Technology Era

[PA] NotUncleDave · February 23rd, 2008, 3:14 pm

put in a steampunk version of this and you got yourself a sale

idanwin · Post by **idanwin** » February 23rd, 2008, 7:02 pm

A ballista bolt and cannon ball both fly in a slight bow which (I think) makes them close family. That's why I thought the ballista-operator would buy a cannon to replace his overused (or underused) ballista.

Post by AI » February 23rd, 2008, 9:12 pm

siege weapons can be categorised into ballistas (bolt throwers) and catapults (stone throwers)

90% of modern (and 100% of (european) medieval) firearms are of the second type (see Flechette)

The most curved trajectories come from low-speed weapons, generally types of bows and crossbows. (modern artillery works not by firing slowly, but by firing upwards (>45 degree angle))

Darker_Dreams · Post by **Darker_Dreams** » February 24th, 2008, 6:20 am

As for the blasting powder; I don't know if it's still like this, but when I played the South Guard there is a part in the last scenario where, if you pay off the trolls, they provide powder gotten from killing dwarves and you can blow a back way into the lich's chamber...

If this isn't supposed to be black powder, and we don't want the secrets of dwarven guns getting about, maybe this piece needs rethought if it's a mainline scenario.

Post by AI » February 24th, 2008, 6:59 am

they have no idea how to make any of their own, and the dialogue implies they simply took whatever the dwarves had left.

As to using it, maybe if you see people using it often enough it becomes pretty obvious?

appleide · Post by **appleide** » February 24th, 2008, 7:15 am

idanwin: Hmm, so I take it you've drawn several images of catapults and onagers?