Romecraft Roman Legion

**LEGION GUIDE**

GUIDE TO THE MILITARY OF ROMECRAFT

The legion is a central feature of any Romecraft server and represents the force that brought Rome its world-renowned fame and glory. Its role on this server is to protect the citizens of Rome from external threats, deal with raids and bandit threats, reconquer lost territory, quell local rebellions, and maintain law and order – and may perhaps be sent to distant lands to conquer new territory for Rome. A legionary is necessarily a Roman citizen and may enjoy all privileges and responsibilities that citizenship entails. Legionary players can expect an even balance of civilian roleplay and military activities both within the walls of their city and without.

**BECOMING AN OFFICER**

Officers are hand selected from the enlisted soldiers or higher by the highest command of the legion. Officers are chosen based on quality of equipment, combat experience, RP reputation, ability to lead, ability to follow orders, and how well-liked they are by their peers.

**RANKS**

Ranks are divided by the two archetypal eras of the Romecraft genre: Republican and Imperial. Refer to the Specific Sections as necessary.

**REPUBLIC ERA:**

*Legionarius* *(pl. Legionarii)* **–** You are a soldier of Rome and part of the regular infantry serving as veles, hastatus, princeps, or triarius. You are expected to preform regular legion duties, attend training, and participate in battles. You are still allowed to be a ordinary citizen in your downtime and may do nearly everything a civilian can. You receive regular pay.

*Socius (pl. Socii)* – You are a non-Latin soldier of Italia in the service of Rome. You are still part of the regular infantry maniples, but you are only called upon to serve when needed. Otherwise, you are free to be a civilian and not expected to preform all legion duties. You are not eligible to become an officer. You receive regular pay.

*Eques (pl. Equites) –*You are the cavalry and flank support of the manipular formation. You are among the few who have saved up enough for a horse and proper cavalry equipment. Like the triarii, you are by this point exempt from most duties. You receive slightly more pay.

*Immunis (pl. Immunes) **–*** You are a specialist and still part of the regular maniples, but you are given special assignments and are exempt from some regular duties such as guard duty. You have displayed enough aptitude to be assigned as an engineer, artilleryman, drill instructor, military police, medical staff, or any other number of special tasks. You receive slightly more pay. Some immunis positions include:

* *Speculatum* **–** You are one of the legion’s scouts. You are expected to keep officers aware of any activity or place of interest outside of the fort or while on the march or enemy activity around Capua.

* *Lamiam* **–** You are a engineer, in charge of siege equipment and fortification upkeep.

* *Custus Armorum* **–** You are the Legion’s armorer. You are in charge of running the armory. You manage and repair equipment and distribute the scutum and replacement pila to legionaries.

* *Hastillarius* **–** You are in charge of training. You will mostly be working with the new recruits.

* *Clinicus* – You are a medic. You will be expected to treat the sick and wounded as well as act as veterinarian for the horses, mules and other animals.

*Decanus (pl. Decanii) –*You are still part of the regular maniples, and while not a full officer, you are considered the head soldier of your maniple and are titled respectively as *hastatus prior*, *princeps prior*, *veles prior*, etc. If no other officers above you are around, command falls on you. Otherwise, your job is to keep your maniple in line and help lead in small tasks such as raiding and scouting. You are selected from the velites or higher. You receive slightly more pay.

*Tesserarius (pl. Tesserarii) –*You are the most junior commanding officer. You are in charge of guard duty and will be working with the hastillarius to train recruits. You are selected from the hastati or higher. You receive double pay.

*Vexillarius (pl. Vexillarii)* *–* You are the standard bearer who carries the *vexillum*, or flag standard. You carry the emblem of the legion into battle. Responsible for helping lead the troops and provide a cohesive unit. You should assist the tesserarius, optio and signifer with their duties as a right-hand man. While the vexillarius should be respected like the other standard bearers, he holds no real executive authority unless no other officer is present. You are selected from the hastati or higher. You receive double pay.

*Cornicularius (pl. Cornicularii)* *–* You are the standard bearer that carries the *cornu*, or war horn. Responsible for gathering troops and assisting those above you. While the cornicularius should be respected like the other standard bearers, he holds no real executive authority unless no other officer is present. You are selected from the hastati or higher. You receive double pay.

*Signifer (pl. Signiferi) –* You are the standard bearer who carries the *signum*, and in charge of paying the soldiers. You are also responsible for the men’s morale and will serve as middle man between them and the officers for any concerns they have. While the signifer should be respected like the other standard bearers, he holds no real executive authority except over the standard bearers under him, unless no other officer is present, in which case he takes authority. You are selected from the principes or higher. You receive slightly more than double pay.

*Optio (pl. Optiones)* *–* You are the Centurion’s assistant and second in command of all the maniples. You hold all executive powers in case of the Centurion’s absence. You are selected from the principes or higher. You receive triple pay.

*Centurion (pl. Centuriones) –* You are the commanding officer of all the maniples. You have absolute authority over your men and are expected to lead by example, and keep a strict discipline in your legionaries. You have to be competent, have military experience, and be fairly wealthy. You are responsible for maintaining discipline and coordinating the Legion both in RP and OOC. You are selected from the principes or higher. You receive quadruple pay.