Primaris Maniples

[Marshal Rohr]

In several of the Black Books it mentions a Primaris Maniple, and I was wondering if anyone had found references to them in the AT rulebooks? I noticed there are no options for a five Warlord maniple, and wondered if that is what these are. 

[Spleenex]

I don't recall seeing anything about a "Primaris" maniple in any of the rules, no. Though, they do seem to be releasing at least a couple of maniples per expansion, so if its mentioned in the lore, I'm sure we'll see it at some point.

 

As for an all-Warlord maniple...I actually wouldn't be surprised if we never saw one. Mainly because it seems to me that it would be difficult to play. About the cheapest you can build a Warlord is 440 points. A minimal maniple would therefore be unplayable below 1500-ish. A full maniple would run you almost 2500 points. At this level, you'd be at a severe action deficit. Your opponent would likely have a couple of maniples and some knights with perhaps 6-8+ activations.

 

That all said, it would be interesting to brainstorm a rules set for such a maniple that would even out the disadvantages. Hrmmm. Maybe an initiative bonus? That would go towards mitigating the activation disadvantage, but seems at odds, conceptually, with an all-heavy maniple.

[Sandlemad]

I haven't seen any reference in the rulebook or Titandeath but Haley's novel does feature the First Maniple of the Legio Solaria, could be something similar? First as in opposed to Second Maniple, Third Maniple, etc. I bring it up because it was the personal command unit of the legion commander and was exactly a five warlord maniple, consisting of the Domina Princeps and her myrmidons.

[Spleenex]

I haven't seen any reference in the rulebook or Titandeath but Haley's novel does feature the First Maniple of the Legio Solaria, could be something similar? First as in opposed to Second Maniple, Third Maniple, etc. I bring it up because it was the personal command unit of the legion commander and was exactly a five warlord maniple, consisting of the Domina Princeps and her myrmidons.

 

This seems likely. It would be interesting to see rules at some point for famous commanders and command-focused maniples, equipment, and so on. That seems an unexplored facet of the rules so far. I'm thinking things, like bonuses to initiative or orders. Or the ability to disrupt your opponent's orders. Maybe special stratagems. I dunno, I'm not fully caffeinated yet and am lacking imagination. But I think there's room to grow there. 

[Mendi Warrior]

Add to that the possibility of named titans. Definitely a lot of room to grow there.

[Mandragola]

I reckon a 5-warlord maniple might have each Titan get to be a seniores, to represent being the legion master’s elite guard, or at least a highly elite maniple.

 

Fluff-wise I think it should exist. Solaria had at least one of these maniples and they were a light legio. I imagine that Mortis, Astorum and so on would field them routinely, supported by whole light maniples rather than having in-maniple light titans. In larger battles it would make sense to organise titans in this way I think, rather than having lots of individual mixed maniples.

[Marshal Rohr]

I took the name from the lore sections in the black books, by the way.

[RipOffProductions]

I reckon a 5-warlord maniple might have each Titan get to be a seniores, to represent being the legion master’s elite guard, or at least a highly elite maniple.

 

Fluff-wise I think it should exist. Solaria had at least one of these maniples and they were a light legio. I imagine that Mortis, Astorum and so on would field them routinely, supported by whole light maniples rather than having in-maniple light titans. In larger battles it would make sense to organise titans in this way I think, rather than having lots of individual mixed maniples.

I can see an all Warlord Maniple getting some big buffs(more void shield saves? more servitor clades? faster/better reactor management?) to represent that they're the cream of the crop of their Legion, as well as to make up for the points cost of fielding it gameplay-wise.