08-26-2021, 09:43 AM
(05-08-2021, 01:15 PM)Till_When? Wrote: Wouldn't the wooden pin also fragilize the pilum's integrity upon impact, reducing its penetrative abilities against shields and armor? For example, a metal nail pilum was able to pierce the shield and a chain mail suit, but wouldn't a wood pin one be likely to see this pin broken upon impact with the shield, reducing the momentum behind the tip of the pilum and thus its ability to pierce the shield's wearer's armor?
I think so. Probably it would have two negative effects. Some of the energy would be dispersed in the momentum. And the momentum would probably change the penetration trajectory, resulting in a likely increased friction and energy dispersion.
But, if its purpose was just to make the shield useless, that would not be really a problem. Simply, it would make harder to penetrate something behind the shield.
