It's because people want to imagine themselves as a hero, engaging in one on one combat. A knight or samurai.
They don't want to imagine themselves as a barely trained serf in a block with 30 other people holding 3m long pikes trying not to shit yourself as arrows start to rain down.
It's because people want to imagine themselves as a hero, engaging in one on one combat. A knight or samurai.
They don't want to imagine themselves as a barely trained serf in a block with 30 other people holding 3m long pikes trying not to shit yourself as arrows start to rain down.
Shit, even in one on one martial combat, give me range and I'll take it. Knife < Sword < Spear < Bow
Knife < sword < spear < bow < trebuchet
Knife < sword < spear < bow < crossbow < trebuchet
Knife < sword < spear < bow < crossbow < trebuchet < arbalists thrown by trebuchets
Knife < sword < spear < bow < crossbow < trebuchet < arbalists thrown by trebuchets < napalm thrown by trebuchets
Just don't miss with the crossbow…
Knife < sword < spear < bow < crossbow < WA 2000 < trebuchet
The most elegant weapon.
By the time of 3m pikes most infantry would be receiving pretty decent training.