Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-17114085-20160531165159/@comment-24696651-20160624202821

(ReD, you said yourself that the grappling hook infantry were lighty equipped in order to facilitate their climbing. I therefore fail to see how they could be better equipped than the heavy infantry at the gatehouse who have no such restrictions, and can easily use a shorter side-arm. Also, people armed with swords can also thrust, which they would do in such cramped conditions. And, FYI, the testudo formation is not watertight.)

20th of Hearthfire

As men in the testudo succumbed to the boiling oil, a gap opened up, which allowed the archers to fire into the formation. The archers were also equipped with longbows which, at close range, could perforate shields and hit the arm holding it.

The bottleneck of the stairs didn't allow the greater number of troops to be an advantage, but the troops were outnumbered more thant 3:1 - they were fighting a losing battle.

The soldiers coming in from the gatehouse could go directly from the gatehouse to the walls of Kvatch, where there was a wider front for combat and the heavier equipment of Kvatch's forces could come into play.