AETERNA CIVITAS III UNITS

INDEX | CONCEPTS | TECH TREE | UNITS | HOUSE RULES

UNIT INFO

Original concepts

I have used the stats of Aeterna Civitas II as a basis for this scenario's units. Although I was fairly happy with the stat system in Aeterna I found they favored the defender too much. I like the idea that the best form of defence is attack and have increased the offence of most unit types in an attemppt to create a more agressive game.

I decided to work out the units stats using the categorization system used in the De Bellis Antiquitatis (DBA) wargame rules. They divide units into groups defined by their role rather than simply their weapons or other criteria. This made testing and perfecting the stats much easier. The main types are:

KNIGHTS - Such as Sarmatian Cavalry and Parthian Cataphracts.

CAVALRY - Such as Hellenic Hetaroi and Equites.

LIGHT HORSE - Such as Numidians and Skythian Horsemen.

SPEARS - Such as Hoplites and Spearmen.

PIKES - Such as Hellenic Phalanx.

BLADES - Such as Hellenic Hypaspyst.

AUXILIA - Such as Samnite Warriors.

BOWS - Such as Skythian Foot, Cretan Archers and Toxotoi.

PSILOI - Such as Psiloi and Rhodian Slingers

WARBAND - Such as Celts and Iberians.

ARTILLERY - Such as Battering Rams and Catapults.

> UNITS WORTHY OF A SPECIAL MENTION

MOUNTAIN
SLINGER

The Mountain Slinger occupies the Partisan slot and they appear around enemy cities when they are captured. They represent the cities fleeing population and resistance fighters. For every Mountain Slinger killed an event is triggered that gives the Romans a small sum of money and, more importantly, Slaves!

SLAVES

Slaves occupy the Settler slot and are aquired when Mountain Slingers are killed. They can be used to work the land or on building projects, especially building roads. In addition they can be disbanded inside cities for their relatively high shield value. This represents their participation in construction projects. The Roman economy will be driven on by Slave Labour!

NEW LEGION

The New Legion is very expensive to build, but when it goes to the Training Camp the resulting event will create an entire Roman Legion in one go, usially fourteen to fifteen units. I would suggest setting several major cities to build New Legions, whilst smaller cities produce takes to assist in rush building. Slaves can also be disbanded in the cities producing New Legions to boost the shield total.

TRAINING CAMP

There are several Training camps across th map. All are indestructable and can only be engaged by the New Legion and Marian Legion units. Each area's Training Camp will create a regional Legion. For example the Training Camp outside of Antiochia will produce the Syrian Legion in that city with Armenian Cataphracts and Levantine Archers instead of Equites and Velites.

VELITE

Velites are the skirmishers of the Republican Era Legions. Armed only with a helmet (often the distinctive wolf head) and shield and carrying a sword and short pila (javelin). They are drawn from the poorest ranks of Roman society. When the battle lines engage the Velites withdraw to the rear and flanks of the Legion.

HASTATI

Hastati are soldiers in the prime of life and they stand in the first rank of the Legion. In full armour, they carried a sword and shield as well as two long pila (javelins). These would be trown at the enemy as the battle lines closed to combat, then the Gladius (short sword) would be used to deadly effect.

PRINCIPES

The Principes are similar in most ways to the Hastati and stand in the second line. They are generally veteran troops and may own superior equipment. The Principes will often take over from the Hastati if they fail to break the enemy and begin to tire.

TRIARII

Triarii were veterans who were similarly armoured to the Principes, but carried one long spear. Standing in the rear (third) rank, they were seldom used in battle and the expression "the battle came to the triarii" described a desperate situation.

EQUITES | Each Legion generally had a cavalry detachment of 300 Equites, who were selected from the wealthiest citizens referred to as the equestrian class.
MARIAN LEGION | The Marian Legion unit becomes available to build when the Marian Reforms technology is discovered. It produces the new type of Legion organized in Cohorts.

COHORT

The reforms of Gaius Marius transformed the Legions into full time professional units where the Legionaries had no other job but the Army. The reforms also made the Legions more flexible by combining the four tranks of soldier of the Republican era into more flexible combined Cohorts.

AUXILIARY

After the reforms of Marius Auxiliary units can be produced. These are often composed of non citizens, such as Gauls, Thracians and Germans. They are useful gor garrison duties, but can also be incorporated in the main battle lines alongside the Cohorts.

GENERAL | The Roman General is a powerful offensive unit and they will appear at random via events. The gods of Civ2 will decide if and when they will bles you with a new leader!

ENVOY

The Envoy is limited to establishing embassies, which will give you a brief insight into your enemies development but will not allow you to enter talks with them. They are also able to spy on enemy cities. Very useful when planning an attack. Envoys dissapear after completing their mission.

FORT | The Fort was a key element of the Legions success. In the game they are restricted to cities and are powerful defensive unit. House rules permit a maximum of three forts per city (obviously the AI will build as many as they like!).
FORTRESS | This powerful defensive unit represents barbarian defences, such as the Celtic hill forts.
REBEL LEGION | Rebel Legions form the core of your Roman rivals armies. During the course of the scenario there will be numerous Civil Wars across the Empire and the Rebel Legions will be a major threat to your grip on power!

SLAVE REVOLT

During the scenario there will be several Slave Revolts to contend with, such as the famous revolt leb by Spartacus. Their army is formed of a core of escaped Gladiators who are deadly warriors with very little to lose and everything to gain!