Marcomanni (Imperator Augustus) Field Artillery

German Ballista

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 German Ballista

Main Unit Key Ger_Ballista

Land Unit Key Ger_Ballista

Naval Unit Key barbarian_transport_small

Soldiers 40

Category Siege Engine

Class Field Artillery

Custom Battle Cost 1580

Recruitment Cost 700

Upkeep Cost 85

Missile Damage 170

├ Engine ballista_medium

├ Missile Weapon rome_ballista_medium

├ Projectile stone

├ Missile Damage 90

├ Missile Ap Damage 80

└ Base Reload Time 18

Accuracy 5

Range 420

Reload 4

Shots Per Minute 3

Ammunition 20

Melee Attack 9

Weapon Damage 23

├ Melee Weapon rome_shortsword

├ Melee Damage Base 20

├ Melee Damage Ap 3

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 0

├ Bonus vs Elephants 0

└ Bonus vs Infantry 5

Charge Bonus 5

Melee Defence 8

├ Base Defence 8

├ Shield none

└ Shield Defence 0

Armour 27

├ Armour cloth

├ Armour Defence 27

└ Shield Armour 0

Health 60

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_medium

├ Man Health 55

└ Bonus Hit Points 5

Base Morale 35

Abilities

• Quick Reload
  Improved reloading for an extended time.
  Shots per minute
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Cannot Run
  This unit cannot run and will only move at walking pace.
• Resistant to Cold
  This unit tires less quickly in snow.

Strengths & Weaknesses

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

• placeholder

Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Woodworker (barb_craftsmen_wood_2) Level 1 Carpenter (barb_craftsmen_wood_3) Level 2
Lv. 1	Builder's Hall (barb_craftsmen_wood_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Aestii Anartes Bastarnae Cherusci Cimbri Frisii Gutones Lugii Marcomanni German Rebels Rugii Suebi Suebi tribal council
Caesar in Gaul	Nemetes (Caesar in Gaul) German Rebels (Caesar in Gaul) Suebi (Caesar in Gaul) Suebi tribal council (Caesar in Gaul) Vangiones (Caesar in Gaul)
Imperator Augustus	Arii (Imperator Augustus) Buri (Imperator Augustus) Cherusci (Imperator Augustus) Cimbri (Imperator Augustus) Frisii (Imperator Augustus) Gutones (Imperator Augustus) Helisii (Imperator Augustus) Helveconae (Imperator Augustus) Marcomanni (Imperator Augustus) Marcomanni Elders (Imperator Augustus) Nahanarvali (Imperator Augustus) Quadi (Imperator Augustus) German Rebels (Imperator Augustus) Rugii (Imperator Augustus) Semnones (Imperator Augustus)