REPORT FROM THE FRONT:
First off, I would like to say thanks to Morte and the others in this (and other) forums. I apologize for coming off with such a harsh tone originally. I love this game and am intrigued by other approaches to the game. Thank you all (Especially Morte and GGrayson) for sharing your thoughts and strategies, they have opened my eyes and greatly improved my game!!
Over the weekend I put Morte's Legion Strategy to use with mixed results...
The Advantages:
-I found that Legions Armies are very cheap and can be put together en masse in only a few turns. (No secret here.)
-Prior to Pikeman, Legions can not be stopped. (With or without help from upgrades and or Naval Bonuses.) Terrain attack bonuses are helpful, but not required against archers in non-capitals.
-Legions are very useful at counter attacking units in your home territory. Either while you are amassing your armies for war, or into the medieval era when they become rather obsolete as an attacking force in distant lands.
Disadvantages:
-Movement of Legion Armies is terribly slow. I found that an attack can be sped up with the use of a settler to run out ahead of the army, found a city and build a rode. However this tactic only works prior to declaring war, as your settlers will fall prey to enemey troops afterward.
-Somewhere around the Medieval Era with the development of Pikeman and into Rifleman, the units become undermatched and require the assistance of multiple promotions, heavy naval support and or a great general.
I found that I had a very difficult time with Legions beating Pikeman in Capital cities. My Legion armies were Veteran and were getting torn up in these Pikeman controlled Capitals. I would say that when attacking a capital with Legions, against Pikeman, one would need to enlist all bonuses possible to ensure victory. These include, Disrupting defensive units (SPY), Promotions (Infiltration), Naval Support (Probably Galleons), Terrain bonuses (Attack From Hills) and a great general.
Morte mentions Legions being viable as an attacking force even against Rifleman, however that seems like a bit of a stretch. I can't see Fortified Rifleman losing to Legions even with the bonuses listed above, but maybe so...
Anyway thanks again Morte for opening my eyes to how powerful Legions can be, I had always ignored them! I have also been reading some of your early expansion articles where you say to aim for 10 cities by 0AD. I haven't gotten there yet, but have been able to get 8! It makes such an amazing difference. I am blowing the AI away in the tech race and am not even bothering with Republic Government for expansion!!