Caesar's Legions: Where Size Makes A Difference & F.P.S.

Can You Stand It?

With having described how I mount figures let us be more specific in regard to F.P.S. (Figures Per Stand). In Classical Hack you can put infantry into different orders- loose (3 figures per stand-on the right) to close (4 figures per stand-on the left) and close to loose. You are permitted even do do this during the movement phase of a turn. Below are figures in 3 figures per stand compared to 4 figures per stand. Why do this? After reviewing Caesar's many battles I found he was often out numbered or he wished to deceive the size of his forces. Also terrain might require a more loose order or a more compact order. In this way the enemy did not know how strong or weak Caesar's forces were. Then too it gave him the ability to cross difficult ground by opening ranks in difficult terrain with greater speed without losing the fighting power of his men. Whether 3 F.P.S. or 4 F.P.S. a stand, each represents one cohort when used as lines.

 

To deceive the enemy Caesar would order his cohorts to go into loose order rather than close order. This permitted his depleted legions to consume a frontage equal to that of a full strength legion. This extension of his army's frontage made it more difficult to be out flanked by larger forces. So size did make a difference when the army was deployed even if it was an illusion.

Below are heavy infantry in close order. Close order moves slower than loose order infantry. However it should be noted that both are equal in melee. As we melee stand to stand a unit in close order would naturally have more men in the combat. Remeber that the Morale Class of a unit can make up for fewer figures in a unit as they would have a better fighting ability.

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