Why are archers in movies instructed to fire all at once?
Well usually we see it in movies in the context of the first volley against a force moving towards the wall. In that case the commander can simply say 'on my mark' if they want the arrows to start only when the enemy forces are close enough to get a reasonable hit on with the arrows. Also it's a …
The Short Answer
Well usually we see it in movies in the context of the first volley against a force moving towards the wall. In that case the commander can simply say 'on my mark' if they want the arrows to start only when the enemy forces are close enough to get a reasonable hit on with the arrows. Also it's a lot more devastating to morale to have them all hit at once. The perception of a well-coordinated enemy is itself disheartening but also it means you're getting this rain of grievous injuries all hitting together so from the perspective on an enemy foot soldier there's just waves of death causing quite a few of the guys around him to start bleeding out all at once. Has a bigger sense of impact when you get all these injuries hitting together.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Enemy, arrows, start
This explanation focuses on enemy, arrows, start and spans 138 words across 5 sentences. At 103% above the average General Knowledge explanation (68 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Well usually we see it in movies in the context of the first volley against a force moving towards the wall.” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 5 connected points.
How This Compares in General Knowledge
Ranked #37 of 500 General Knowledge questions by answer depth (top 8%). This places it in the comprehensive tier — the top quarter of most thoroughly answered questions. Questions at this depth typically involve multi-faceted topics requiring nuanced explanation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why archers in movies instructed to fire all at once?
Well usually we see it in movies in the context of the first volley against a force moving towards the wall. In that case the commander can simply say 'on my mark' if they want the arrows to start only when the enemy forces are close enough to get a…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar General Knowledge questions?
This is one of the most thorough answer at 138 words, ranked #37 of 500 General Knowledge questions by depth. The key concepts covered are enemy, arrows, start.
What approach does this answer take to explain archers in movies instructed to fire all at once?
The explanation uses root cause analysis and contrasting perspectives across 138 words. It is categorized under General Knowledge and addresses the question through 2 analytical lenses.