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Bombard

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This article is about the siege weapon. For the southern magic spell of the same name, see bombard (spell).

Bombards, sometimes referred to as cannons,[2] were a rare type of large siege engine used on spelljammers[2][3] and maritime ships.[4] The artillerists who manned bombards were sometimes referred to as bombardiers.[7]

Description[]

The typical bombard consisted of a short, thick barrel that was cast from wrought iron or bronze and set within a rigid wooden base.[8][9] The standard bombard was divided into two types, light[1][6] and heavy.[6] Light bombards were otherwise known as "firesticks",[1] while heavy bombards were otherwise referred to colloquially as "hurlpits" or more formally as "farhurlers". The former derived from the fact that pits tended to be created when the stones they hurled landed.[10] On some worlds a cannon might have a wooden frame with wheels to support it,[11] but the bombards of Toril lacked any such gun-carriages.[12][note 1]

Weaponology[]

Bombards required a crew of at least three to man them.[2] They fell under the siege weapon category of "bombardment engines". Much like other weapons within that category, such as catapults and trebuchets,[13] bombards were direct-fire weapons[6] that fired their missiles in high arcs.[13]

The missiles fired by bombards were typically large spheres of stones or cast iron.[14][15] These were referred to as either "cannonballs"[15][16] or "bombard shot".[15] And on rare occasions necromancers created boneballs of skeletal undead to fire at enemy ships, which would turn into a shower of lacerating bone shards if not magically protected.[14]

Much like other firearms, bombards required either gunpowder[2][11][17][18] or smokepowder to fire.[2][4][17][19] The choice of powder was dependent upon availability and the metaphysical laws of a given crystal sphere.[2][17] Regardless of whichever was used, bombards consumed large,[2][4][17][19] coming down to roughly ten charges of smokepowder.[2][19][8][4]

The firing of a bombards was followed by a thunderously loud noise.[12][8][9] Their rate of fire was rather slow, as they needed to be cooled and cleaned of debris after every firing. And they were subject to misfiring.[8][9]

Availability[]

ME-Shot

A selection of cannon shot types.

  • Bombards were considered to be quite rare and expensive[3][20] on both the world of Toril[20] and across the Known Spheres.[2][3] In both cases, this was partially due to bombards being viewed as rather dangerous weapons to use[2][3][20] and the scarcity of smokepowder.[2][19][21] On Toril, they were a danger to most ships, as firing one could send most styles of ship rolling from side-to-side.[21] For spelljammers this "dangerous nature" was most apparent in the phlogiston where, due to its flammable nature, bombards were never used when traveling through that vacuum.[2][22][23] Beyond Toril, their rarity was partially due to the variable nature of gunpowder and smokepowder across the Known Spheres,[2][23] which made them unreliable compared to other forms of spelljammer armaments.[2][23]
  • The arcane, an influential race of spacefaring merchants, were known to sell bombards and smokepowder charges, the latter of which they typically sold for 3,000 gp. They often threw in two to five charges for free to anyone that bought a bombard from them.[19]
  • The Smiths' Coster trading company, who sold various firearms across wildspace.[24]
  • Beyond the Prime Material plane, bombards could be found in some parts of the Domains of Dread, though they were considered to be fairly unreliable. Unlike the bombards of the Prime, these weapons were not cast, but rather fashioned from wood or metal strips and bound together wlth iron rings.[25][note 2]

Varieties[]

ME-Cannon

An elevated bombard.

Due to their size and crudeness, instances of magical bombards were incredibly rare,[26] though slightly more common in wildspace.[27]

  • Great bombards, a variety of spelljammers unique to the giff, were so named for being armed with single massive bombard made of cold iron and banded with steel rings. This bombard replaced the spelljammer's prow and ran half the length of the entire ship. Unlike normal bombards, they required twenty charges of smokepowder for a single shot.[28]
  • Inferno bombards, a pair of experimental bombards that were invented in the 15th century DR by the fire giant warlord Baron Ugarak and whose construction were overseen by the azer smith Hadutha. Rather than firing balls of stone or iron, these bombards were designed to fire huge globs of elemental fire.[29] They were ultimately sabotaged by a group of adventurers before they could be tested in battle against the town of Secomber.[30]
  • Thayan bombards, a variety of bombards that were created by the Red Wizards of Thay[31] sometime after having learned of the developments being made by the Lantanna.[10] They were far larger and more powerful than standard bombards.[14] They did not require smokepowder for their propulsion and functioning, but rather some arcane means known only to the Red Wizards.[14][32]

History[]

The first recorded usage of bombards by the people of Lantan occurred early in the Year of Burning Steel, 1246 DR.[33][34] These early bombards used gunpowder, as the substance had not yet been made inert on Toril and because the Lantanna had yet to discover and perfect the recipe for smokepowder.[35]

The wizard Elminster felt this development was significant enough to warrant arranging a private meeting with Storm Silverhand to discuss them. Through the use of his magic he showed a visual display of the bombard testing and mused that they would likely be put to use in mainland Faerûn before the year was out. Storm reasoned that it was likely rulers throughout the Realms would send mages to either capture or kill the makers of this new weapon, then asked if she should slay them first, but Elminster admonished that he already asked Mystra and she forbade it. Instead, Elminster instructed Storm to travel with the Harper Aumarra Kethtan to Lantan and protect its people from any would-be "murderous capturing mages".[12]

Meanwhile, Thayan spies had also observed the tests being conducted in Lantan and reported back to their Red Wizard masters. The Red Wizards determined that it was crucial for them to have command of such weapons themselves, beginning development on what would become the Thayan bombard.[10]

After gunpowder was rendered inert in 1356 DR, all further developments in standard bombards would be done with smokepowder.[35] And despite Elminster's concerns, the Lantanna still had yet to export their bombards to mainland Faerûn by 1358 DR.[36] This was potentially due in part to the fact that bombards, along with many other inventions of the Lantanna, were of concern to both the Harpers organization and the nation of Halruaa due to their great potential for destruction. Both groups heavily monitored the island nation, with the Halruaans observing from high above in their skyships.[1] The Thayan bombard as well did not see much action outside of Thay itself,[10][37] due in part to the Red Wizards wanting to maintain secrecy with their weapon.[10]

By the 15th century DR, the usage of bombards on Toril remained in a state of relative rarity. This was due to gun-carriages being uncommon, which made bombards dangerous to use on most ships, and shortages in smokepowder in the wake of the Spellplague.[21]

Notable Users[]

Buildings, Nations, & Settlements[]

  • The castle Greatgard was rumored to have bombards.[38]
  • The Navy of Waterdeep was outfitted with bombards.[14]

Individuals[]

Races & Sentient Creatures[]

  • The spacefaring giff highly favored the use of bombards.[27][41] They were one of two races most responsible for proliferating bombards throughout wildspace.[27]
  • Whenever lizardfolk manned hammerships within crystal spheres where smokepowder was readily available, they were liable to outfit them with bombards in place of the standard ballistae and catapults.[42]
  • The scro, a highly advanced breed of orc feared throughout the crystal spheres, was also known to utilize bombards.[43]
  • Tinker gnomes, a variety of gnome that originated from the world of Krynn, highly favored the use of bombards and were the other race most responsible for proliferating them throughout wildspace.[27]

Spelljammers[]

  • Armadas, the largest of elven-made spelljammers, were sometimes outfitted with three bombards.[44] Their predecessor, the monarch armada, were typically outfitted with two.[45]
  • Some configuration of dragonflies were outfitted with a bombard.[46]
  • Dragonships were frequently outfitted with bombards.[47]
  • Firevipers, a heavily armed modification of viperships, were typically outfitted with two bombards in place of ballistae.[48]
  • Tsunamis, the largest of the spelljammers that operated in Realmspace, were typically outfitted with six bombards.[49]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Such a gun-carriage is depicted in the pages of Saturday Morning Adventures II 2. Until another Realms-specific source gives a description of a bombard or cannon with wheels, we assume that the artist was in error.
  2. ↑ More specifically, bombards were found in Domains of Dread where the cultural level was Chivalric.

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Adventures

Under the Dark Fist • Dungeon #36, "The Sea of Sorrow" • Dungeon #66, "Operation Manta Ray"

Novels & Short Stories

Passage to Dawn
Referenced only
Azure Bonds • Masquerades

Comics

Saturday Morning Adventures II (#2)

Video Games

Treasures of the Savage Frontier • Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

Hammer of Fire • The Iron Baron

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ed Greenwood (September 1993). The Code of the Harpers. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 39. ISBN 1-56076-644-1.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 42. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 26. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), pp. 12–13. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  5. ↑ Curtis Scott (1992). The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook. Edited by Barbara G. Young. (TSR, Inc.), p. 71. ISBN 1-56076-347-7.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Richard Baker, Joseph D. Carriker, Jr., Jennifer Clarke Wilkes (August 2005). Stormwrack. Edited by John D. Rateliff, John Thompson. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 103. ISBN 0-7869-3689-4.
  7. ↑ Richard Baker, Joseph D. Carriker, Jr., Jennifer Clarke Wilkes (August 2005). Stormwrack. Edited by John D. Rateliff, John Thompson. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 82. ISBN 0-7869-3689-4.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Richard Baker, Skip Williams (1995). Player's Option: Combat & Tactics. (TSR, Inc), p. 154. ISBN 0-7869-0096-2.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Grant Boucher, Troy Christensen, Arthur Collins and Nigel Findley (May 1990). The Castle Guide. Edited by William W. Connors. (TSR, Inc.), p. 103. ISBN 0-88038-837-4.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Ed Greenwood (2024-02-05). "History of Thayan Bombards". Greenwood's Grotto (Discord).
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 255. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 127. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Richard Baker, Skip Williams (1995). Player's Option: Combat & Tactics. (TSR, Inc), p. 155. ISBN 0-7869-0096-2.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Ed Greenwood, The Hooded One (2006-11-29). Questions for Ed Greenwood (2006). Candlekeep Forum. Archived from the original on 2024-02-05. Retrieved on 2024-02-05.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  16. ↑ Stormfront Studios (1992). Designed by Mark Buchignani, Don L. Daglow. Treasures of the Savage Frontier. Strategic Simulations, Inc.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Richard Baker, Joseph D. Carriker, Jr., Jennifer Clarke Wilkes (August 2005). Stormwrack. Edited by John D. Rateliff, John Thompson. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 104. ISBN 0-7869-3689-4.
  18. ↑ Keith Francis Strohm (August 1998). “Warships of the Sea”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #250 (TSR, Inc.), p. 49.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 45. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 81. ISBN 978-1560763208.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters archiveurl and archivedate must be both specified or both omitted. Ed Greenwood (2016-10-25). Ed Greenwood's Alter Ego (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-05-16. Retrieved on 2024-02-03.
  22. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 40. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  24. ↑ Roger E. Moore (August 1996). “Sorcerous Six-Shooters”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #232 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 37–38.
  25. ↑ William W. Connors, Steve Miller (August 1997). Domains of Dread. Edited by Miranda Horner, Cindi Rice. (TSR, Inc.), p. 22. ISBN 0-7869-0672-3.
  26. ↑ Roger E. Moore (August 1996). “Sorcerous Six-Shooters”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #232 (TSR, Inc.), p. 36.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Roger E. Moore (August 1996). “Sorcerous Six-Shooters”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #232 (TSR, Inc.), p. 37.
  28. ↑ Dale "slade" Henson (March 1992). “Ship Recognition Manual”. In Jon Pickens ed. War Captain's Companion (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 1-56076-343-4.
  29. ↑ Bill Benham (2016). The Iron Baron (DDEP5-01) (PDF). Edited by Claire Hoffman, Travis Woodall. D&D Adventurers League: Storm King's Thunder (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20.
  30. ↑ Bill Benham (2016). The Iron Baron (DDEP5-01) (PDF). Edited by Claire Hoffman, Travis Woodall. D&D Adventurers League: Storm King's Thunder (Wizards of the Coast), p. 5.
  31. ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 105. ISBN 978-0786901395.
  32. ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 45. ISBN 978-1560763208.
  33. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), Running the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 16. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
  34. ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 126–127. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Ed Greenwood (2021-07-08). When Gunpowder Went Inert (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2021-07-08. Retrieved on 2021-07-08.
  36. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), pp. 12–13. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  37. ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Monstrous Compendium”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 978-0786901395.
  38. ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 209. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.
  39. ↑ R.A. Salvatore (August 2008). Passage to Dawn. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 7, p. ?. ISBN 978-0786949113.
  40. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Lorebook of the Void”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 48. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  41. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Lorebook of the Void”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 84. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  42. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Lorebook of the Void”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 39. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  43. ↑ Curtis Scott (1992). The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook. Edited by Barbara G. Young. (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 1-56076-347-7.
  44. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Lorebook of the Void”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 44. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  45. ↑ Dale "slade" Henson (March 1992). “Ship Recognition Manual”. In Jon Pickens ed. War Captain's Companion (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 1-56076-343-4.
  46. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Lorebook of the Void”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 19. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  47. ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Lorebook of the Void”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 37. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
  48. ↑ Dale "slade" Henson (March 1992). “Ship Recognition Manual”. In Jon Pickens ed. War Captain's Companion (TSR, Inc.), p. 52. ISBN 1-56076-343-4.
  49. ↑ Dale "slade" Henson (April 1991). Realmspace. Edited by Gary L. Thomas, Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc), pp. 94–96. ISBN 1-56076-052-4.
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