Triarii to Veteran Legionaries?

[Mr.Person]

Why? once you research the military tech that makes all infantry into legionary variants, why do the heavy spearmen get turned into veteran heavy swordmen? Now the only good spear unit I can produce is half as effective as triarii were. Why is this?

[Tomislav]

Because it's based off the actual reforms. Rome went from having their most veteran/elite troops being spearmen to relying on auxilia.

If you really need roughly equivalent spears get a city in Hellas, Macedonia, or Asia (or take Syracuse) and recruit Auxiliary Hoplites.
(Auxiliary Spear Brothers are good too, not as tough but they have Cavalry Counter-tactics)

Gladiator Spearmen are also pretty good, as long as you don't let them get skirmished, when they become available.

[SuperGorp]

Maybe don't upgrade the triarii you already have? I also use "Akuru's Auxilia" which has some spear based auxilia that are decent and like Tomislav said gladiator spearman I use a lot.

[MANWHATADONGA]

SuperGrop is right dont upgrade till you get to next miltary barracks.In Maga Greta build a axuillary barracks to get these hoplities

[SuperGorp]

Originally posted by donaldclarke1:

SuperGrop is right dont upgrade till you get to next miltary barracks.In Maga Greta build a axuillary barracks to get these hoplities

That's right! An auxiliary barracks in Syracuse area gets you Hoplites.

[Dragnipurake]

Stupid question here. Why should I need auxiliary spearmen when I can have veteran legionaries instead? I still have to find something that spearmen do better than legionaries.

[Mr.Person]

Originally posted by Dragnipurake:

Stupid question here. Why should I need auxiliary spearmen when I can have veteran legionaries instead? I still have to find something that spearmen do better than legionaries.

Usually better in defense than swordsmen, so I use them frequently in defense lines, as they also have better attack against horses and other mounted units.

[Tomislav]

Originally posted by Dragnipurake:

Stupid question here. Why should I need auxiliary spearmen when I can have veteran legionaries instead? I still have to find something that spearmen do better than legionaries.

You don't necessarily "need" spearmen, they are just much more cost-effective against cavalry.
You could have two units of Auxiliary Infantry instead of one unit of Veteran Legionaries. Auxiliary Hoplites are cheaper and better against cavalry.

[Dragnipurake]

Well, I have my cavalry to deal with their cavalry.

[chef]

I usually put spear men on the front lines( unless im playing with rome before the reforms.) To absorb the initial charge then I move in my melee to fill the gaps and flank. Works pretty good.

[Profound]

I usually spend all my time in the begining of rome building Triarri and don't upgrade until I have about 40. That has left me so far with at least a minimum of 20 for end-game. I really do wish we could keep them.