![[Unit Creator] Roman Units for Totally Accurate Battle Simulator](https://steamsolo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/unit-creator-roman-units-totally-accurate-battle-simulator.jpg)
Overview
Here I will show you step-by-step how to create Roman units in the TABS Unit Creator. I also provide a short background as to why they function the way they do.
Download/Disclaimer
These units have been uploaded to the Workshop! The faction is called Roman Legion, by duke dunac.
I have also uploaded a campaign, called The Roman Invasion, that allows you to put your skills to the test while defending against Legio XXV Dunacia Victrix and Legio XIV Maria Pacis!
Please do not upload these specific units to the workshop, as I have uploaded them myself. If you have made substantial changes to the units’ stats, then please ask me before uploading and, should I approve, please also provide credit in the description.
Veles
A veles (pl. velites) is a forward skirmisher, a short foreword to the Faulknerian novel that is the Roman legion. They are armed with several short javelins called veruta that they launch at incoming enemies to soften them before the imminent exchange of spear and sword.
These javelins are much like the more well-known pila carried by mainline hastati and principes, but smaller and thinner. Their iron shank tips penetrate enemy shields and cut or stab the warrior behind while also rendering the shield unwieldy and unbalanced, forcing the enemy to either shed it or fight Roman infantry at even more of a disadvantage.
Velites wore the pelts of wolves and other animals to signify their accomplishments in battle. They were not a unit in and of themselves, but rather they were attached to maniples of hastati or principes. As such, they would wear animal pelts to inform more distant Roman allies of their accomplishments on the battlefield.
While the velites are equipped with a gladius for self defence in melee, even if they are set to the Melee unit AI profile they will never move forward to engage in melee after they have thrown their spears, even if they are being attacked by another unit. For this reason, I just set their AI profile to Ranged unit until a later update adds the functionality for a unit to have both ranged and melee capabilities.
As of now, there is no way to modify the weapon stats or size, only the type of projectile emitted for ranged weapons. I would decrease the size of the spear projectile if I were able, but right now I simply don’t have the ability without decreasing the size of the entire unit.
While TABS does not currently have a wolf pelt, the new TABG clothing options do include a bear head, which an ambitious veles could plausibly have hunted and killed for the purpose of wearing its pelt to battle. Therefore, I’ve given the veles a bear pelt.
While the stats of the Veles are up to you, I recommend the following:
- Hitpoints: 50
- Size: 1.00x
- Unit Weight: 1.00x
- Movement Speed: 0.80x
- Attack Speed: 0.50x
- Damage: 1.00x
- Cost: 100
Hastatus
The hastati (sing. hastatus) are the first real line of defence in the Roman legion. Of whom the hastati were comprised depends on the era of Roman military standards, but generally they were younger and poorer than the other infantry. Originally, they were equipped with their namesake – a short spear called the hasta – but later on they were re-equipped with the classic gladii and pila.
The hastati often did not decide battles themselves: they of course did kill their enemies, but they mostly served to tire out the enemy soldiers such that the principes – older, more experienced, and better equipped Roman infantry – could come in to break the morale of the enemy and force them to retreat, when Roman cavalry called equites would run them down.
Weapon versatility is quite limited in TABS and units can currently only wield two weapons. Otherwise I would provide the hastatus and princeps with one use of a pilum before they engaged in melee combat. For now, though, they remain a formidable unit with their Backwards Dodge ability paired with their ability to basically ignore enemy projectiles due to their shield.
Roman infantry provided their own armor, so variety was to be expected. One of the most common types of armor that the hastati would wear was a small bronze breastplate called a “heart protector”, but there is no such piece of clothing in TABS, so I’ve provided them with simple leather chest armor, which is also a plausible choice for the time.
While the stats of the Hastatus are up to you, I recommend the following:
- Hitpoints: 100
- Size: 1.00x
- Unit Weight: 1.10x
- Movement Speed: 1.20x
- Attack Speed: 1.00x
- Damage: 1.20x
- Cost: 200
Princeps
The principes (sing. princeps) are the main body of the legion. The principes are better equipped Roman soldiers who are in their physical primes. Originally, they were equipped with hastae alongside the hastati, but later on they were also re-equipped with the classic gladii and pila.
The principes marched into battle behind the velites and the hastati: being older, better equipped, and often more experienced, once they engaged a tired enemy that had been fighting hastati for perhaps 30 minutes or more they often didn’t take long to cause a rout. Once the enemy routed, Roman cavalry called equites would run them down.
Weapon versatility is quite limited in TABS and units can currently only wield two weapons. Otherwise I would provide the hastatus and princeps with one use of a pilum before they engaged in melee combat. For now, though, principes remain a formidable unit with their Fencing Dodge ability paired with their ability to basically ignore enemy projectiles due to their shield.
Roman infantry provided their own armor, so variety was to be expected. One of the most common articles worn by principes was chainmail, which unfortunately does not exist in TABS. As such, I’ve given them a basic metal Roman chestplate which could also be plausibly worn by wealthier members of a unit.
While the stats of the Princeps are up to you, I recommend the following:
- Hitpoints: 220
- Size: 1.10x
- Unit Weight: 1.40x
- Movement Speed: 1.20x
- Attack Speed: 1.30x
- Damage: 1.40x
- Cost: 400
Triarius
The triarius (pl. triarii) was the most dangerous man on the battlefield. The triarii are even better equipped than the principes, and while some of their rank may be less physically strong than their younger comrades, they are comprised of only the most experienced and skilled warriors in the legion. They were equipped with hastae alongside the hastati and principes, but when the former two began carrying solely gladii and pila, the triarii continued to wield spears – they did, however, also begin to carry the iconic square scutum shield instead of the smaller clipeus hoplite shield.
The triarii took to the battlefield behind the principes, and ironically they often didn’t fight at all. The hastati and principes were expected to beat back the enemy in the vast majority of cases, and it was in fact so rare that the triarii needed to get involved that the Romans even used it as a metaphor for an act of desperation: rem ad Triarios redisse, “it has come to the triarii”.
Early Roman infantry provided their own armor, so the wealthier triarii would be able to afford much better equipment compared to the hastati or even the principes. They often wore heavy plate or chain mail, their shields, helmets, and armor were all ornate and well-smithed, and their weapons were generally higher quality. I’ve represented this by giving the chestplate more of a silver tinge, and making the latches that hold it together more of a golden color rather than leathery brown.
While the stats of the Triarius are up to you, I recommend the following:
- Hitpoints: 480
- Size: 1.20x
- Unit Weight: 1.50x
- Movement Speed: 1.20x
- Attack Speed: 1.50x
- Damage: 1.60x
- Cost: 620
Legionarius
Rome underwent several military and logistical reforms throughout its history. Perhaps the most famous of these are the Marian reforms, implemented in 107BC by Gaius Marius. These, among many other things, reformed the Roman military from a temporary militia to a standardised and permanent standing army, for which the state provided resources instead of the soldiers themselves. This allowed any able-bodied man to serve on the same level as someone of a wealthier class, and these reforms are what allowed the Roman military to crush its opponents for centuries.
The legionarius is a close approximation of the princeps that came before him. Comprised of able-bodied Roman citizens, the legionarii are armed with iconic Roman weaponry – a gladius, two pila, and a scutum. They wore several different kinds of armor, the most well-known of which is the lorica segmentata, consisting of layered metal plates that overlap to protect the skin without gaps.
Weapon versatility is quite limited in TABS and units can currently only wield two weapons. Otherwise, I would provide the legionarius with one use of a pilum before they engaged in melee combat. However, their fast movement speed combined with their high damage and Projectile Block ability make them formidable even without their iconic spears.
The lorica segmentata was usually smithed from steel, which is much more reflective than the metal color options provided in-game. As such, I have made the steel parts of the armor lighter than those on the princeps to show that they are different units wearing different pieces of armor.
While the stats of the Legionarius are up to you, I have given it these particular stats to give it a distinguishable role from the Princeps or the Triarius. I recommend the following:
- Hitpoints: 300
- Size: 1.20x
- Unit Weight: 2.00x
- Movement Speed: 1.40x
- Attack Speed: 0.50x
- Damage: 3.50x
- Cost: 500
Gladiator
Gladiatores (sing. gladiator) were usually slaves or convicted criminals – although free men could volunteer themselves for the role – that fought in colossei much like the famous Colosseum in Rome. They could use equipment ranging from a net and spear to full plate armor and a two-handed falx. They fought each other, Roman soldiers, and even wild animals – fights could be staged as executions or they could allow gladiators to fight for freedom and glory with the Roman people, who very much enjoyed the entertainment.
Because gladiators could choose their own weapons and fighting style, and I can’t accurately portray all of these in one unit, I’ve decided to go with a stereotypical movie approach – a nonstandard and frankly anachronistic loadout, the flail and buckler still provide the gladiator with a powerful punch in TABS combat. The Pirate Kick ability represents their ferocity in combat, as they often had little to lose and would fight dirty to win.
While the stats of the Gladiator are up to you, I have given it these particular stats to give it a distinguishable role from the mainline Roman infantry. I recommend the following:
- Hitpoints: 200
- Size: 1.10x
- Unit Weight: 1.20x
- Movement Speed: 1.10x
- Attack Speed: 1.60x
- Damage: 1.00x
- Cost: 360
Centurio
Centuriones (sing. centurio) commanded Roman centuriae, which were – contrary to popular belief – not units of 100 men. While the legatus legionis determined the structure of the legion, a single centuria consisted of somewhere from 40-160 legionarii. Centuriones received much higher pay than regular legionarii and earned their positions through acts of auspicious bravery or tactical genius during battle.
The centurio is more than capable on the battlefield. He is strong and nimble, with the brains to match his substantial brawn. His weapons may be standard, but his several strong abilities make him very hard to hit.
Centuriones could afford to splurge a little on armor. In this case, our centurio has splurged a lot. His armor is immaculately engraved steel, and his feathered helmet immediately informs everyone on the battlefield of his commanding presence.
While the stats of the Centurio are up to you, I recommend the following:
- Hitpoints: 650
- Size: 1.40x
- Unit Weight: 2.20x
- Movement Speed: 1.20x
- Attack Speed: 1.60x
- Damage: 2.40x
- Cost: 1200
Jupiter
Jupiter is the king of kings, the god of gods. He is the king of the sky and thunder in the Roman mythos, and is widely considered to be equivalent to the Greek god Zeus. His symbol is the thunderbolt and his primary sacred animal is the eagle. These symbols became integral to the Roman army, and many state functions of pre-Christianity Rome were conducted with the perceived blessings and oversight of Jupiter.
Because Zeus already exists in the game, I needed to give Jupiter another niche to fill. The niche I’ve given him is the “one god army” niche – while prohibitively expensive, when you are able to use him there are few units that can kill him.
While the stats of Jupiter are up to you, I have found the following to be quite fun:
- Hitpoints: 1000
- Size: 1.50x
- Unit Weight: 1.50x
- Movement Speed: 2.00x
- Attack Speed: 5.00x
- Damage: 0.80x
- Cost: 5000
More to Come!
Once TABS Unit Creator gets updated, I’ll expand this list with things like cavalry or siege engines.
But, until that happens, keep a look out for my other factions, Occupations and Tarkov’s Scav Bosses.
If you like this Faction or if you like my guide, I’d appreciate it if you’d like, award, favorite, comment, all that good stuff, because it’ll help more people like you to find this guide, and who doesn’t like education on the Ancient Roman military?