The army list below is a proposed variant for the DBM 222BC campaign ongoing.
Polybian Roman variant list for 222BC Campaign
C in C -Reg Cv (0) @28AP 1
Sub general - Reg Cv (0) @28AP 0-2 Roman
Ally general - Reg Cv (0) @18AP *1 Roman"
Italian cavalry - Reg Cv (0) @8AP 2-8
Tarantine cavalry- Reg LH (0) @5AP 0-2
Numidian cavalry- Irr LH (0) @5AP 0-2 Roman & Latin
hastati principes - Reg Bd (0) @7AP 16-40 Roman & Latin
triarii - Reg Sp (S) @7AP 1 per 4 Bd Roman & Latin
velites - Reg Ps (S) @3AP 4-20 Latin
extraordinarii - Reg Ax (S) @5AP 0-6
Italian Macedonian, Thracian levies - Reg Ax (I) @3AP 0-24
Upgrade better levies, Reg Ax (0) @4AP up to 1 /2
Cretan archers - Reg Ps (0) @2AP 0-4
Syracusian slingers - Reg Ps (0) @ 2AP 0-4
* is only required IF both consuls are present. Velites support Cv (0).
Notable changes/additions:
1. Allowing the Romans three non-allied leaders in consular armies seems perfectly appropriate when both consuls are not present.
2. The cavalry/light horse maximums have been slightly increased to better reflect the theoretical establishment of 1 to 5 (cavalry to heavy infantry) in a Roman consular army.
3. The velites are no longer in simple proportion to heavy infantry. Phil Barkers Book II list already ignores half the theoretical velite establishment in the interests of achieving a pleasing effect (by numbers they should be 1 to 1 with blade elements if you figure Ps to have half as many men as Bd elements). In this list I create the possibility of going even farther in this direction. Despite the theoretical presence of so many Ps in the Polybian establishment, they simply weren't that significant a battlefield force-normally withdrawing when the real fighting began or aiding the cavalry on the wings.
{This is true in later periods but not in the years 222-190 BC. In fact it was the Triarii supporting the Princips, won the battle of Zama in the year 202. Polybios says it was a near run thing, that the issue hung in doubt until the return of the Italian/Numidian cavalry. Ed.}
The fact that this huge proportion of legionary strength disappears entirely in the Marian army speaks loudly to the supposition that it was no great loss. l would favor enforcing an even lower number of Ps (S) elements as a maximum.
4. The extraordinarii are a consistent presence in consular armies detailed by Polybius. I am suprised that Phil Barker doesn't pick up on them. The pick of the Latin allies (1/5 the infantry and 1/3 the cavalry) were routinely brigaded into this elite advance guard and also served as the consul's bodyguards. The Ax (S) represent the 4 cohort foot contingent of this force (the cavalry would be drawn from the Cv (0)). Although the bulk of the Latin allies now mirrored Roman heavy infantry organization, this force can clearly be classed Ax (S) as consistent with its function on the march and with earlier Latin combat styles.
5. I have allowed some of the levy Ax to upgrade to "0" to soften the drop off to "I." Just call me crazy.
6. I have retained the more consistent mercenary types on this list while dropping the small contingents of regional "allies" none of which can be used together. This seems appropriate for a campaign list. The camp is also gone, as the Romans will receive this free of charge in the campaign (I think this should extend to competition too-but it's highly unlikely). This is not intended as a variant for tournaments, but rather as a slight enhancement of the existing Book II list specifically for the campaign. The object has been to put a better historical face on a list the has always struck me as inadequate (as it has other Roman players). Hopefully this list will attract further suggestions for improvement.
(I think Mark's list is a great improvement over Phil Barker's, but I question AXE armed units that are Italians. Unless of course he is considering kopis armed Etruscan and Western Greeks to have the same striking power as an AXE. As for the extraordinarii see my earlier comments. -SP)
The Roman Legion Part II
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