

Iberian Bastion Ballista
There is nothing wrong with testing enemy courage with a giant bow and arrow.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.
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Unit Name Iberian Bastion Ballista |
Main Unit Key Ibe_Ballista_Bastion |
Land Unit Key Ibe_Ballista_Bastion |
Naval Unit Key barbarian_transport_small |
Soldiers 40 |
Category Siege Engine |
Class Field Artillery |
Custom Battle Cost 560 |
Recruitment Cost 560 |
Upkeep Cost 85 |
Missile Damage 170 |
├ Engine ballista_medium_bastion |
├ Missile Weapon rome_ballista_medium_bastion |
├ Projectile stone_ballista_bastion |
├ Missile Damage 90 |
├ Missile Ap Damage 80 |
└ Base Reload Time 18 |
Accuracy 5 |
Range 460 |
Reload 20 |
Shots Per Minute 4 |
Ammunition 30 |
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 55 |
├ Man Entity rome_infantry_medium |
├ Man Health 55 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Base Morale 35 |
Abilities
Iberian Bastion Ballista- 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.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Light Transport- Very poor hull strength
- Very slow speed
- Weak ramming
- Very accurate
- Very long range
- Fast rate of fire
- Lower damage than other artillery
- Easily destroyed
Garrison Buildings | |
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Hundred
(barb_city_3) Level 2 |
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Industry Oppidum
(barb_city_industry_4) Level 3 ![]()
Trade Oppidum
(barb_city_trade_4) Level 3 ![]()
Tribal Oppidum
(barb_city_tribal_4) Level 3 |
Faction Availability | |
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Grand Campaign | |
Caesar in Gaul | |
Hannibal at the Gates | |
Imperator Augustus |