U.S. National Legion?!

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The National Legion already exists and invites individuals, conturburnia of eight or more legionariaries, and centuries comprised of two or more united contuburnia. International groups and individual are also welcome.

[size=150:jqdmter8]R[/size]eally? Where? Besides in people's heads, where does it exist Dan? Some of your ideas have real merits -- others do not. And no, I am not attacking you... I am spending about 45 minutes to reply to your post.

It is based on the success of the "squad-mess" system of autentic Civl War reenactment, whereupon "squads" of relatively generic Civil War soldiers "join" larger companies and battalions dictated by elements such as the abilities of the commander, realistic camps, activities, and other incentives. These messes and squads are free to join whichever "company" they feel will provide them with the most rewarding reenactment experience. The Roman contuburnia is remarkably similar to the Civil War squad-mess and the successes of this hobby can be applied to the Roman one.

Let us dispense w/ comparing this hobby to Silly War, there's too many differences. I know you like the things they do, some of it is neat, some of it is not going to be possible to implement. Also, Silly War is no where NEAR as solid and authentic as you suggest. It's NOT! Some are, some are not. Dan, if you wish to have basic building blocks of a Nat. Legion? Realise first, that this is a hobby... people do what they want and what interests them. In this, you have to "LEAD" them, not try and make them go... ever try herding cats? Same principal. Leaders lead... what do YOU have that they want?

There is no Legion "commander". The highest rank in the legion is centurion. There may be up to 60 centurions in the first formed legion, but no individul can attain this rank until he can muster two full contuburnia of legionaries at a "national" event. "Honorary" senior commanders such as Legates, Tribunes etc. may be appointed as required, but have no real command status.

The most senior centurion at a given event is the one who can bring the largest number of troops under his signa. He may do this by variety of means, just as the generals of the late Roman Republic. The "Senior" centurion is still a somewhat honorific title in as much as every bonafide member has the same "vote" in the political aspects of the organization.

Again, we come to the "herding cats" analogy... most of us do not wish to be in charge and for that matter, most of us despise occifer types. Instead of worrying about the chiefs, you need to get some injuns. And once again, it comes down to What can YOU give them? Do you look out for their needs first? Do you make the event fun and interesting for them to attend? Time is in real short supply in this day and age -- to do this kind of thing, one has to be willing to give up time w/ one's family, to spend a lot of money, to take time off from one's job and career... why will they want to do this?

The selected time period for reenactment scenearios will be the middle year of the 1st century AD, (Claudian to Flavian), since reenactors of this period far-outnumber the Roman reenactors of every other period. This does not exclude period "units" but for the purposes of the "tactical", must make an effort to conform to the event period. This can even be accomplished by playing the role of a "barbarian" unit. Special scenarios based on other Roman time periods may also be conducted if enough interest is expressed within the organization.

While in many respects, this is a bit logical, it is patently unfair to all the Late Roman types and even those who do Trajanic or later time periods... Perhaps it should be set later? Or earlier. Or not at all. I think that you need to learn to crawl before you try and run.

The national legion will represent the legion in which we have the most historical data to form a reasonably authentic impression. This can only be LEGIO XIIII Gemina Martia Victrix for the following reasons:

AHA!!! What if everyone does not share your beliefs in this. And while you do have a strong argument for this, it ain't water tight. Also, what of all the different groups in this country and this continent? Don't you think they will be just a little distressed, nay pissed off to give up their work, their pride at what they've built, they're identity? This sounds like the "Borg," what if we do not WISH to be assimilated into Leg. XIIII???

1. This appears to be the only legion in which of the 1st century in which the shield emblem can be determined. Shields with this emblem are already mass-marketed and available throughout the world (Deepeeka), though self-made shields that conform to basic authenticity standards are permitted.

It's a shield. You have what, TWO examples on statuary? What if this was just a pattern the guy who cut it had? Who knows... and anyway, most people simply do not give two silver pennies about this.

2. The costume and Signa of two legionary signifiers of this legion are known through grave stele, and can be accurately replicated.

And...

3. The costume and Aquila of the legionary aquilifier are known thorugh grave stele, and can be accurately replicated.

Most of us are not going to be them.

4. Legio XIIII GMV was stationed for long periods at Mainz, where a vast wealth of contemporary Roman military equipment has been excavated, which in liklihood may have been used by Legio XIIII. These items include Imp gallic D, G, I, imperial Italic D, Auxilliary B, Gutmann Pompeii Gladius, several Mainz swords, several daggers, etc. No other 1st century legion can autheticate even a small percent of the items found in the garrision location of their unit.

A good point, but I bet there are still people who might disagree.

5.Geographically, much of the United States is similar to the Regions of Britain, Germany and Pannonia where Legio XIIII was predeominately stationed during the represented 1st century period.

So... why not pick another British unit, such as... say Leg. XX as the standard?

6. By and large, most potential "barbarian foes" recruited into the tacticals will be interested in portraying Germannic or Celtic types
rather than more Eastern enemies, and therefore are the autentic, appropriate enemies of LEG XIIII.

More likely they want to be British Celtic typs, not Germanic... sorry, but that one just don't hold water Dan.

7. World wide, there are already more reenactors that depict LEG XIIII than any other Roman group.

We are not "worldwide" -- we are Americans, whether we are US Americans, South Americans or North Americans (they call themselves "Canadians," but we know they're really Americans that drink more beer than us... (a joke -- this is getting too serious))

Combat simulations will be conducted by means of the NFS system, rules, standards of equipment construction, and safety requirements to be determined and published soon. NFS combat is not mandatory. People choosing not to participate in combat are not penalized but are accepted to support the "tactical" in some noncombative activities contributing to the good of the event.

To make it happen, you have to do it. Vaporware don't fly. Pie in the sky don't fly. Build it and they might come, if it's fun. If it's realistic, IF it has something to give them... BUILD IT!

There is no mandatory "tunic color". Members involved in weekend-long living history situations may determine the practicality of certain tunic colors thorugh this form of practical research. Individual century commanders

This is good logical. Lead, don't force people, let them learn what works...

Auxilliary units have the same rights, priveledges and rank structure of legionary units. Thus, an Auxilliary centuriaon could theoretically be the senior centurion at an event if he can muster the most men under his standard.

Crawl first -- run and fly later!

"Barbarian" units must also have reasonable sized units to justify unit commanders, standards, etc. Equivalent to the Roman conturburnia is the barbarian "clan". Any Barbarian leader who can amass two full "clans" (16 warriors), is authorized to be a "Chieftain" with his own standard and musician.

Might work, but we need to get them rolling first. RAT will be rolling out a new area for the "Enemies of Rome" June 1st... I will have some kind of web page to help them get outfitted soon too. THEY are the key for this to work. And people that do this impression are even less likely to deal w/ a bunch of non-sensical rules telling them what to do. Provide the sandbox and keep them from getting hurt, don't tell them what to make w/ the sand!

Once this is rolling, I believe there is the potential to recruit hundreds of Barbarians from the ranks of the tens of thousands of fantasy LARPs, many of which will already have appropriate basic costumes, and familar with the lightweight fighting weapons of their hobby. The SCA is also a potential recruiting ground. Understand tht a typical Barbarian can equip himself for under fifty dollars. This is why LARP is so popular to begin with.

Wow, I totally agree here. A ready-made group of recruits that will "get it." However, you need to get them here and get them on board. Again BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME!

The whole point of the "National Legion" is to engage true reenactment with realistic appering numbers of partipants to give a true feeling of ancient combat.

I agree... if we are asked and if we have input AND if there's a minimum of BS hobby politics! Thepolitics and the lovers of politics and rules, are the killers of all joy.

Secondly it is to muster realistic numbers of men for drills and demos at static display types events.

Member centuries of the National Legion are welcome to engage in the usual display activities such as Nativity and Easter displays, "Timeline" displays, wargaming and sci-fi conventions, etc.

How will you do this? "Hmmm, I can go stand around at a Timeline or... go skiing/to Maui/partying... Freedom is the key...

A system of historical/authentic awards and decorations will be established, and will be "earned" in both the Roman and Barbarian elements of the hobby.

I guess that blows some men's tunica up ([size=75:jqdmter8]to the females delight[/size]), but I'm not really one of them... Did they wear this stuff in combat? Proof? I think it's iffy... however, what do I know... might work.

Non "National Legion" Roman and Barbarian units may be invited to "National" events if they are willing to "play the game", and maintain approved sized units. For the "right" to have their own Centurion uniform and carry their own distinctive units, these units must also have a minimum of two, eight man conturbnia/clans under their command.

Sounds to hard-assed. Crawl first Dan... MAKE IT FUN, make it realistic, make it a cool experience. Don't try and be legalistic, don't make it unfun -- one HELL of a lot of people have left Silly War because it got "unfun."

Due to the danger of site shut-offs as experienced by Magnus, this ends part I, more to follow.

Learn to write long-ass posts on your computer's "notepad" program, then paste it into the posting window and do final edits there... better yet, don't write long, meandering posts, that are hard as Hell to reply to. Time is money... Holy crap, I'm done writing on this post... too much work to reply to über-long posts
Mit Besten, Marsh