On Pila and the Legion

[Del Arroyo]

I'm not saying that one would use a pilum as a thrusting spear-- that would not work very well, for all the reasons stated. I'm simply saying that the pila were probably not usually used in the sort of "volley" fashion historians usually depict, that it would make more sense for a legionary to pick out a single opponent at close range and try to catch him through the neck.

Spears as they were employed in the days before the Hoplon tended to break very quickly as well-- the whole point here is that it only takes one. Maybe your spear breaks on your enemy's shield, or maybe you throw it and miss, but if you hit-- he's dead and you're still alive.

This is why I would view the Pilum as the primary weapon of the Legion. They're not trying to take out shields, they're trying to KILL people. If someone's shield gets busted, great, but if you hit him in the shoulder, better. And no matter what happens you're going to charge en masse and try to stab them to death, and your buddies behind you will continue to throw pila in support.

THIS is why I think they should be factored into melee. Not because it would be the weapon of choice in hand-to-hand combat, but (a) because it could be used to DECIDE combat before it becomes hand-to-hand, and (b) because I've heard many historians say that it would be used by the rear ranks to hit the enemy once engaged.

DA

P.S.: It was not just the Legionaries that carried two Pila. Spear-armed infantry going back to the masses at Ilion, to the Peltasts and other light infantry of the Roman days, right up to the Saxon men-at-arms in 1066 routinely carried more than one spear, as much because of their breakability as their usefulness as missiles.

[McGowan]

Of course, but Pila weren't really spears. They were a type of heavy javelin. The Romans disdained ranged combat, preferring to engage in shock combat in the Greek fashion. I don't doubt that the Pila could be used the way you describe, but I just have a hard time seeing the Romans actually using it that way...

[eadeater]

I'm sure that the legionnaires would by all means have prefered to kill or maim their opponents rather than rendering their shield useless, but this rarely happened, as any enemy with a shield would attempt to block with his shield - being successful more often than not, but this would mean they would have to discard their shield - effectively meaning they are completely at the mercy of the Roman gladius, especially considering that most of Rome's enemies, especially from the north, used large and cumbersome swords, with which it is difficult to block against the swift stab of the relatively small gladius.

[kchickenlord]

Will the game have 2 pila of equal properties or will it be simulating the light pila followed by the heavy? or with the speed of the game will the heavy pila even get used (units take so long to throw in the game and advancing units are so quick, i doubt there would be time inside the range of the heavy pila!

[Colovion]

the only way i currently get to use the Pila is if my untis disengage from the enemy and are able to maneuver so I can get off another shot before charging in again. Oh, also putting units behind the main line and throwing Javelins works a bit - but be careful not to kill your own units...