II/49 Marian Romans 105-25BC
II/56 Early Imperial Roman 25BC-197AD
When Wargames Factory first introduced plastic 28mm Romans, I picked up a couple of boxes, intending to do a Marian Roman DBA army. As I started to experiment with the plastics, I did a few conversions here and there and the project expanded backwards into Polybian Romans and forwards into (very) early Imperial Romans.
Above, you can see nine bases of 4Bd which represents the core of each army. The rounded shields are probably inappropriate for Imperial Roman except in the very earliest years (which works out well as my interest is Imperial Romans mostly in Caesar's campaigns). In the middle of the picture is a General stand.
I also put together three bases of mounted. Two 3Cv bases are on the left and a 2LH is on the right. The centre stand is an optional General element. These are again from Wargames Factory.
The light troops include two bases of skirmishers (2Ps) and one base of auxiliaries (3Ax). These are fairly simple conversions--adding slings from the Wargames Faculty Celt box to the skirmisher stands, for example. To complete the Imperial army I will also need to add four bases of 4Ax troops. I have the figures set aside--I just need to get around to them.
One of the requirements for the Polybian Romans are two bases of 4Sp to represent the Triarii. These are just regular legionnaires with some long spears fabricated. They might be over-armoured for Polybians. Oh well!
The Imperial Romans require an artillery piece. This is a Zvezda ballista with two Wargames Factory figures posed as the crew.
I also wanted some fantasy elements if I were to field this as a HoTT army. So I converted four left over Roman cavalry to centaurs. I'll use them as riders.
I also added two metal Warlord Games figures. On the left we have a magician or cleric. On the right a hero or hero general.
And finally a camp. The figures in the foreground are metal Warlord Games figures. The Imperial legionnaires in the background are also Warlord Games figures, albeit plastic legionnaires. I think this was the first set of 28mm hard plastics historicals that was released (circa 2008?).
