The thing is you have to take the first one before you take Master Tactician. When you start a path you take the first section and then move up the chain as it were. Actually knowing Henry's love of all things Roman I would like to hear from him on this. I'm curious as to the reasoning behind Born In the Saddle and Ride as Talent and Skills granted to the Centurion. I'm sure there's reason they were chosen. Perhaps Coryani Centurions ride for some reason, but from what I can tell from the books I own Roman Centurions marched with their troops.

Centurian isn't tiered. Choose which one you want (or both!)

Master Tactician does not require having Officer.

Then it needs errata. There is a clear progression intended from officer to master tactician. Especially when you look at the pre-reqs to get to Prefect and Milandisian Warmind they are intended to be parallel paths.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

I agree with Southern that Centurion is intentionally non-tiered.

I do agree that Prefect likely needs errata (to allow either Officer or Master Tactician).

I don't think Milandisian Warmind is necessarily parallel to Centurion. I don't see any reason that one can't be non-tiered and one be tiered.

Why do you believe it was intentionally non-tiered? Having written Paths for the game, non-progression paths are single tiered. There are no other examples of non-tiered path options included within the rules where you may pick one of two or three and pick another at a later tier. It is far more reasonable to expect that it was an accidental omission of requirement rather than the creation of a singularly unique type of Path created without notes written to clarify it's unique status.

Also for Paths that grant a choice of either primary casting skill or equivalent combat skill, those options are in the 2nd Tier of the Path. The exceptions I can find such as the Bearers of Woe or Beltinian Exorcist effectively have it as their second Path choice as they require another Path before it that does not grant those key skills (Holy Champion, Anointed Priest).

I'm happy to consider an argument to the contrary, but I don't consider "It hasn't been errataed yet" as a strong argument.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

All good points. I was taking the lack of requirement as intentional (no other path is lacking such a prereq). I think your strongest argument is that no other path provides a similar option.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what the official response is on the intent.

I'd still like to know why they give the Centurion skills and talents that don't make sense based on what I know of real world history. I don't get the rationale behind Ride and Born in the Saddle. What was the reasoning behind those two choices? Those make more sense for a cavalryman not an infantryman.

Because historically officers rode horses, though not always into battle. It was viewed as a status symbol.

Not sure how it was in Rome, but ownership of a horse usually marked you as at least an Equestrian class then.

I'll have to look into that. I have several books on the Roman army and from what I remember reading centurions marched on foot with their centuries. The senior officers and equestrians would have been mounted. As for the status symbol I agree. Octavian made a point to his mother that Pullo and Vorenus had been given "honorary horses" in the first episode of Rome. If Centurion Vorenus already had a horse he would not need to be given one. Now if they are granted a horse upon promotion to Centurion, I could see the Coryani version getting the Ride skill, but Born in the Saddle just seems more appropriate for a cavalry officer who had spent more time in the saddle as it were. Just my opinion here and I do welcome a civil discussion on this, not trying to obstinate (although I can be that way... ).

Mike, just remember while this is inspired by the Roman legions, it's not an exact match. Rome didn't need to contend with battle magic, singarthan trolls and the like that would require their officers to be in as many places at once as possible.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul