Roman Gladius

[Emiricol]

Thanks for all the input! Especially Paka, good to see you again When are you gonna update your story hour? *hint hint*

Anywho - so many ideas... I should have asked this question a long time ago

 

[rkanodia]

Also, they are mammals.

Shh! Don't talk about them in public! Ninjas will totally flip out and kill you and not think twice about it!

 

[Storm Raven]

The Legion didn't throw the Pilium they threw javelins. Simple light throwing spears with long soft iron points.

Pilum are javelins. Just a particularly specialized design.

 

[Tzeentch]

The Legion didn't throw the Pilium they threw javelins. Simple light throwing spears with long soft iron points.

-- You might want to recheck whatever source you got that from as the pilum is just a heavy javelin. The romans did use lighter javelins with greater range though.

-- Worth keeping in mind that the D&D rules model Fantasy Medieval, which already has many of the "romantic" views of combat built-in. This reduces the real-world difference between the way a Legion fought and a medieval host fought (this includes simple things like the use of cadence). Pretty much all the D&D mass-combat rules assume close-order combat with only a few ranks (itself a significant achievement in regards to keeping the troops in order over any distance) and robotic precision with regards to timing (i.e. throwing ranged weapons). All aspects that an ideal Roman army should have.
-- If anything, the D&D rules assume that the Fantasy Medieval soldiers are better at the Roman way of warfare then the actual Romans Which is fine, since it better models how combat is described in most fantasy literature (or on film, witness the sometimes witless tactics seen in the LotR movies).

The Miniatures Handbook has the Warmaster that, IMO, could easily represent a centurion or optio.

The Complete Warrior has the following feats that would be great for a Roman legionnaire:
Close-Quarters Fighting: You gain an attack of opportunity whenever an enemy attempts to grapple you.
Defensive Strike: If your opponent misses while you are using total defense, you can attack him next turn with a +4 bonus.
Hold the Line: You may make an attack of opportunity against a charging oponent.
Kiai Shout: Shout to make opponents within 30 ft. shaken for 1d6 rounds.
Phalanx Fighting: +1 bonus to AC if you have a heavy shield and light weapon. +3 to AC and +1 to Reflex saves if within 5' of a similarly equipped ally. (Note: Two people can form a D&D Phalanx!).
Power Critical (shortsword): +4 bonus to confirm threat.

 

[Paka]

Thanks for all the input! Especially Paka, good to see you again When are you gonna update your story hour? *hint hint*

Anywho - so many ideas... I should have asked this question a long time ago

My Midnight story hour's going strong. Check out the sig.

Glad to hear the thread has helped.

 

[Aaron2]

The primary weapons of the Roman Empire were not Gladii, they were spears! A Roman soldier carried ONE Gladius, two or three spears (I forget the Roman name), and six of their long, soft-iron-shafted throwing spears (again, I can't recall the Roman name, right at the moment).

Do you have a source for this? Polybius lists each soldier with two javelin but historical artwork typically shows just one.

During melee, the shafts of spears penetrating shields were grasped, and the shields pulled down, with the shield arm, while the right hand drew the gladius (which was always worn on the right side) in an overhand grip, with the tip of the blade pointing DOWN. It was then used as an oversized dagger, to thrust downward, over the tops of the opponents' shields.

Again, do you have a source for this info? Trajan's Column is covered with images of legionaires fighting yet not one of them holds their sword as described. Could this theory come from the time, not so long ago, when it was thought to be impossible for the soldier to draw his weapon from the right side in a normal grip?

The Romans did have a version of the pilum (called a "pilum muralis") that had a short thick head that wasn't thrown but was used for fighting from ramparts (hence the name).

Finally, by the third century the gladius was completely replaced with a longer sword in the roman army. This was mostly due to the influence of the gauls who made up the bulk of the roman army at the time. Also, it is difficult to attack a man on horseback with the shorter weapon. They also used a flat oval shield (another barbarian device) instead of the curved scutum.


Aaron

 

[Emiricol]

By the 3rd century? Where is that referenced, out of curiosity?

 

[Aaron2]

By the 3rd century? Where is that referenced, out of curiosity?

Greece and Rome at War (Connolly) pg. 260
Warfare in the Classical World (Warry) pg 209
Osprey Warrior Series #9 Late Roman Infantryman (Macdowall) multiple places.

I really should have said, "By the end of the 3rd century." The late roman army wasn't at all similar to the classical one we all know and love. They were armed pretty much like the old auxiliary units. Armor was fairly rare and usually worn only be the first couple of ranks. Also, instead of being issued weapons and armor, they were given an allowance to purchased their stuff locally so didn't have the nice uniform look of Trajan's men.

Aaron

 

[Tzeentch]

True, by the third century the Roman military was in marked decline and their infantry were pretty much an auxiliary force to calvary. Their training was also far less rigorous, hence the reason Vegetius wrote his book.

 

[MaxKaladin]

In my Romans-with-the-serial-numbers-filed-off campaign I make normal gladii like your average recruit got count as short swords. The better quality weapons you would see in the hands of veterans who bought better, rich folks, gladiators and others with a better than baseline weapon I represent with the Gladius from Mongooses Quintessential Fighter. Its basically a mastework shortsword with an 18-20 threat range. I think that does a good job of representing a somewhat better Roman gladius without going overboard like some of the katana fans do.