The War Machines of Ikros

The Ikros' War Machines
Ulmerad's Siege Engines

Ballista
Range: 70 Yards
Description: This siege engine works on the same premise of the crossbow, just on a much larger scale. The bolts it fires are the size of spears, and takes a relatively short time to reload. This siege engine is carried from place to place, and set up on the battlefield. Three men are assigned to work it, and it is typically employed at the start of a battle. It can be used during a siege, but it's only real use then is to pick off archers from a fortified wall.
Damage: The damage that is incured by a Ballista is limited. It can only damage things in a straight line, and is best used against cavalry.

Siege Cannon
Range: 75 - 200 Yards
Description: The siege cannon is a very primative version of the modern cannon. Using very coarse and unrefined black powder, and unreliable iron barrels, siege cannons have a history of blowing up on their owners. However, a successful shot is usually well worth the effort. The siege cannon is very inaccurate, and after 75 yards, targets become harder to hit. After 200 yards, its near impossible to aim at anything. The siege cannon can fire any charge that will fit into the barrel, including large hammer shaped spears like the one shown.
Damage: A successful hit by a siege cannon is devistating. An exploding charge can destroy most stone walls, and anyone caught in the blast will have small chance of walking away.

Catapult
Range: 80 Yards
Description: This weapon of war is based on the principal of a lever. A large weight is placed upon one end of a throwing arm, and a projectile is place on the other. When the lock is removed, the arm is released, and gravity pulls the weight down, swinging the arm and launching the pojectile. Though it is very slow to reload, it's strength is it's ability to fire almost anything. At least five men are needed to fire one of these.
Damage: Damage done by a catapult varies with the projectile. Most, however, will do a surround effect, everything around the point of impact will be hit hard by shrapnel, or the object itself.

Trebuchet (treb-yoo-shay)
Range: 250+ yards (this model has a range in excess of 5 feet)
Description: The siege ending engine, the Trebuchet is an enormous modified catapult. Notice the minifigure in the bottom right corner. It works on the same principal as the catapult, except the weight is a swinging 'basket', this allows the swing arm to be pulled down faster and with more stability. Also, the projectile used is placed in a sling attached to the swing arm, one end attached permanently, the other on a hook. The length of the sling actually adds to the over all length of the swing arm. As the weight swings down, the projectile actually first travels backward, away from the target, making a large half circle before being released as the sling slips out of the hook on the swing arm. Thirty men must be employed to fire this massive weapon. It's slow to fire, and must be assembled at a siege.
Damage: The damage done by a Trebuchet is absolutely massive. Stone shot used for this weapon can weigh more than 200 lbs, and any wall in its path is obliterated.

This model is not entirely finished. It lacks a working locking mechanism and a minifig scale reloading device.

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