After getting my hands on Hail Caesar in September, I've been trying to build a Diocesan comitatenses and auxilia palatini, leaving limitanei for later, although on my table I am currently converting a few Wargames Factory Anglo-Saxon Fyrd to ripenses for Rhine or Saxon Shore scenarios.
My problem – and not necessarily a bad one but probably a costly one, is that I suspect I have too many Romans for the size of the field armies.
Currently, I was trying to build as comitatenses : Primani Iuniores. Although frontage is what counts, I think I misunderstood how many figures I need since we're talking about 500 to a max of 2000 men.
What I have is, in units of 16 models, two ranks deep (incl. unit leader/standard):
15 x Armored, helmeted no-crest
5 x Armored, crested helmets
8 x light inf. archers
16 heavy cav. models with spear
9 light cav. w/javelin models
6 sagitarri models
9 cataphracti
1 scorpio
1 command group
For auxilia palatini Exculcatores Iuniores Britannicani, I organized it as follows:
10 x unarmored, helmeted models
4 x unarmored light inf. archers
+ 5 models of javelin skirmishers
1 command group
Finally, for ripenses, I put together
1 x archer unit
1 x javelin unit
2 x melee (with falx,double-headed axe, and one with a ship's mallet ) units
1 (so far) x armored classiarius milites
2 x tiny units of Romano-German naval scouts (4 models each)
Although the rules state that each unit represents "hundreds of men," I was never sure how many models I would need, or more precisely, how many standard size units make up a comitatenses or auxilia.
But if one comitatenses is made up of 500 to a max of 2000 men, that would mean that I probably should put only 3 to 10 standard-sized, two-rank deep units – maximum – into the comitatenses.
The same should go for auxilia palatini, if they are approximately the same strength.
I now have no idea how to judge the size (in standard units) of my Classis/Ripenses.
It presents a conundrum when it comes to painting, obviously I don't want to paint a large army all the same if it is only made up of half or less than half of the models.
I haven't bought Limitanei figures yet, I was looking at unarmored in hats. But I will wait to see what feedback I get here (and after the holidays). So that I have an idea of how many standard sized units to build.
I planned to use my Arthurians as Numeri, but that is only 5 units of unarmored Dumnonia spearmen and two units of Gwent spearmen with one unit each of archers. They're already painted but based the same: 16 individual models on 20mm x 20mm on trays.
If anyone could help me with the organization of the models, I would certainly appreciate the effort and information. If what I suspect is correct and I have too large a field army by half, then for painting purposes I could reform half of the models into another auxilia palatini and comitatenses, perhaps under the Italian or Gaullic command for variety and scenario flexibility.
Thanks in advance,
Richard in Saxony