Catapult Range and damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Catapult Range and damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Alynn
04-14-05, 12:04 AM Not that the PC's will blindly run in this place in broad daylight, but there are 2 catapults on top of an old dwarven stronghold that have been taken over by some hobbies and gobbies... They have a good amount of ammo for said catapults and if the PC's get too close and are spotted, well... thats where I need your help...

If it was a balista, I'd just raise the size cats for a medium heavy crossbow by about 4 steps... but increasing a sling bullet 4 steps doesnt seem to be all that great for a giant rock nailing you (3d6).

Also what would the range increment be? I think 200' would be about right. and it would take (not counting the loaders) 4 goblins to operate the thing.

Mechanics wise 2 on the wench, and 2 to aim the thing (they are on swivels, they have a 150 degree firing radius). If they keep a steady supply of rocks available it will take 2 rounds to wench it back, one round to load it 2 round to aim and then fire... so 5 rounds between rocks.

Any comments... my main concern is the damage and ranges... I think my mechanics are sound enough....
Dash Branaghan
04-14-05, 12:16 AM Well, check this out...

http://www.globalspec.com/trebuchet/

It might give you some ideas, and you can have fun at the same time.

Dash
LordHell
04-14-05, 12:20 AM Im not sure about Medieval catapults, but some of the best Roman catapults could fire up to around 600 metres, and still be significantly damaging at 400 metres.
Roman engineering was probably far superior to their later counterparts right up until the Trebuchet, which also had a range of about 400 metres but threw MUCH larger projectiles.

Converting that all into feet gives you a catapult maximum range of about 1800 feet, or range incriments of roughly 180 feet.

The damage should also be way higher and it should use a different system.
It doesnt matter where you're going to get hit, if you get hit by a catapult rock hurtling through the sky you're going to die. It should be 1d6+20 damage, perhaps even more. Catapults results in ancient times reported peoples body parts being found over 100metres from point of impact..

Also Im not sure if you could use BAB to aim the thing, they dont require dexterity or strength or anything like that.
They are wildly inaccurate against small targets, I would probably roll a percentage dice and give the PC's a 5% chance of being hit, with +0.5% per rank in Knowledge(engineering).
Fixxxer
04-14-05, 12:29 AM Also Im not sure if you could use BAB to aim the thing, they dont require dexterity or strength or anything like that.
They are wildly inaccurate against small targets, I would probably roll a percentage dice and give the PC's a 5% chance of being hit, with +0.5% per rank in Knowledge(engineering).

I'm fairly sure that the core rules use Profession (siege engineer) for most checks.
Titan W
04-14-05, 12:42 AM in addition there are acutal rules for catapult daamge in the DMG under a table called siege weapons (Go figure?) I won't say the exact stats but it had a very high crit and about 5D6 damage I think...
LordHell
04-14-05, 12:43 AM I'm fairly sure that the core rules use Profession (siege engineer) for most checks.

Yeah - that sounds about right.
Alynn
04-14-05, 08:41 AM Holy crap... I looked in the back of the DMG checking the index over and over, and for some reason never looked up siege engine.... Thanks guys... exactly what I need... now I just have to make 2 more evil experts in my town.... and I'll be set.

Jeez... I still can't believe I missed it...
twad
04-14-05, 01:07 PM and dont forget...

-many smaller rocks in a shot work well against infantry.. less damage more coverage.
-fire projectile is a good thing. Fire.. eheheh... Fire!!
Fixxxer
04-14-05, 09:48 PM -fire projectile is a good thing. Fire.. eheheh... Fire!!

See Gladiator (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/) for a visual on this.
Alynn
04-14-05, 09:55 PM Most likely the rules will never be needed, like I said unless the players decide to do a full frontal assault in the daylight. With only 60 feet darkvision they wont even be able to see as far as needed to pinpoint the players location...

but just in case they get stupid... I wanna be prepared...

Again thanks.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Alynn 04-14-05, 12:04 AM	Not that the PC's will blindly run in this place in broad daylight, but there are 2 catapults on top of an old dwarven stronghold that have been taken over by some hobbies and gobbies... They have a good amount of ammo for said catapults and if the PC's get too close and are spotted, well... thats where I need your help... If it was a balista, I'd just raise the size cats for a medium heavy crossbow by about 4 steps... but increasing a sling bullet 4 steps doesnt seem to be all that great for a giant rock nailing you (3d6). Also what would the range increment be? I think 200' would be about right. and it would take (not counting the loaders) 4 goblins to operate the thing. Mechanics wise 2 on the wench, and 2 to aim the thing (they are on swivels, they have a 150 degree firing radius). If they keep a steady supply of rocks available it will take 2 rounds to wench it back, one round to load it 2 round to aim and then fire... so 5 rounds between rocks. Any comments... my main concern is the damage and ranges... I think my mechanics are sound enough....
Dash Branaghan 04-14-05, 12:16 AM	Well, check this out... http://www.globalspec.com/trebuchet/ It might give you some ideas, and you can have fun at the same time. Dash
LordHell 04-14-05, 12:20 AM	Im not sure about Medieval catapults, but some of the best Roman catapults could fire up to around 600 metres, and still be significantly damaging at 400 metres. Roman engineering was probably far superior to their later counterparts right up until the Trebuchet, which also had a range of about 400 metres but threw MUCH larger projectiles. Converting that all into feet gives you a catapult maximum range of about 1800 feet, or range incriments of roughly 180 feet. The damage should also be way higher and it should use a different system. It doesnt matter where you're going to get hit, if you get hit by a catapult rock hurtling through the sky you're going to die. It should be 1d6+20 damage, perhaps even more. Catapults results in ancient times reported peoples body parts being found over 100metres from point of impact.. Also Im not sure if you could use BAB to aim the thing, they dont require dexterity or strength or anything like that. They are wildly inaccurate against small targets, I would probably roll a percentage dice and give the PC's a 5% chance of being hit, with +0.5% per rank in Knowledge(engineering).
Fixxxer 04-14-05, 12:29 AM	Also Im not sure if you could use BAB to aim the thing, they dont require dexterity or strength or anything like that. They are wildly inaccurate against small targets, I would probably roll a percentage dice and give the PC's a 5% chance of being hit, with +0.5% per rank in Knowledge(engineering). I'm fairly sure that the core rules use Profession (siege engineer) for most checks.
Titan W 04-14-05, 12:42 AM	in addition there are acutal rules for catapult daamge in the DMG under a table called siege weapons (Go figure?) I won't say the exact stats but it had a very high crit and about 5D6 damage I think...
LordHell 04-14-05, 12:43 AM	I'm fairly sure that the core rules use Profession (siege engineer) for most checks. Yeah - that sounds about right.
Alynn 04-14-05, 08:41 AM	Holy crap... I looked in the back of the DMG checking the index over and over, and for some reason never looked up siege engine.... Thanks guys... exactly what I need... now I just have to make 2 more evil experts in my town.... and I'll be set. Jeez... I still can't believe I missed it...
twad 04-14-05, 01:07 PM	and dont forget... -many smaller rocks in a shot work well against infantry.. less damage more coverage. -fire projectile is a good thing. Fire.. eheheh... Fire!!
Fixxxer 04-14-05, 09:48 PM	-fire projectile is a good thing. Fire.. eheheh... Fire!! See Gladiator (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/) for a visual on this.
Alynn 04-14-05, 09:55 PM	Most likely the rules will never be needed, like I said unless the players decide to do a full frontal assault in the daylight. With only 60 feet darkvision they wont even be able to see as far as needed to pinpoint the players location... but just in case they get stupid... I wanna be prepared... Again thanks.