Board Thread:Middle Earth Roleplays/@comment-26863727-20160510021831

You are a recruit in his last month of training before he is made a Praetorian. After that, who knows where the call of duty will take you? There are several final tests you must complete, otherwise you will be made into a disgraced (albeit very skilled) legionnaire.

THE FIRST TEST- SIEGE: You must run through thorny bushes, and defeat several instructors in the guise of a randomly chosen opponent to capture the small fortress at the center of the field.

THE SECOND TEST- INTERROGATION: You must be able to succesfully interrogate a "captured enemy officer" who is known to hold "vital information for the war effort". The indvidual is actually a brainwashed convict, so don't hold back from anything you deem necessary.

THE THIRD TEST- EVASION: You must be able to evade your pursuers in the woods, who will shoot at you with training arrows dipped in red paint, without your armor or spear or sword to fight with, leaving you only with your aegis. If you are captured, or are hit with an arrow, or if you have lost your shield at the end of the chase, you have failed the test!

THE FOURTH TEST- CAMPAIGN: The longest of all the tests, this will take most of the month. Several different kinds of foe (all either convicts trained like that group or, in some cases, actual captured members of that group) will defend four different fortresses, and will fight several battles against the class. Each fortress and enemy army represents a different opponent. The first is a simple wooden defense as is made by wildmen. The second is stronger, based upon Orc-craft and the foes faced will be living, breathing Orcs. The third is based on the constructions of the Men of Gondor, and the last fortress is based on Dwarf craft. This one was built into the side of a mountain by hired Dwarves, and this tries to represent a battle in which Men and Dwarves have formed an alliance to stop you. You will march between the fortresses with support from archers and a few cavalry.

 Rules

You are a soldier in the midst of combat. You must coordinate with your brothers in arms if you are to survive. Don't argue, and above all else watch each other's backs. Always assume that the guy next to you doesn't notice the fella coming in on his right, and take care of it if you can. And no heroics, because that's just a fancy word for "getting killed".

You all have the same equipment(that of a Praetorian), however, minor customization for the distinguishing of your squad amidst the greater legion is permitted. Yours is the DI Legion(I will not apologize), so you will have that number in a slot on the front of your shield designed for holding a small plaque with the numerals.

 Formations

A five man squad is a very efficient fighting force, if you coordinate properly. But in a battle of the line, clusters of men moving independently is ineffective, suicidal even. Here's the drills you'll have to know for a line battle(and yes, you should actually try to memorize these).

 Extending the Line: This is when your army lengthens the line when the enemy is concentrated in a small area. Advancing rapidly, the Atmorans can wrap around the enemy,  surrounding them and cutting off all escape. Initiate this drill when the centurion gives the order "usque ad lineam".

Imbalance: Used when the enemy line is long and thin. The line is reinforced on one side and this part attacks rapidly and smashes one side of the enemy line, before rolling it up into the waiting unreinforced Atmoran side. Begin this maneuver when you hear "supplementum".

The channel: This is what is used if the enemy were to attack with units of mumakil. On the command "seco", open channels within your line. The animals will naturally travel down these paths and can be hamstringed from either side.

Repelling cavalry: Of course, not everyone uses mûmak for their shock units. On the command "repellum equites" the front line is to drop to one knee, hasta to the right side of their scutum, which should sit firmly upon the ground The second line will rest their shields atop the first's, hastas held in reverse grip at head-height. After and only after the enemy riders have impacted the front line of spearmen, and the cavalry have yet to break, should the second line begin to attack. In the even that something goes wrong and the line is broken somewhere, drop your spear, draw your gladius and stab at the horses' underbellies. If the break is near you, of course.

Shield block: Used when advancing in the face of enemy archers. The sides should hold their scutums to their left or right, the front should stay as normal, and the rest should keep them overhead. This will render arrow fire ineffective at best. Enter this when given the command "testudo".  </ac_metadata>