Auxillary units should have a price reduction in comparison to Roman units.

After all, they were mostly used when either;
A) There was a desperate need for immediate manpower.
B) The situation was not deemed fit to waste Roman lives on.

Also, why can I only train the Socii extraordinary from the Auxil barrack? You'd think true Roman units like those would fit in the manipular barracks.

probably due to the fact that the Socii weren't romans, they were italian allies of rome.

[phred]

I haven't had the chance to play around with war dogs to actually know if they're worth it in this game (but they were in RTW, so I dunno).

War dogs are killing machines. They can easily rack up the most kills of any unit in your army.

[phred]

double post

[Drowsy]

If RII had a manpower system then i bet people would have gladly recruited them as they are. In terms of gamey mechanics it would make sense that people would want them at a reduced price due to their stats.