Prime legionaries are members of Caesar's Legion in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281. They are better in terms of training and equipment than the recruit legionaries.
Background[]
Prime legionaries are the second lowest-ranked soldier class of Caesar's Legion. These legionaries have been promoted from recruit legionaries due to showing results in combat, and their relatively higher experience is "rewarded" with better equipment, including regular access to powerful firearms.[Non-game 1]
The prime legionaries emulate the principes of the ancient Roman military.[Non-game 2] In combat, legionaries are most commonly organized into three waves based on their experience, and the primes are organized in the second, middle wave. They are deployed only if the first wave of recruits is defeated, with the intent of mopping up opponents worn out by the first wave of combat. Even if their wave is defeated, the third wave of veteran legionaries is intended to step in and wipe out any remaining enemies.[1][Non-game 3] Prime legionaries who show results are "promoted" to join the ranks of the veterans.
Characteristics[]
Prime legionaries are the Legion's infantry force, though much less common than recruit legionaries. They are most commonly found in Legion-controlled areas such as the Fort, Cottonwood Cove, and Nelson. Prime legionaries are distinguished from recruit legionaries by the crimson color of their armor, as well as a unique visor that extends over their eyes as part of their covered helmets. Being the primary ground force, most of these warriors are equipped with weapons such as hunting rifles.
They can occasionally spawn with higher-level weapons such as marksman carbines but only at Hoover Dam or as part of Legionary assassin squads. They are usually found in the eastern Mojave, traveling with a squad of legionaries that may include higher-level warriors such as a veteran legionary or a decanus.
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
  |
This character has no special interactions. | |
Inventory[]
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items | On death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legion prime armor | Rifles Hunting Rifle Marksman carbine Submachine guns 10mm SMG Shotguns Sawed-off shotgun Lever-action shotgun Handguns 10mm pistol .44 Magnum revolver Melee Power fist Sledgehammer Fire axe Machete gladius |
Legion denarius Healing powder Legion aureus Antivenom Random food and aid items |
 Legion ear |
Appearances[]
Prime legionaries appear only in Fallout: New Vegas.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ The Courier: "So what happened at Hoover Dam and Boulder City?"
Hanlon: "In big battles, Caesar deploys his legionaries in waves. Recruits up front, prime soldiers behind the recruits, old guard bringing up the rear. Opponents wear themselves out dealing with the first two waves, if they survive that long. When the veterans step up, there's not much fight left. Caesar can adapt, though, and when required, he can run any mix of legionaries as skirmishers and still retain order in the ranks."
(Hanlon's dialogue)
Non-game
- ↑ Question: "Could Caesar really win a war of attrition with the NCR, or is he just deluded by an environment of yes-men into believing they have the numbers for ancient tactics to still work when the enemy is just cutting down your front lines with gunfire?"
Joshua Sawyer: "Primes, Veterans, and even some Recruits use powerful firearms. Most of the legionaries who use melee weapons are early/weak scrubs. It's true that some Centurions and most Praetorian Guards also use melee/unarmed weapons, but as people who assault those characters in close quarters (where they are often encountered) can probably attest, it's not much of an impediment for them. As to whether or not Caesar has the numbers to ultimately win (and hold power) in the long run, that's unknown."
(Formspring reply from October 26, 2011) - ↑ Question: "Would Caesars Legion ever have Triarii? Or is it based on Marian Reforms era military?"
Joshua Sawyer: "Veterans are the equivalent of triarii, Primes as principes, Recruits as hastati. Wealth and class are not parts of Caesar's Legion's structure, but experience and access to equipment are."
(Formspring post on July 4, 2012) - ↑ Question: "Just how expendable are troops to the Legion? Roman tactics involved 2 lines of fresh meat, then a third line (Triarii) that would devastate the opponents that have tired themselfs killing the first 2. Does NV's Legion do similar?"
Joshua Sawyer: "That's exactly what the Recruits, Primes, and Veterans are."
(Formspring post on October 25, 2011)
