[split] Psychology of the Roman soldier

[JaM]

yes, i took it to extreme, because the other thing sounds an extreme to me too.. Nobody said normal soldiers would hide behind shields doing nothing.. they would just not attack carelessly, with no regard to own protection, provided by shield, formation, or weapon used. Instead, they would take "calculated risks", attacking from protected position, whenever opportunity occurred.
Plus, to every sane commander, troops that keep cohesion, stay in formation are more valuable than some psychos who would charge into enemy disregarding everything around them...