Catapult (weapon) - Revision history

Tao alexis at 04:54, 28 February 2025

2025-02-28T04:54:19Z

Tao alexis: /* Construction */

2025-02-28T04:53:32Z

Construction

Tao alexis: /* Expertise */

2025-02-28T04:25:08Z

Expertise

Tao alexis: /* Expertise */

2025-02-28T04:24:53Z

Expertise

Tao alexis: /* Construction */

2025-02-28T04:23:45Z

Construction

Tao alexis: /* Ammunition */

2025-02-28T03:56:16Z

Ammunition

Tao alexis at 03:44, 28 February 2025

2025-02-28T03:44:28Z

Tao alexis: /* Expertise */

2025-02-28T03:35:57Z

Expertise

Tao alexis at 03:20, 28 February 2025

2025-02-28T03:20:17Z

Tao alexis: /* Construction */

2025-02-28T02:55:47Z

Construction

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:54, 28 February 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	[[File:Catapult.jpg\|right\|525px\|thumb\|The only accurate image of a catapult part or feature available.]]
	'''Catapults''', also ''onagers'', are ballistic [[Siege Weapon\|siege engine]]s designed to hurl projectiles using stored mechanical energy. These devices consist of a sturdy wooden frame supporting a lifted crossbar. A vertical throwing arm, attached to the frame by a bundle of twisted rope, sinew, or hair, acts as the primary mechanism for propulsion. When the arm is drawn down by winches and locked into place, tension is stored within the bundle. Upon release, the arm springs forward with force, striking the crossbar, and flinging the projectile outward. To reduce wear and absorb impact, the crossbar is often padded with unshorn sheepskin or similar materials.		'''Catapults''', also ''onagers'', are ballistic [[Siege Weapon\|siege engine]]s designed to hurl projectiles using stored mechanical energy. These devices consist of a sturdy wooden frame supporting a lifted crossbar. A vertical throwing arm, attached to the frame by a bundle of twisted rope, sinew, or hair, acts as the primary mechanism for propulsion. When the arm is drawn down by winches and locked into place, tension is stored within the bundle. Upon release, the arm springs forward with force, striking the crossbar, and flinging the projectile outward. To reduce wear and absorb impact, the crossbar is often padded with unshorn sheepskin or similar materials.
	__TOC__		__TOC__

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 == Construction ==
 As a rough estimate, building a catapult will require 1 man hour per 13½ lbs. of constructed material.  By this reckoning, a standard heavy catapult would require about 115 hours, so that a four-man [[Crew (artillery)|crew]] could build one from existing raw materials in 2¾ days.  The light catapult requires 1¼ days, due to the smaller area that is being worked in.  Time needed to ready the materials, cutting logs, shaping them, obtaining rope and sinew and twisting these, increases the total time of construction to 3 times this amount.
@@ Line 55: / Line 59: @@
 [[Hardpoint (naval)|Hardpoint]]<br>
 [[Naval Combat]]<br>
-[[Siege Weapon-making I (sage ability)|Siege Weapon-making I]]<br>
+[[Siege Weapon-making I (sage ability)|Siege Weapon-making I]]

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 25px; text-align: center; background-color:#d4f2f2;"
 |-
-! style="width: 125px|Aspect !! style="width: 125px|Heavy Catapult !! style="width: 125px|Light Catapult
+! style="width: 140px|Aspect !! style="width: 125px|Heavy Catapult !! style="width: 125px|Light Catapult
 |-
 | style="text-align: left|Weight (lbs) || 1,500 || 600

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 |-
 | style="text-align: left|Rate of Fire (rounds) || 5 || 4
 |-
 | style="text-align: left|Hardpoint cost (tons) || 40 || 20
 |}
 == Loading and Firing ==
 The time required for loading a catapult depends on the strength and coordination of the crew.  Resetting the throwing arm, winching it down to store tension and loading the projectile must be done each time the device is fired.  The table shows both the minimum number of crew for each device, as well as the best possible effective crew.  For a heavy catapult, the minimum is 3 persons; the most effective crew, however, would be 5 persons.  Likewise, these numbers are also given for the light catapult.

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 == Construction ==
+See also,<br>
 [[Combat]]<br>
 [[Hardpoint (naval)|Hardpoint]]<br>

@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 == Ammunition ==
 Projectile weights given represent the best possible weight ratio to accuracy of fire.  Lighter weights, such as humanoid heads or bundles of flammable material, have no effect on accuracy but must be assumed, in some cases, to cause less damage due to their lack of mass.  For each 20% reduction in ammunition mass, remove 1 die from the amount of hit point damage done to living targets.  This applies to both hits and [[Grenade-like Missiles|fragmentation]] effects.
 == Construction ==

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 If no lead artillerist is present, the weapon can be fired by a handler, but the penalty against hitting with the device is done at -4.  If only one handler is available — and no lead — the device can be loaded, but in addition to the attacking penalty, the device has a 1 in 3 chance of mis-firing; half of all misfires will end in destroying the weapon.  If there is but one lead and one handler, the chance of mis-fire is reduced to 1 in 8.  Loss of apprentices only slows down the loading process.
 {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left: 25px; text-align: center; background-color:#d4f2f2;"
@@ Line 39: / Line 26: @@
 | style="text-align: left|Projectile weight (lbs) || 14 || 10
 |-
-| style="text-align: left|Damage (hit points) || 3-36 || 3-30
+| style="text-align: left|Damage (hit points) || 5-40 || 4-24
 |-
 | style="text-align: left|Rate of Fire (rounds) || 5 || 4
@@ Line 45: / Line 32: @@
 | style="text-align: left|Hardpoint cost (tons) || 40 || 20
 |}

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:35, 28 February 2025
Line 6:		Line 6:

	== Expertise ==		== Expertise ==
		+	Each siege engine requires proper expertise to achieve any degree of accuracy. A character with the [[Artillerist II (sage ability)\|Artillerist II sage ability]] must oversee its operation, ensuring precise aiming and coordination. This is the "lead artillerist." Additionally, at least two crew members, "handlers," must possess the [[Artillerist I (sage ability)\|Artillerist I ability]] to manage essential loading and firing tasks. Any remaining crew members, "apprentices," must have at least one point of artillery knowledge to contribute meaningfully; those without this minimum training provide no practical assistance in operating the engine.
		+
		+	If no lead artillerist is present, the weapon can be fired by a handler, but the penalty against hitting with the device is done at -4. If only one handler is available — and no lead — the device can be loaded, but in addition to the attacking penalty, the device has a 1 in 3 chance of mis-firing; half of all misfires will end in destroying the weapon. If there is but one lead and one handler, the chance of mis-fire is reduced to 1 in 8. Loss of apprentices only slows down the loading process.

	== Loading and Firing ==		== Loading and Firing ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Also called an onager, a ballistic device used to launch a projectile consisting of a large frame with a lifted crossbar. A vertical spoke, or arm, passes one end through a rope or sinew bundle that, once under tension, produces a springing effect that hurls the projectile. The arm is pulled down by winches until it locks, so that it can be loaded. When the lock is released, the arm springs forward, strikes the lifted crossbar and the projectile continues outward. The crossbar was usually padded with unshorn sheepskin.
+'''Catapults''', also ''onagers'', are ballistic [[Siege Weapon|siege engine]]s designed to hurl projectiles using stored mechanical energy. These devices consist of a sturdy wooden frame supporting a lifted crossbar.  A vertical throwing arm, attached to the frame by a bundle of twisted rope, sinew, or hair, acts as the primary mechanism for propulsion. When the arm is drawn down by winches and locked into place, tension is stored within the bundle. Upon release, the arm springs forward with force, striking the crossbar, and flinging the projectile outward. To reduce wear and absorb impact, the crossbar is often padded with unshorn sheepskin or similar materials.
-The arm generally includes a cup for loading stones or other projectiles, including the heads of caught spies, dung or small diseased animals. Catapults do not have the strength to throw even a child; if the projectile is too heavy, the arm will not swing forward.
+Catapults are employed both as offensive and defensive siege engines. They are commonly placed atop fortifications to repel besiegers and on ships for use in naval engagements, where they can launch burning projectiles to set enemy vessels alight. When fired over land, stone or iron projectiles may "skip" upon impact with hard surfaces, potentially injuring multiple targets within a group. Alternatively, shots made of fragmented stone, crude masonry, or brittle materials will shatter upon impact, generating deadly shrapnel that can wound nearby combatants.
-Catapults can be mounted atop walls and on ships.
+== Expertise ==
-Stone and iron projectiles fired by catapults will “skip” when they hit a flat hard surface without penetrating, so that they may cause damage to more than one combatant when fired into a group of creatures. Catapult shots comprised of broken stone and low-grade [[Masonry|masonry]] will shatter when hitting a hard object, creating shrapnel.
+== Loading and Firing ==
 == Construction ==
@@ Line 17: / Line 26: @@
 | style="text-align: left|Weight (lbs) || 1,500 || 600
 |-
-| style="text-align: left|Minimum crew || 3 || 2
+| style="text-align: left|Crew minimum/effective || 3/5 || 2/4
 |-
 | style="text-align: left|Range || 320 ft. || 260 ft.

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 | style="text-align: left|Range || 320 ft. || 260 ft.
 |-
-| style="text-align: left|Range "to hit" modifier || short (9-16)<br>medium (17-30)<br>long (31-64) || short (6-13)<br>medium (14-24)<br>long (25-52)
+| style="text-align: left|Range adjustment || short (9-16)<br>medium (17-30)<br>long (31-64) || short (6-13)<br>medium (14-24)<br>long (25-52)
 |-
 | style="text-align: left|Projectile weight (lbs) || 14 || 10