Polybian Legions

[Easy E]

This forum has played a lot of games. 

Therefore, I want to know which game have you played that has best represented the Polybian Legion on the tabletop?  By that I am thinking about the Triplex Acies formation/deployment method and representing the rotation of the units into the frontline.

I have seen it represented in a variety of ways and am curious the method you have liked the most.   

[SJWi]

I quite like the way Simon Miller plays the Polybians in "To the Strongest". I know not everybody's cup of tea but works for me.

[Ran The Cid]

I quite like the way Simon Miller plays the Polybians in "To the Strongest". I know not everybody's cup of tea but works for me.

Doesn't TTS put all three unit types (Hastati, Principes, and Triarii) into one big super unit?  I found it very off putting.  Instead of a flexible set of units which can avoid terrain and attack with agility, you get a big block unit.

Hail Caesar represents each of the three units as a small unit type, able to engage first with Hastati, then Principes with Triarii getting a bonus for staying in the back.  The rules allow for attack and retreat, but in practice it just works better to get the Hastati and Principes units stuck in together, with Triarii covering a flank.  It works, sort of, but far from perfect.

[Waffles_vs_Tacos]

I represent mine in Hail Ceasar as standard units, with a legion of 1 Equites, 1 Triarii, 2 Principes, 2 Hastati, and 2 Velites.

My personal understanding is that while they may have deployed in a checker board to allow one line to move through the other, they would have collapsed the frontline to a unified frontline. So I don't use small units.

[Ran The Cid]

Do you play the Hastati in front of the Principes, or side by side?

[jcspqr]

Allen Curtis’s Punic War supplement for WAB bar none is my favorite depiction of the manipular formation.

Jim

[bluewillow]

I use advanced impetus, it does represent it in the rules, but really starts to work over 500 points.

Cheers
Matt

[SJWi]

The answer to the TTS question is "sort of". The three units act together as a series of reliefs. Maybe not perfect but given the constraints of table-top gaming quite effective. I'm too old and forgetful to use different rules for different sub-periods of ancients. TTS just seems to work for me.

[Waffles_vs_Tacos]

Do you play the Hastati in front of the Principes, or side by side?

Generally deployed in 3 lines, with the Principes supporting the Hastati.

But not always. As my armies are made for tee 2nd Punic war, which frequently saw the legions being successfully deployed, usually by Scipio, in a different formation. Such as at Zama.

[VonAkers]

Easy E
I have played TTS, with The the Valiant Carthaginians vs The Vile Latins ...
And it does work quite well.
TTs is designed for Very Large armies to be played relatively quickly .
However  if you have 16 velites . hastati, Priceps and 8 Triarri  ( ie  very few figures  ) then it will look bad and play worse .. its not going to satisfy...

I  will play with Hail Caesar shortly and advise, might be a long game ..
Cheers

[SJWi]

For TTS I use 12 figure units ( 4 of each "heavy" type), all in one grid box. I actuaĺly think it looks quite effective.

[VonAkers]

SJWi
I have my Current Roman Punic Force done in ...15mm...( shock gasp )  , using Battle Honors 15 by Tony Barton , of AB fame .
These are in 36 figure units for Velites , 50 figs for Hastati , 50 for Priceps and 24 for Triarii, Total 160 figs per Legion  X 4 Legions based,  on 40mm x 40mm bases
This is aprox 1 to 20 ish scale .The total including cav and other auxillaries is over 700 inf & 82 cav
In TTS i play on 300mm squares.
Cheers   

[SJWi]

Wow, you must have a big table.  I have to settle for a 6 x 4' table using 15cm squares.  I can just get three "heavy" and one light unit into a box.

[AdamPHayes]

Archon (Priquet) works very well for the period. Romans get to substitute a unit from the next rank as part of combat resolution when one in front is defeated. Alternatively the Roman general can retire a complete line through its supports if it is looking battered.

[VonAkers]

SJWi
My Table is 15ft x 6ft .with Back boards .
So i  deploy the units in 50cm on the first turn ,for the  first box and first move goes to the edge of the first box .. and "Wella" we have an 8 ft deep table
As the 8 deep manuever boxes are important to the game .
Also in 15mm you would be surprised how good it looks , not that the figures compare ... as  the 28mm units look better up close , however the 15mm capture a Big Battle feel Very well.
Cheers