Hi Mike, I've gone for a compromise composition:
12 velites in one line
24 hastati in one line
48 principes in two ranks
24 triarii in one line
Once they're all painted, we're going to have a trial run, to see how many sub-units we should have in each line, two or three. The reason for this is that the rules (Tactica II) are written with a maximum width of 12 massed infantry figures in a unit, and we don't want to mess with that – could be unforeseen consequences. So within a legion there will be several "maniples" of either eight or twelve heavy infantry.
Correct proportions would be:
24 velites
24 hastati
24 principes
12 triarii
Double those for spectacle, or use multiples of eight – just so long as the ratios are right. Our list is different because there are several other factors to be taken into consideration. First of all, the look of the thing. We want to put on a reasonably large 25mm game, and a legion with a frontage of 12 heavy infantry figures is only 18cm. But at the same time we're being realistic about what we can paint in time. So we've doubled the frontage, but not the numbers of figures. I can paint four legions of the composition we chose, a legion every two months, and still get them ready in time, but if there were another 24 hastati and 12 velites per legion, I couldn't. And we would also have to increase the opposition to compensate – we just don't have those combined resources. Having said that, the composition we do have will effectively give me double the number of legions at normal scale. Also, we just don't need that many velites. The rules let them chuck javelins at double effect against elephants anyway, and I've worked out that with average rolls the elephant units should be destroyed before the infantry contact comes.
So it's not accurate, but it should work for us! Hope this is making sense…
Paul
makes an addition to his Flash Gordon collection.
