They appear in Livy at earlier points, but I suspect it's accidental. The best really clear depiction of velites doing velites things is in Upper Macedonia in the 2nd War.
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At the same time 'just so' stories about the introduction of a given tactic are inherently suspect. There seem to be light troops functioning with the legions earlier than this (Liv 8.8.5), and I tend to think the more mature formation of velites evolved out of that gradually.
Oakley suggests that the velites might just be the rorarii with a new name, which is tempting, but raises all sorts of questions. The one thing I don't buy is the suggestion - Michael Sage, I think - that the velites are a consequence of a 2nd-punic-war manpower shortage.
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Yes, I don't buy that one either. I think they're more likely an out-growth of increased experience in warfare and money to fund arms production. Similarly I suspect the scutum (as Polybius describes it) did not replace the more common thureos until the late 3rd century.
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Our first combat description of velites--complete set of the parma, the hasta velitaris, the gladius--comes in the Dassaretis campaign. I don't see good reason to believe they were common in that way much before then.
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I’ve heard roarii, but also accensi and leves. Which makes me think Paul is right when he says sources are trying to find the right word to describe a general combat role rather than an official/doctrinal designation (at least at that time).
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And these are words, most of them, that also appear in a handful of 2nd century sources. But are they technical terms, or kind of like Greek sources calling the same troops at different times euzonoi, psiloi, and other words?
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