But if trebuchets were in common use, then the benefit would be a bunch of methodical, mathmatically-inclined killers. The general populace would be more cognizant of mathmatics & science. And the people trying to avoid being smacked by a trebuchet missile would still turn into a "nation of great runners". Nobody was every killed by an accidental discharge while cleaning their trebuchet.
And people who are killed by AD while cleaning their guns are just demonstrating evolution in action, anyway.
Hmm... I think I would want further proof that no-one was ever killed by AD while cleaning their trebuchet. I mean, the Roman Legion (just to name one example) was a fairly high-spirited bunch, and I have to imagine that ATLEAST once, some practical joker said "Psst... watch this... Hey, Graccius! The winch seems to be stuck on something! Lean in there and see what it is!"
But the Roman Legions didn't use trebuchets. They used catapults. One of the advantages of the trebuchet over the catapult is the lack of jump (which poses a major hazard to the weapons crew: historically, about 1/5 to 1/4 of the catapult crews were eventually injured or killed buy their own weapons) when the weapon is triggered.
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And people who are killed by AD while cleaning their guns are just demonstrating evolution in action, anyway.
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*TWANG!*
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