by Cu_ » Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:01 pm
The other thing to remember, especially when it comes to the Greek model of warfare that Tibby just brought up, is that slinger and javelineer troops (and therefore, units) came about out of necessity of funds, not necessity of strategy. In Ancient Greece, the military did not fund soldiers with equipment; it was the responsibility of citizens to arm themselves in whatever way they could. People from the middle class, who could afford an aspis, and possibly (though not universally) armor, became heavy infantry. People from the underclasses, and slaves of the hoplites, who showed up with significantly less, were put to use however possible.
This is just one of those things that does not work on our micro level. If you had the numbers to make a decent arrow- or javelin volley (rocks are pretty worthless for this exercise), you'd be better off giving them full equipment and incorporating a more hand-to-hand skirmish, like the ones some people listed above.