03-15-2013, 05:08 PM
Quote:I personally think cavalry move too quickly for plumbatae to be an obvious weapon against them. Slower moving advancing infantry where you could disrupt the middle to rear ranks even when engaged in the front ranks.Plumbatae are delivered in a 'cloud', comparable to arrows, with the distinction that a plumbata can't be targeted like an arrow. Therefore, if you deliver a few hundred plumbatae at once on an advancing cavalry unit, no matter the speed, the effect will most likely be quite disruptive if the cavalry is unarmoured. I would even say, the higher the speed, the more disruption and chaos.
Likewise, advancing infantry is slower and therefore an even better target, but it can be protected much better by their shields 9even in rank 3 or 4). It's when infantry units have engaged that the plumbata becomes interesting, because if you force an attacking infantry unit to contantly protect itself against missiles from above, the infantry can't engage in the 'pushing' which some see as part of Late Roman infantry battles.
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)