21.5 The legion command-post explained; pros and cons.

Vanguards are the main body of a legion, centered around a single leader. Any militarily privileged guildsman or citizen may take command of a legion by moving to the epicentre of the phalanx formation and taking up what is known as its command-post (see HELP COMMANDER for some further information).

Syntax: MARSHALL <loyal legion> to take up the command-post position.
Syntax: RELINQUISH to depart the epicentre of the legion and, if appropriate, relinquish commander status.

The advantage of holding this command-post position is the legions afford a tight-knit defensive formation about your person and thus it is very difficult to suffer attacks (particularly those reliant on toe-to-toe melee). Those who do manage to get near enough to your commandpost will likely find themselves facing off against a large number of angry 'praetorian'-style guards. The intruder is either ejected or slain for their trespass. You will find, conversely, that your own freedom to launch attacks against your enemies (and indeed a variety of non-aggressive maneuvers) are somewhat curtailed by the cramped situation of the command-post and tight-knit surroundings of those legions sworn to your protection.

Most importantly, however, the command-post is the only means for an individual to carry out hands-on leadership of a legion - particularly useful when dealing with groups of large numbers. You will find HELP COMMANDER and HELP DISPATCHES contain invaluable information about the range of real-time and prepared orders accessible either by those stationed at command-posts (ready for the battlefield) and those with tactical supremacy (busily costructing order dispatches to cover every eventuality of offece and defence).