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The tactic is for contingents of the invasive force, in the "box formation," shield walls to the sides and a shield roof or ceiling overhead, to protect against arrow fire and cast stones, to approach under artillery fire so as to be able to enter a new breach almost instantly, before defenders can reach the point in sufficient numbers to repel would-be entrants and repair the breach. - (Avengers of Gor, Chapter 41, Sentence #7)

"Stone!" one cries, and points to the likely point of impact, to which spearmen rush, that the breach not be exploited. Yet, of late, there was little danger of that. Several times in the early days of the siege, the enemy had attempted to apply a tactic brilliant in the manuals but hazardous in the field. The tactic is for contingents of the invasive force, in the "box formation," shield walls to the sides and a shield roof or ceiling overhead, to protect against arrow fire and cast stones, to approach under artillery fire so as to be able to enter a new breach almost instantly, before defenders can reach the point in sufficient numbers to repel would-be entrants and repair the breach. This tactic, plausible and attractive in theory, had proved costly in practice. The quarried stone from Pylos, serving as ammunitions for the three catapults of the enemy, each block being of approximately the same size and weight, was theoretically ideal for the use of this tactic. Indeed, it seemed likely to me that the blocks, which were larger and heavier than the blocks commonly used in constructing walls, to the annoyance of Thurnock, Clitus, and myself in Sybaris, had been designed with three characteristics in mind. - (Avengers of Gor)