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ARMATURA
6 points
Armatura was the fighting style of the Roman legions
during the 1st through 3rd centuries A.D., when they were a
professional army. The legions’ armament dates to the 4th
century B.C., however, and this style might have its roots in
that period. The basic forms taught to legionaries, auxiliaries,
and marines were similar – although the various
arms emphasized different weapons. In many cities, young
men of the upper and middle classes took instruction in military
combat as a matter of pride. They, too, learned
Armatura – but from professional instructors, sometimes
brought in from gladiatorial schools.
Legionaries carried two pila (throwable spears). They
would hurl one or both while the enemy was at a distance,
and then engage with shield and pilum if holding ground,
shield and gladius (sword) if assaulting. They trained to lead
with their shield and use it offensively to shield bash or
shove the enemy; Beats (pp. 100-101) with the shield were
common. They also learned to minimize the disadvantages
of their large shield, stabbing around it while using it for
cover. Defensive Attacks (jabbing thrusts) were routine.
More aggressive attacks – but only rarely Committed
Attacks – generally followed up a successful shove or Beat.
Parries were less common than blocks.
Auxiliary infantry learned a similar style but carried different
equipment. Replace Shortsword with Broadsword
and make Thrown Weapon (Spear) optional. All Roman
troops prided themselves on their knowledge of dirty tricks.
It would be reasonable to add a variety of unsporting techniques
to any version of the style.
The Roman legions were a prosaic bunch; there are few
tales of legendary feats of arms. However, given the great
store Roman writers put by the stamina and bravery of their
troops, cinematic legionaries might merit high FP, several
levels of Fearlessness, and the Immovable Stance skill.
Enhanced Block, and the skills Kiai (for the barritus battle
cry) and Power Blow, also fit.
All Roman soldiers of the mid-to-late Empire probably
learned Armatura. It became less common toward the end
of the Empire – as auxiliaries became an increasingly large
part of the Roman forces, it grew harder to find the necessary
training. Armatura is also useful as the basis for styles
for troops armed like Roman legionaries in fantasy worlds.
Skills: Hiking; Shield; Shortsword; Spear; Thrown
Weapon (Spear).
Techniques: Feint (Shield or Shortsword); Retain
Weapon (Shortsword or Spear); Targeted Attack
(Shortsword Thrust/Vitals).
Cinematic Skills: Immovable Stance; Kiai; Power Blow.
Perks: Naval Training, for marines; Shield-Wall Training;
Teamwork (Armatura).
Optional Traits
Secondary Characteristics: Improved FP.
Advantages: Combat Reflexes; Enhanced Block;
Fearlessness; Fit.
Disadvantages: Duty; Stubbornness.
Skills: Axe/Mace; Brawling; Riding (Horse); Swimming;
Wrestling. Auxiliaries might have Bow or Sling. All but the
150 STYLES
greenest of legionaries should know Soldier/TL2, which
includes training at building forts quickly. Their supervisors
would have Engineer/TL2 (Combat).
ARMATURA EQUESTRIS
6 points
The cavalrymen of the Roman Empire combined the
military traditions of various subject peoples into a highly
effective martial art. Their composite style blended standoff
tactics (every soldier had to be proficient with either the
javelin or the bow) with hand-to-hand techniques. Training
included horsemanship. Some troops even learned how to
cross bodies of water with their mounts while still in
formation.
Roman horsemen wielded a medium shield of light construction
in a mobile blocking style, and strove to keep the
enemy on their shield side. The majority relied on the spear
and the javelin as weapons, but riders often had training
with the thrusting broadsword (similar to that of auxiliary
infantry) and some troops were mounted archers.
Cavalrymen thrust the spear downward rather than couching
it like a lance. When tossing the javelin, they sometimes
hurled it end-over-end instead of in a flat trajectory, to better
slip around a defender’s shield – a kind of Deceptive
Attack (see Tricky Shooting, p. 121).
Armatura Equestris survived through much of the Dark
Ages. Other European cavalry of the period used a similar
style with heavier armor and longer spears, as did Byzantine
horsemen. The latter favored the bow while Western forces
preferred the javelin.
There are few legends of amazing abilities among the
Roman cavalry. However, they sometimes claimed incredible
skill both as riders and with their weapons. One left an
epitaph commemorating how he shot an arrow into the air
and then split it in two with a second arrow before it hit the
ground . . . while on horseback . . . while his mount was
swimming the Danube! Heroic Archer and the Zen Archery
skill would fit heroes of this caliber.
The traits below assume a bow-armed cavalryman. For
a javelin-equipped horseman, replace Bow with Thrown
Weapon (Spear) and Horse Archery with Mounted
Shooting (Thrown Spear/Horse). Some cavalrymen were
recruited from the infantry; these should have the training
under Armatura (see above), too. Armatura Equestris suits
realistic “Knights of King Arthur.” For the abilities of
legendary Arthurian knights, see Knightly Mounted Combat
(pp. 175-177).
Skills: Bow; Broadsword; Riding (Horse); Shield; Spear.
Techniques: Cavalry Training (Broadsword or Spear);
Combat Riding; Hands-Free Riding; Horse Archery; Quick
Mount.
Cinematic Skills: Zen Archery.
Perks: Strongbow; Sure-Footed (Water).
Optional Traits
Advantages: Animal Empathy; Combat Reflexes; Heroic
Archer.
Disadvantages: Duty; Overconfidence; Stubbornness.
Skills: Axe/Mace; Brawling; Fast-Draw (Arrow); Knife;
Swimming; Wrestling.