HC Legionary Help?

[Vogless]

I've been looking at the Marcus Spandex Deal for HC: http://store.warlordgames.co.u.....6226-p.asp It LOOKS to me that the Warlord boxed sets roughly fit the actual unit sizes in the book (sweet!). The Roman Legionarys have 30 figures to the box, which fits a standard unit, 3 deep. So, They'd line up 10 wide, 3 deep, correct? Every pic I can find and the Testudo seem to running more like 5-6 wide, but that puts my ranks pretty deep, which really doesn't effect gameplay as much as the unit's width, if I'm reading the book correctly. 

[hobbyworker]

Hi I got the HC book and it says that a 3 deep standard infantery unit is 24 to 30 models = 8 to 10 models wide… i use 8 x 3 = 24 models as my standard roman unit. less models to paint and gives your unit less fontage. but still a standard infantery units.  hope it helps. Regards Hobbyworker.

[Big Al]

I use 24 figures to a unit, but that is because I started playing way back when rules used a man to figure ratio of 20 to 1. This means that a Roman Cohort of 480 men is represented as 24 figures on the table, 25 if you want to model a full strength first cohort of 500.

[Vogless]

Thanks guys, it does help. Hobbyworker, great blog, BTW. I've been pouring over it for tips and ideas to get started with. Now, what about Veteren Legions, keep them the same at 24, or just go 2 ranks of 8 as the box comes with 20 figures?  

[hobbyworker]

Thx V2 for the nice words  I make my roman veterans the same size as my regular romans of 24 models, and for the extra models i use the extra roman left over from the standard box of 30you will get some arms left over from the veterans use them on the extra ones.hope it helps Regards Hobbyworker. 

[Big Al]

Well, You could keep them at 20 just to show unit depletion, if you like. If you prefer them to be more pristine and full strength, then use the same organisation of 24 figures per cohort. Perhaps you could get the metal command figures to bring them up to strengthe and use other plastic parts on the plastic command figures to convert them. That said, how many units of veterans do you have? An additional plastic sprue from Warlord will provide you with eight more figures, which will bring two units up to to full strength (sorry for pointing out the obvious). Hobbyworker also makes a good point. Remember that if you do this, you can aslo carve a bit of damage into the standard legionary shields to match them up. (He posted at the same time as me, hence the edit)

[DOGGED]

Using 24 models units has the advantage, as it's already been pointed out, to put the scale exactly at 1:20. This scale serves quite wonderfully as cavalry units of 120 men can be represented by 6 cavalry models (regiments are 12 models, cavalry models come by threes).It also helps in the subdivisions of the unit, so a 24 model cohort breaks out into 3 8 model maniples and/or 6 4 model centuries. Useful with miniature removal systems, if at least for the accounts...The first cohort is "round" too with 1:20.And in HC it gets well in the standard size.This is the system I'm using too for my growing Legio... Nice for breaking off into detachments.

[Vogless]

24 it is! I'll go with the 3 command figs and Gladius figs in ther front, Throwing Pilum in the second row, and standing at the ready poses in the rear. Now, onto basing. Would I be best served basing all the figs individually and using a movement tray, or going with individual in the front and four man bases for the rest? Thanks for the help guys! I do appreciate it.

[Big Al]

The basing question is down to what rules you are going to use. If you are going to use WAB/Wab2 and Clash of Empires as well as Hail Caesar, then I wouldgo for basing most of them 4 figures to a base, 2x2, and base four as individuals. That way you have enough singles to allow for most permutations in figure removal. If you are just playing HC, then base them all 4 to a base.

[Vogless]

PRETTY sure I;m going to stick with HC. Thanks, Al!