Weapons | Armor | Special Materials | Miscellaneous


Simple | Martial | Exotic | Ammunition | Firearms | Mods | Siege Engines | Special


Ballista, heavy

Source Ultimate Combat pg. 160

Statistics

Cost 800 gp Weight
Damage 4d8; Critical 19-20/x2; Range 180 ft.; Type P
Crew 3; Aim 2; Load 3; Speed 0 ft.
Category Direct-Fire (Huge); Proficiency Siege Engine

Description

Resembling a massive crossbow, a ballista’s power is provided by twisted skeins of animal sinew used as torsion springs driving a pair of adjustable arms. A cord attached to both arms is winched back and a projectile is loaded into a grooved slider for release. Ballistae are direct-fire weapons.

Light: This common type of ballista, also called an arbalest or scorpion, is size Large, maneuverable, and often mounted atop towers or even vehicles. Light ballistae have a hardness of 5 and 50 hit points. Light ballista bolts cost 10 gp each and weigh 10 pounds.

Heavy: These Huge-sized siege engines are commonly used as castle defenses, as well as on large warships. Heavy ballistae have a hardness of 5 and 100 hit points. Heavy ballista bolts cost 30 gp and weigh 20 pounds each.

Gate Breaker: This massive ballista fires specially weighted quarrels with blunt metal tips. These are used as long-range battering rams, shot at walls or the gates of castles. When they hit a wooden structure, they have a critical range of 19–20/×3. Gate breaker ballistae have a hardness of 5 and 200 hit points. Gate breaker ballista bolts cost 50 gp and weigh 30 pounds each.