A catapult was a large ranged weapon typically used to lay siege to a fortified structure. They were also mounted on ships for naval combat[5] as well as on spelljammers for battles in space.[2]
Description[]
A catapult from the De'Arnise Hold in Amn.
Catapults were siege engines capable of launching heavy missiles at a target. Most converted tension or torsion energy that was slowly and manually built up within the device before release, via springs, bows, twisted rope, elastic, or any of numerous other materials and mechanisms.[1]
It was capable of launching a number of different missiles, from large stones to flaming ammunition. Biological payloads such as dead animals or containers of raw sewage have also been used.[1][6]
Due to their size, catapults required a dedicated and trained crew to operate. Large, heavy catapults required a crew of up to ten individuals, while smaller lighter ones only up to six individuals.[1]
Catapults found on marine vessels were usually aimed and shot in only one direction.[3] Catapults used during sieges were mobile but once positioned had limited angles of fire.[7]
Varieties[]
- Onager
- A light variety of catapult,[1][8] named after onagers for their kicking recoil.[9] In the Western Heartlands, the town of Hluthvar had onagers atop its fortified wells.[10]
Notable Catapult Owners[]
- Retsotnert Doogrick: an eccentric gnome inventor was a known builder and user of catapults, sometime before 1372 DR.[11]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
- Novels
- The Council of Blades
- Video Games
- Referenced only
- Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford
External Links[]
Catapult article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.- Onager (weapon) article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 108. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jeff Grubb (August 1989). “Concordance of Arcane Space”. Spelljammer: AD&D Adventures in Space (TSR, Inc.), p. 41. ISBN 0-88038-762-9.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 87. ISBN 978-1560763208.
- ↑ Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 100. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 53. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 54. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 109. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
- ↑ Bruce A. Heard (November 1993). “Ready, Aim, Fire!”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #199 (TSR, Inc.), p. 97.
- ↑ Terry Edwards (July 2003). “Paragons of War: The Ecology of Hobgoblins”. In Jesse Decker ed. Dragon #309 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 57.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1994). Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast. (TSR, Inc), p. 200. ISBN 1-5607-6940-1.
- ↑ Ossian Studios (June 2018). Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford. Beamdog.