As discussed in my prior post, a Cedonian legionary's primary weapons traditionally are a pair of javelins and a very short stabbing sword. This combination of weapons works well enough against other infantry, but it is seriously inadequate for dealing with cavalry. The Cedonians have addressed this weakness in several ways. The first is in the use of Selarian cavalry. According to Cedonian military doctrine, the purpose of the Selarian auxiliaries is to act as scouts on the march and to keep enemy cavalry away from the infantry on the field. Unfortunately, sometimes the Selarians can't divert the enemy horsemen, or there are no cavalry units attached to the legion other than the organic scout/courier squadron. In those cases, a Cedonian commander will try to set up a field fortification in a defensible position rather than try to take on cavalry in the open field. As part of the ongoing reorganization of the legions, it has been proposed that the legionary's javelin be replaced by a pike or half-pike. This would provide the legion with greater anti-cavalry protection, at the expense of mobility. Given that the horse-riding tribes of northern Qaiyore are considered to be a high priority threat, it may be a good trade-off. On the other hand, recent reports that the Ice Demons are on the move again are causing some Cedonian officers to demand an increased emphasis on missile weapons such as bows, since the Ice Demons' preference for massed assaults makes them vulnerable to such weapons. The current debate is longbow vs. crossbow. Crossbows have a range of 350 to 400 yards, but very low rates of fire, anything from less than 1 to 3 times a minute, depending on size. Longbows, on the other hand, have a shorter range of about 220 yards, but they have a rate of fire of 8 to 10 aimed shots per minute. The other consideration is training. Training a man to properly use a crossbow is much simpler and less time-consuming than training a man to use a longbow, which really takes a lifetime to do properly. It is a not a question that would normally be settled quickly, but events may force the Cedonians to make a quick decision. Andrew ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
