Rome Total War Units
On this page you can find the units that are being included in Creative Assembly's forthcoming game Rome Total War. I have organised the units into the six cultures, but I do not yet have enough information to organise them into individual factions. Each Friday I shall update this page with new units.
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Roman Units
Legion Principes
The Principes are slightly older men, reliable warriors, and continue a battle once the Hastati are spent. Principes are heavy spearmen who make up the second line of an early Republican Legion. They recruited in the prime of their lives in their late 20s and early 30s. They wear mail, a bronze helmet, carry a long shield and also a long sword for both cutting and thrusting under an enemy’s shield.
Principes march in the centre of a Legion’s three parallel battle columns and take the middle line when the Legion wheels into battle. At crucial moments in battle they are ordered forward through Hastati to press an attack. They also cover gaps in the maniple formations used by the Legion as a whole.
Hastati
Hastati are the youngest men in Roman military service. They attack with spears, and are expected to fight only until the battle passes to the next line of a Legion.
The Hastati are actually the first line in an Republican Legion, and generally march on the left of a Legion's battle columns. This allows them to wheel into the forward position when forming a battle line. They are supposed to bring the enemy line to a standstill, then hold until the second line of the Legion - fresh troops - arrive to carry on the fight with renewed vigour.
Each man carries two pila - one light and one heavy - and a gladius. The light spear is always thrown first, then the heavier one at close range. The iron points of the spears are cunningly fashioned to bend on penetration and be a hindrance even when they cause no wounds. Hastati themselves wear mail, a bronze helmet and carry a large shield.
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Triarii (Pre-Marian Roman Legionary)
The Triarii are the last available line in early Republican Legions. If these troops are used in a fight, it's often a sign that the moment of decision in battle has arrived. Triarii are tough, experienced, heavy spearmen who make up the third and most senior part of a Legion. They are the oldest veteran soldiers, and the best equipped and armoured. Triarii normally march on the left of the Legion’s three marching columns and form the third (rear) line when Legion forms up for battle. They carry a long "hoplite-style" spear called the hasta which is used to thrust, a long shield and a gladius. Triarii are the Legion’s final reserve and often spend most of a battle waiting at the rear. "Going to the Triarii" was a Roman saying indicating that something was carrying on to the bitter end.
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Roman Legionaries
Roman Legionaries are tough, well trained and highly effective infantry: the backbone of the Roman army after the Marian reforms. Six centuries form a cohort, which is approximately the same size as a modern infantry battalion. Legionaries fight using a combination of hand-hurled, armour-piercing pila (spears) released just before contact and the famed gladius (short sword) which is used as a stabbing weapon. They wear a good-quality helmets, chainmail armour and carry large shields. Legionaries are superb in close combat, but they can be slow over more difficult terrain, as their close-order formations, such as the testudo (or tortoise) require them to keep in step. Historically, the cohorts were raised after general Marius reformed the Roman army and did away with the land-owning hastati-principes-triarii legionaries and recruited men from the landless poor. Every man who retires from the Legion after 25 years service can expect enough land to give him an income in his old age.
 | Town Watch
The Town Watch are steadfast and trained volunteers who choose to defend their homes and lands on a part time basis and partly at their own expense. Originally drawn from among citizen farmers who had enough land to be able to afford military equipment, after Marius' reforms the Watch were recruited from retired legionaries who were granted land around colonia. They fight with spears and swords and can give a good account of themselves, but they are no substitute for full time, well trained and young legionaries.
Praetorian Cohort
The Praetorian Cohort are heavy infantry, hand picked from the bravest troops of the Legions. They are the only military units allowed to remain within the city of Rome. They are fierce soldiers, dedicated to their mission as an elite bodyguard for the mightiest of Romans. On campaign, they are equipped in the same fashion as the Legions, with legionary lorica segmenta armour, pila and gladius and these are of the finest quality. Historically, Scipio Africanus created the Praetorians from his most trusted troops, and exempted them from all duties except that of guarding his person. The Praetorians have better conditions than ordinary Legionaires, and need only complete 16 years under arms before retiring. Tribunes command the Praetorian Cohort and two Praetorian Prefects command the whole Corps. The Praetorians are the political elite of the Roman army, bodyguards to the powerful in Rome, but not always used to the rigours of campaigning.
Samnite Gladiators
Samnite gladiators are tough, vicious killers. No strangers to death, they know little fear and can usually carry all before them. They are armed with a sharp edged, thrusting sword, carry a square shield, and wear a greave (shin guard) on the left leg, chest mail and their distinctive masked helmet, a style based on the Samnite enemies of Rome. They are feared by many enemies, and by all but the most senior of their own side!
Comprising prisoners-of-war, slaves, criminals, desperate freemen and Romans eager for glory, fame or riches, they are fatalistic in the face of death and fear little after the rigours of gladiatorial schooling. Those who survive may, at last, be granted their freedom, although many remain to fight on as free men.
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Greek Units
Agema Phalangites
The Agema are an elite amongst hoplites, a guard recruited from amongst seasoned veterans to protect the King's person on the battlefield. They are also deliberately prevented from gaining any provincial connections that might further the interests of rebellious nobles. They are fiercely loyal to the crown and have correspondingly high morale in the field - they will rarely run, even when all seems lost. They are also trained to route march for long distances with full equipment. Agema hoplites are equipped with good armour, greaves, helmets and traditional hoplon shields, and carry the 2.5m xyston thrusting spear and a sword. They are employed as shock troops, trained to carry out complex tactical actions, and can act as a phalanx as well as in more flexible formations. They need fear few other troops, but can be vulnerable to missile attacks and flanking attacks by cavalry unless properly supported by other friendly units.
 | Spartan Hoplites
Spartan Hoplites are heroic heavy infantry, born into a military society, the survivors of a virtual cull when babies, and trained from boyhood to do little except fight for the Spartan state. The results are "perfect" hoplites, supremely disciplined, dedicated to victory and their fellow warriors, and thinking nothing of death providing that victory is achieved. Their morale in battle is, as might be expected, superb. The Spartan Hoplites’ great strength is to fight in tight formation. Each man's shield firmly fixed on his left forearm protect his left side and his neighbour’s right. If surrounded Spartan hoplites will form large hollow impenetrable defensive squares. Spartan Hoplites prefer a slow, ordered and silent advance, always ready to react to new orders from their commanders. Unlike other phalanx-using nations, they do not choose to charge until very close to contact but they let the younger hoplites burst out of their line to take an enemy by surprise.
 | Greek Peltasts
Peltasts are lightly equipped, fast moving skirmishers who wear down enemies with a hail of accurately thrown javelins. Their strength lies in their ability to move through broken or rough terrain, and stay away from threats. Once their javelins have been thrown they fight with spears, although they also carry straight swords and small shields (the "pelte" that gives them their name). As a result, they can fight quite effectively against other units of skirmishers but are vulnerable if caught in the open by light cavalry.
 | Greek Archers
Occasionally referred to as toxophilites - are stealthy and skilful ambushers who can use their mobility to cross rough terrain where hoplites and other heavy infantry cannot follow them. They wear little armour, go barefoot and bareheaded, and use compound recurve bows and bronze-tipped arrows. They are used in loose formation to pepper enemies with arrows before the main battle is joined by hoplites and heavy infantry. They can also be positioned behind a line of spearmen to similarly bombard enemy units. They are vulnerable if left unprotected from enemy cavalry and light skirmishers, as they have little chance of lasting for long in hand-to-hand combat. Archers are used to break up enemy formations and inflict casualties before the main body of the army smashes into the enemy.
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Barbarian Units
Gallic Foresters
A life spent hunting is an excellent training for war. Personal courage, skill and the readiness to take a life can all be learned during the hunt. Foresters are highly skilled men who have great ability with both bow and spear, learned over many years of hunting. The need to put meat on the King's table for his warriors means that they are valued members of the community as most barbarians are great meat eaters by preference - and this is one of the reasons that they are strappingly large in comparison to Romans!
In battle, Foresters are gathered into their own warbands who are not only excellent archers, but can take advantage of every piece of terrain. They are not heavily armoured, but they are flexible, well-able to use arrow fire to weaken an enemy unit before closing to finish the issue in hand-to-hand combat.
Chosen Axemen
Double-handed axes are intimidating weapons, and they should be used to hack a hole in an enemy line. These axes are heavy, superbly made, razor sharp and easily capable of cleaving a man down to his breastbone even through armour. Chosen Axemen are an elite among tribal warriors, selected for their physical size, strength, bravery and - some would say - pig-headedness. They are the assault troops of any barbarian army, the men whose only job is to smash any organised resistance and keep on killing until no foes remain.
Fear is completely alien to them, as is any concept of mercy to a foe or a weakling among their own kind. They are fantastically strong men - and need to be to wield their enormous double-headed axes with any degree of skill and control. Some Chosen Axemen are wealthy enough to have mail coats, but most disdain armour as a sign of cowardice. They may also carry swords as reserve weapons.
Barbarian Axemen
Axemen are close combat warriors. It is their task to break open an enemy line or formation so that their brother warriors can exploit the breach. Axemen are powerful warriors chosen for their size and strength to wield the heavy francisca, a single-headed axe that can split a shield, cuirass, helmet or the skull beneath with a single blow. They also carry heavy shields (to bash opponents as much as for protection) and wear helmets but only light armour. Speedy charges are important, but there is a degree of bravado too, in showing contempt for the enemy's best efforts!
Roughly organised into warbands, they are used to hack a way into an enemy line and open a hole for their comrades to exploit. This role is risky, but it is seen as heroic and an opportunity for glory and greatness not to be squandered. Axemen are very brave and are not usually disheartened by their own casualties.
Woad Warriors
Woad Warriors are powerful and, quite frankly, scary British warriors. They disdain armour and most clothing, preferring to paint themselves with intricate and stylised magical designs in woad (a blue dye) to deflect enemy blows and missiles. The patterns created can be elaborate and almost inhuman, and distinctly unnerving for enemies unused to such barbarous practices. But the belief in their magic also armours them against fear, and makes them savage and dangerous fighters. Woad Warriors carry a long spear and a small shield and can move very quickly across even rough terrain. It is a foolish commander indeed who underestimates their terrifying effect in a battle.
Barbarian Archers
Barbarian Archer warbands are composed of fierce, lightly-equipped men who can strike quickly and use terrain to its best advantage. They usually carry a small bow - not the compound bow favoured by more civilized peoples - and a good selection of hunting and war arrows, designed to cut arteries and pierce armour respectively. They also carry short swords, allowing them to fight hand-to-hand when they must, and they are not armoured, unless an individual has been lucky enough to strip a fallen enemy of gear after a fight. These archers are at their best in wooded country where their keen eye, loose formations and stealthy tactics give them the edge. They can also support charging infantry hordes by expertly unleashing a rain of arrows to dispirit a well-formed enemy line. However, any Archers caught in open ground by heavy troops or cavalry will be in trouble unless they can withdraw to more favourable ground or behind a wall of friendly spearmen. Archers should be used to break up enemy formations, so that heavier troops can do the real killing.
Dacian Falxmen
The falx is a deadly pole-arm in the hands of an expert. Falxmen should be used to carve a path into an enemy formation. Falxmen fight in loose units, as they need space to wield their weapons to full advantage, and do not bother with shields as the falx requires two hands to use properly. They usually fight bare-chested and wear baggy trousers, with only a skullcap for protection. They are best employed to cut a way into tightly packed enemy units, but can also give a good account of themselves against light cavalry thanks to the reach of the falx. The falx itself is a frightening weapon: a curved cutlass-like blade on the end of a long wooden (almost spear-like) handle. Unlike a cutlass, however, the falx is sharpened along the inner curve of the blade, so that the damage on the blow is done with a pulling motion. When used properly a falx can easily hack off a limb or decapitate an enemy, making anyone unlucky enough to face it unlucky indeed!
Barbarian Cavalry
Barbarian Cavalry ride small, sturdy and sure-footed horses, and are lead by a wealthy clansman or minor noble. They are capable of darting in to an attack, throwing their javelins, hacking through an unwary, unformed enemy and then making their escape before the opposing troops can react. They carry a sword; a clutch of javelins, a very light shield and can ride swiftly and quietly through woods, scrub and over steep hills where other cavalry units would have diificulty. They are best used as scouts, to ambush or skirmish or to drive away enemy skirmishers. They have little experience of formally organised (or "civilized") cavalry warfare, and are unlikely to be very effective in a straight fight against regular cavalry or properly disciplined infantry.
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Egyptian Units
Egyptian Cleruch
The Cleruch are disciplined and well armoured heavy cavalry who have high morale and are fiercely loyal to the Egyptian crown. They are a true elite, and Egyptian Kings usually take a close interest in their welfare and training. The Cleruch are recruited from among the 'new' elite of Egyptian society: Macedonian and Greek settlers. Among the ranks are also some prisoners of war who can be trusted not to defect. The Cleruch are given land for their service, the amount depending on rank and length of service in the force.
They are always equipped with the finest armour and horses - their principal weapon is a long thrusting spear. This superb equipment means that these men are always a decisive force. A Cleruch charge is often the moment at which Fate takes a hand in battle - and hopefully brings victory!
Egyptian Archers
Archery has long been a prized skill in Egyptian armies. These men are well able to virtually destroy enemy units with arrows, using their speed over rough terrain to get them out of trouble. If attacked by cavalry they have to rely on other units for protection. They do not wear armour and go barefoot and and carry a good quality composite bow, a weapon which has an excellent range although it tends to delaminate in damp conditions - rarely a problem in the deserts of Egypt! The arrows they fire are light reed shafts with bronze heads, as bronze is an easy metal to work in large quantities and reeds are plentiful along the Nile. Archers are sometimes recruited as mercenaries from Crete (from among pirates there) or Syria, but they do include native Egyptians in their ranks.
 | Egyptian Chariot Archers
Chariots Archers are tough marksmen with good morale, their skills honed by years of practice as tribal hunters and in the military. The Chariot itself is controlled by a driver, leaving the archer to concentrate on firing as many arrows as possible at the enemy from his composite bow, a weapon ideally suited to dry, desert conditions. Chariot Archers carry a large number of arrows with them in each chariot, and are adept at firing them while at the gallop. They do not wear armour and only carry a knife apart from their bows. They are superb for scouting in force, harrassing an approaching enemy, and wearing down large infantry formations. They are also best used in flat, open country such as the desert.
Egyptian Skirmishers
These skirmishers are used to break up enemy units with a shower of javelins as the battle lines close on each other. They cannot be expected to fight well in a melee.
They are similar to the peltasts used by other peoples: light infantry who carry javelins, swords and small shields. Strangely, Egyptian Skirmishers are often not 'Egyptians' at all. They are recruited from among immigrant foreigners, such as the bloodthirsty Thracians, who are even known to take heads of fallen enemies as trophies! The Egyptians guarantee the loyalty of these men by making them leave their families and belongings safely at home in Egypt.
Beyond a leather cap, they wear no armour. They are quick enough to stay out of trouble, but are, as is so often the case, vulnerable to cavalry when caught in open terrain. They are best used in broken or desert terrain to wear down enemies before the main battle is joined.
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Eastern Units
Eastern Horse Archers
The provinces of the East produce excellent Horse Archers. They are used to harrass enemy forces, using speed and nimbleness to staying out of close combat whenever possible: Horse Archers rely on the theory that "speed is armour". Infantry have no hope of catching them, but other cavalry may be able to run them down. Wise eastern commanders know this, and deploy Horse Archers alongside other cavalry, creating an interesting tactical problem.
Horse Archers are armed with powerful composite bows, and it is their task to kill, wound, disrupt or simply reduce the morale of enemy infantry with endless showers of arrows. They are also masters of "the Parthian shot" tactic: a quick reverse shot "over the shoulder" while seemingly withdrawing from the action. If Horse Archers have a weakness it is that of all soldiers armed with composite bows: these weapons do not take well to damp or wet weather, as the glues used to construct them become weakened. While this is seldom a problem in the East, it can be in wetter climes.
Eastern Peltast
Peltasts are lightly equipped skirmishers, originally named for the shape of their shields. They are used to break up enemy units with showers of javelins as the main battle lines approach each other. Acting as a screen, they are not expected to fight in hand-to-hand combat for long against heavier troops.
They are usually armed with a clutch of javelins, a thrusting spear and a straight sword, and equipped with their trademark light shield (the pelte) and little armour. Their light quality gives them the ability to manoeuvre and fight across rough or broken terrain. Peltasts are occasionally used with cavalry in the open against mounted units but they are then vulnerable to being ridden down if the accompanying cavalry is driven off.
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