07-22-2013, 09:03 PM
Desmond wrote:
Quite a few people believe that missile combat lasted much longer than hand-to-hand sword combat, but if each legionary only carried 2 pilum, how would the extra munition come from? Of course there are also light troops, but each of them also carried a very limited number of javelins.
A Few Ways:
- Not everyone throws them at the same time. How many of the ranks actually NEED to throw pila for an attack to carry force and momentum? The rest hold onto their javelins.
- Pick up and throw enemy missiles that have first been thrown at you. The ground would probably be littered with them.
- Have someone run out into no mans land to collect spent missiles.
- Spare missiles are carried by mules arrayed behind the line and maintained by the century's camp servants (purely hypothetical but possible).
Mark Graef, outstanding post!
Quite a few people believe that missile combat lasted much longer than hand-to-hand sword combat, but if each legionary only carried 2 pilum, how would the extra munition come from? Of course there are also light troops, but each of them also carried a very limited number of javelins.
A Few Ways:
- Not everyone throws them at the same time. How many of the ranks actually NEED to throw pila for an attack to carry force and momentum? The rest hold onto their javelins.
- Pick up and throw enemy missiles that have first been thrown at you. The ground would probably be littered with them.
- Have someone run out into no mans land to collect spent missiles.
- Spare missiles are carried by mules arrayed behind the line and maintained by the century's camp servants (purely hypothetical but possible).
Mark Graef, outstanding post!
