Ardiaei Fixed Artillery

Megas Lithobolos

At close targets, a ballista could be aimed effectively but accuracy came at a cost in range; it could fire around 500 metres. The machine used two torsion springs with levers inserted into twisted ropes made from animal sinew, giving incredible power for its size. Firing either solid shot or bolts, it was equally effective against infantry or cavalry, but could also be deployed to destroy light fortifications during sieges. Originally developed by the Greeks around 400BC, and based on the oversized Oxybeles composite bow, ballistae were widely used by many cultures of the period, including the Romans. Later Roman versions included adjustable caps that enabled crews to quickly alter the tension of each sinew bundle to provide balance and therefore improve accuracy.

Unit Name Megas Lithobolos

Main Unit Key Gre_Giant_Ballista

Land Unit Key Gre_Giant_Ballista

Naval Unit Key pel_transport

Soldiers 40

Category Siege Engine

Class Fixed Artillery

Custom Battle Cost 1980

Recruitment Cost 1980

Upkeep Cost 330

Missile Damage 85

├ Engine ballista_giant

├ Missile Weapon rome_ballista_giant

├ Projectile stone_large

├ Missile Damage 47

├ Missile Ap Damage 38

└ Base Reload Time 33

Accuracy 5

Range 565

Reload 8

Shots Per Minute 2

Ammunition 30

Melee Attack 28

Weapon Damage 13

├ Melee Weapon falx1

├ Weapon Damage 13

├ Weapon Deadliness 0

├ Armour Piercing Yes

├ Bonus vs. Cavalry 2

├ Bonus vs. Elephants 30

└ Bonus vs Infantry 1

Charge Bonus 20

Melee Defence 29

├ Base Defence 13

├ Shield none

└ Shield Defence 16

Armour 8

├ Armour arm4

├ Armour Defence 8

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 20

├ Man Entity medium_light

├ Man Health 20

└ Bonus Hit Points 0

Base Morale 55

Abilities

• 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

No Attribute

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

• Accurate
• Very long range
• Average rate of fire
• More damage than normal Ballista
• More hit points than normal Ballista
• Immobile

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Ardiaei Ardiaei Tribal Council Daorsi Dalmatae Illyrian Rebels
Imperator Augustus	Illyrian Rebels (Imperator Augustus)