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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Bluenose" data-source="post: 6293279" data-attributes="member: 49017">The Balistarii Seniores and Balistarii Theodosiaci were two legio-size units in the army of the Magister Equitem per Orientem. While there's some argument, they were equipped with manuballistae and arcuballistae, which are usually translated as crossbows. And there were other Balistarii units, in various locations. Mass use seems very likely.My personal theory is that the advantage of firearms was that they could be fired effectively even by troops who were tired and underfed. Worn out longbowmen aren't particularly effective and a hard campaign would wear them out. With firearms you can keep fighting year round, without ruining your army for the next campaign. Instead of having to replace soldiers who were worn out, you could keep them in the ranks. That in itself leads to larger armies, because instead of replacing veterans you're supplementing them.</blockquote>