Oxybeles
(Bolt-Thrower)The scorpion has a vicious, long-range sting.
An ancestor of the medieval crossbow, this dart-firing ballista still required a sizable wooden stand and could not easily be moved by its single crewman. It was accurate at short ranges for sniping individuals, but could also be fired indirectly, with groups of several scorpions often deployed to form a battery in the field. Like the ballista, it was an improvement on the earlier gastraphetes, or belly-bow, and utilised either a composite bow or torsion springs to launch both flighted and flightless bolts. Incredibly powerful for its size, the scorpion required the crewman to ratchet back the drawstring with a windlass and lever. Even so, the rate of fire was high, and a skilled operator could loose three to four bolts a minute while firing indirectly. Easy to construct with the right raw materials, the required metal parts could be transported in the baggage so scorpions could be quickly assembled.
Unit Name Oxybeles |
Main Unit Key Cel_Cheiroballistra |
Land Unit Key Cel_Cheiroballistra |
Naval Unit Key barbarian_transport_small |
Soldiers 40 |
Category Siege Engine |
Class Field Artillery |
Custom Battle Cost 1800 |
Recruitment Cost 1800 |
Upkeep Cost 360 |
39 |
├ Engine cheiroballistra |
├ Missile Weapon rome_cheiroballistra |
├ Projectile bolt |
├ Missile Damage 21 |
├ Missile Ap Damage 18 |
└ Base Reload Time 27 |
Accuracy 5 |
Range 365 |
Reload 8 |
Shots Per Minute 2 |
Ammunition 40 |
Melee Attack 30 |
11 |
├ Melee Weapon axe2 |
├ Weapon Damage 11 |
├ Weapon Deadliness 0 |
├ Armour Piercing Yes |
├ Bonus vs. Cavalry 0 |
├ Bonus vs. Elephants 0 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 0 |
Charge Bonus 15 |
35 |
├ Base Defence 19 |
├ Shield none |
└ Shield Defence 16 |
4 |
├ Armour arm2 |
├ Armour Defence 4 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
20 |
├ Man Entity heavy_light |
├ Man Health 20 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Base Morale 45 |
Abilities
Oxybeles- Stamina (average)
Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat. - Concentrate Fire
The unit fires its missiles towards a spot causing damage to everyone in the area of effect
Attributes
- Cannot Run
This unit cannot run and will only move at walking pace.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Light Transport- Very poor hull strength
- Very slow speed
- Weak ramming
- High damage
- Mobile
- Very accurate
- Short range
- Average rate of fire
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Grand Campaign | |
Samnite Wars | |
Caesar in Gaul | |
Hannibal at the Gates | |
Imperator Augustus |