I’m thinking of using Basic Impetus for the next game in our Fall of Hispania Campaign. The good news is that the army lists for the Fall of Rome period are freely available at Vol 7. Rome and Empire and Vol 8. Fall of Rome. The bad news is I don’t like them. Firstly, I can’t read them because of all the abbreviations, for example, “FP” does not leap out at me as “Heavy Infantry”. Secondly, the format of the table is counter intuitive for me; I want to know who the troops are first before seeing how they are classified. Thirdly, I disagree with some of the army lists. In this post I’ll content myself with addressing the things about the format that annoy me. In a subsequent post I’ll revise the army lists.
Late Roman Empire – West
Total Demoralisation Value (VDT) = 17/9 if without options
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Equites | Medium Cavalry (CM) (General) | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2 | Equites Illyricani | Light Cavalry (CL) | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2 | Legionaries | Heavy Infantry (FP) (General) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2 | Auxilia Palatina | Light Infantry (FL) | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1 | Auxilia Comitatensis | Light Infantry (FL) | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1 | Archers | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | short bow B |
Option 1. Replace 1 Light Cavalry (CL) Unit + 1 Skirmishers (S) Unit with
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catafractarii | Heavy Cavalry (CP) | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Option 2. Replace 1 Skirmishers (S) Unit with either of:
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballistae | Artillery (ART) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | art B |
| 1 | Carroballisate | Artillery (ART) | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | art B |
Special rules.
- Impetuous foot charging Auxilia Palatina don’t get Impetus bonus. Impetuous foot charging Legionaries halve their Impetus Bonus.
- If on cart, Roman artillery is considered as a “mounted target”, but still benefit -2 for shooting vs artillery
Late Roman Empire – East
Total Demoralisation Value (VDT) = 16/8
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Equites | Medium Cavalry (CM) (General) | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 | Catafractarii | Heavy Cavalry (CP) (General) | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1 | Equites Sagittari | Light Cavalry (CL) | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | comp. bow B |
| 1 | Equites Illyricani | Light Cavalry (CL) | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1 | Legionaries | Heavy Infantry (FP) (General) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2 | Auxilia Palatina | Light Infantry (FL) | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1 | Auxilia Comitatensis | Light Infantry (FL) | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1 | Archers | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | short bow B |
Option. Replace 1 Skirmishers (S) Unit with either of:
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballistae | Artillery (ART) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | art B |
| 1 | Carroballisate | Artillery (ART) | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | art B |
Special rules.
- Impetuous foot charging Auxilia Palatina don’t get Impetus bonus. Impetuous foot charging Legionaries halve their Impetus Bonus.
- If on cart, Roman artillery is considered as a “mounted target”, but still benefit -2 for shooting vs artillery
Patrician Romans
Total Demoralisation Value (VDT) = 16/8 if without options
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Equites cataphractarii | Heavy Cavalry (CP) (General) | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | |
| 1 | Mercenary Huns | Light Cavalry (CL) | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | comp. bow B |
| 1 | Foederati | Heavy Cavalry (CP) | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| 1 | Legionaries | Heavy Infantry (FP) (General) | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | long spear |
| 1 | Auxilia Palatina | Light Infantry (FL) | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2 | Foederati | Heavy Infantry (FP) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 1 | impetuous |
| 2 | Skirmishers | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | short bow B or javelin |
Option 1. Replace 1 Foederati Heavy Infantry (FP) or Heavy Cavalry (FP) Unit with either of:
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballistae | Artillery (ART) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | artillery B |
| 1 | Carroballisate | Artillery (ART) | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | artillery B |
Option 2. Change 1 S Unit with one more Hun CL
Special rules.
- Impetuous foot charging auxilia and legionaries halve their Impetus Bonus.
- If on cart, Roman artillery is considered as a “mounted target”, but still benefit from -2 for shooting vs artillery
Note. Long Spear nullifies impetus bonus of mounted troops
Early Ostrogoths
Total Demoralisation Value (VDT) = 17/9
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nobles | Heavy Cavalry (CP) (General) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 4 | Goths and allies | Heavy Cavalry (CP) | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| 1 | Sarmatians and Huns | Light Cavalry (CL) | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | comp. bow B |
| 2 | Gothic and Slav archers | Missile Troops (T) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | comp. bow A |
| 2 | Archers | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | short bow B |
Early Visigoths
Total Demoralisation Value (VDT) = 18/9
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nobles | Heavy Cavalry (CP) (General) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 6 | Warriors | Heavy Infantry (FP) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | impetuous |
| 2 | Archers | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | short bow B |
| 1 | Javelinmen | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | javelin |
Notes. Heavy Infantry (FP) units can form Large Units.
Visigoths
Total Demoralisation Value (VDT) = 19/10
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bucellarii | Heavy Cavalry (CP) (General) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 3 | Nobles | Medium Cavalry (CM) | 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
| 4 | Warriors | Heavy Infantry (FP) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | impetuous |
| 2 | Archers | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | short bow B |
Early Frankish or Burgundi
Total Demoralisation Value (VDT) = 16/8)
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nobles | Medium Cavalry (CM) (General) | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | |
| 5 | Warriors | Heavy Infantry (FP) | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | Impetuous |
| 3 | Archers | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | short bow B |
Option 1. Replace 1 Heavy Infantry (FP) Unit with
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basques | Light Infantry (FL) | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | impetuous |
Option 2. Replace 1 Heavy Infantry (FP) Unit with
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarmatians | Light Cavalry (CL) | 12 | 3 | 0 | 1 | comp. bow B |
Sarmatians
Total Demoralisation Value (VDT) = 16/8
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nobles | Heavy Cavalry (CP) (General) | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 4 | Young warriors and allies | Heavy Cavalry (CP) | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| 3 | Horse Archers | Light Cavalry (CL) | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | Comp. bow B |
| 1 | Archers | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | short bow B |
| 1 | Black Sea allies | Skirmishers (S) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | javelin |
Attila’s Huns
Total Demoralisation Value (VDT) = 17/8
| Number | Name | Type | Movement (M) | Basic Unit Value (VBU) | Impetus Bonus (I) | Demoralisation Value (VD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nobles | Medium Cavalry (CM) (General) | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | Comp. bow B |
| 1 | Heruls, Gepids, Ostrogoths | Heavy Cavalry (CP) | 10 | 6 | 3 | 2 | impetuous |
| 2 | Horse Archers | Light Cavalry (CL) | 12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | Comp. bow B |
| 2 | Franks | Heavy Infantry (FP) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | impetuous |
| 2 | Burgundi or Thuringians | Heavy Infantry (FP) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | impetuous |
Notes. Heavy Infantry (FP) units with same Basic Unit Value (VBU) can form Large Units.
Some good work there, I like these army lists.