Rome (Samnite Wars) Melee Infantry

Principes

During the 4th century BC the Romans abandoned the phalanx in favour of armies consisting chiefly of hastati, principes and triarii. These were deployed in maniples: compact blocks of men, arranged in a checkerboard formation. This allowed flexibility when moving across the battlefield, particularly when compared to the sluggish movements of a solid pike phalanx. Like most sophisticated city-states of the ancient world, Rome expected its men to fight, and supply their own war gear when they did so. A cynical observer might be tempted to note that the manipular Legion also made sure that the hierarchy of Rome was preserved. The youngest and least wealthy became hastati, the first line of battle in a Roman Legion. Behind them came the second line of principes, older and richer men, and finally came the triarii, the most experienced warriors. “Going to the triarii” was a Roman saying that came to be used in all kinds of situations, implying that everything else had been tried and found wanting.

Unit Name Principes

Main Unit Key Rom_Principes

Land Unit Key Rom_Principes

Naval Unit Key roman_transport

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Melee Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 610

Recruitment Cost 610

Upkeep Cost 85

Missile Damage 34

├ Missile Weapon rome_pilum_light

├ Projectile pilum_light

├ Missile Damage 20

├ Missile Ap Damage 14

└ Base Reload Time 40

Accuracy 5

Range 40

Reload 0

Shots Per Minute 2

Ammunition 2

Melee Attack 40

Weapon Damage 37

├ Melee Weapon rome_gladius

├ Melee Damage Base 31

├ Melee Damage Ap 6

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 0

├ Bonus vs Elephants 0

└ Bonus vs Infantry 5

Charge Bonus 11

Melee Defence 57

├ Base Defence 28

├ Shield scutum

└ Shield Defence 29

Armour 93

├ Armour mail

├ Armour Defence 57

└ Shield Armour 36

Health 75

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_very_heavy

├ Man Health 60

└ Bonus Hit Points 15

Base Morale 55

Abilities

• Defensive Testudo
  The troops of this unit raise their shields above their heads in a static defensive formation.
  Bracing, protection against missiles
  Can't move
• Attacking Testudo
  The troops of this unit raise their shields above their heads in a defensive formation.
  Protection against missiles
  Limited speed
• Use the Whip
  Improved attack and fatigue resistance for a short time.
  Melee attack, weapon damage, fatigue resistance
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

• Good attack
• Average defence
• Average damage but low armour penetration
• Normal morale

Upgrade
Required Technology Cost 150 Upgrade To
Required Technology Cost 450 Upgrade To
Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Manipular Barracks (rome_military_main_2) Level 1 Cohort Barracks (rome_military_main_3) Level 2
Lv. 1	Legionary Barracks (rome_military_main_4) Level 3 Civil Colonia (rome_town_civil_4) Level 3 Market Colonia (rome_town_trade_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Rome Senate loyalists Slaves
Samnite Wars	Lucania (Samnite Wars) Rome (Samnite Wars) Rome (Samnite Wars)
Hannibal at the Gates	Rome (Hannibal at the Gates) Senate loyalists (Hannibal at the Gates)