Catapults & Trebuchets!

[Steverooo]

Trebuchets Beaucoup.

Feel like launching something? This very well done 174 page, soft-cover book, "The Art of the Catapult," from Chicago Review Press, is full of history, lore and detailed building instructions for all of your better siege engines: ballistae, onagers, trebuchets and catapults. Quite suitable for those medieval school projects (and probably of use to gamers, too, eh?). The peace-loving bonus at the end contains instructions for making a "basket-pult," a table-top basketball game, complete with backboard. By William Gurstulle.
Order Number: 92822 ART OF CATAPULT $16.95 / EACH

The Art of the Catapult

(No, I don't work for, nor profit from AS&S. I just thought some RPGers might like a copy!)

 

[Steverooo]

Just got my copy, yesterday... Haven't had a chance to read it, but I did look it over. Siege artillery from Roman to late Medieval times. Plans for building your own miniatures, if you're a woodworker (and, I suppose they can be scaled up). Includes a lot of date info, if that's of interest to you. (I'm surprised there's so little interest in this, among D&Ders!)

 

[Thomas Percy]

You can find more about siege weapons in Wikipedia.
In the "Heroes of Battle" there are siege weapons rules, but I find it complicated and historicaly inacurate.
In the future release of The Forge "Barony" there will be game mechanics for flame (greek/alchemist fire) throwers, cauldrons and some new siege ammo like vipers, beehives etc.

 

[bolen]

There was a great show on Nova about building a Trebuchet, lots of good physics in there

 

[Steverooo]

In the future release of The Forge "Barony" there will be game mechanics for flame (greek/alchemist fire) throwers, cauldrons and some new siege ammo like vipers, beehives etc.

Just because it's a pet peeve of mine (and for anyone who hasn't noticed), Alchemists' Fire is NOT the same thing as Greek Fire, as water puts it out! Alchemist's Fire is self-igniting, but not water-prrof. Greek Fire is non-self-igniting, but IS water-proof (and probably a higher Craft (Alchemy) DC)!

 

[Steverooo]

There was a great show on Nova about building a Trebuchet, lots of good physics in there

I actually caught that one (they barely made it in time!), as well as the one about archers, and armor, and hand-biting foxes!

 

[The_Gneech]

Trebuchets, catapults, and cannon, oh my!
Trebuchets, catapults, and cannon, oh my!
Trebuchets, catapults, and cannon, oh my!

Or should it be "Trebuchets, catapults, and cavalry, oh my!"?

-The Gneech

No, it's not a useful post, I admit it. But hopefully it was at least a little entertaining...

 

[Steverooo]

Actually, he covers cannon in another book, so I guess it must be "cavalry".

Archers and armor and foxes, oh my!

 

[Piratecat]

Years ago, I almost bought a chest-tall working trebuchet. I wish I had!

 

[The_Gneech]

Well I started with "Trebuchets, catapults, and arquebuses, oh my!" but it didn't scan.

-The Gneech