Romans and Missile Weapons

[Marcus Audens]

Well, from what I have read of the Roman Army conflicts, it seems that the slingers and archers were used as both advanced light troops, and forward throwing (arrows) in frront of the  advanced troops into the on-coming opponents.   The dress of the slingers was much less and different than the legionaries and their training was foreign.   The archers dress and arms / accouterments were different, as well as, their training also.   I am sure that this would have set them apart from the legionaries in more than one way.  Their religion, culture, language, and tactics would also have set them apart to some extent.   Then too, since I have seen no berthing or shelter arrangements for the archers or slingers, I must either assume that they lodged in tents on campaign.   All of this would have surely have set them apart from the strict rules of the legionaries.  Since they were undoubtedly under the control of an related cultural leader,  I would assume from what I have read of the legionaries, that good results from the slingers and archers in a battle situation, would be the only thing that they would  recognize with admiration!

Marcus Audens, Praefectus Castrorum, Sodalitas Militarium, Byzantine Novum  IBthereforeIBS

I was poking around on the internet and stumbled upon this site, wondering if you folk could answer a question. So from the republic to the early empire, the Romans had few missile weapons,
at most spears and slings. My question is, how greatly did this aversion to missile weapons affect them? Obviously in Parthia this was a huge problem, but I'm having trouble finding sources on other
battles.