Self-destructing catapult?

[Mori Gabriel Syme]

Do catapults ever break?

I ask because I had a seige this weekend for which I used 1 trebeuchet & 1 catapult. At some point during the barrage, the catapult fired a shot & immediately was destroyed. I had not seen any indication previously that the keep's ballista tower was firing on my troops. The closest one was on the back corner of the keep. The only other thing I can think of is that the catapult was at the very end of the ballista range, while the trebeuchet right next to it was just outside range.

[BDC]

Yeah it was probably hit. When I play LAN sieges mine are always destroyed (along with my general http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif).

[Teutonic Knight]

Quote[/b] (BDC @ Feb. 24 2003,14:18)]Yeah it was probably hit. When I play LAN sieges mine are always destroyed (along with my general http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif).
lol, the generals seem to have javelin magnets on their helmets.......ahhhh look out It's coming this way
Don't worry it'll hit the general.....
SMACK

[LordKhaine]

On a semi-related note, I was disapointed when my siege cannon blew itself up. I was expecting a huge BOOM and an explosion. But instead I saw the gun fall apart with a cracking wood sound, leaving the crew still perfectly alive. What a let down http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[Red Harvest]

Siege equipment and cannons are easily destroyed by ballista and catapults in fortifications so equipped. The accuracy of the fortification's weapons is impressive. You rarely see the ballista shot that takes out your equipment. On fortresses you might lose 6 siege engines in short order. Rules I have for assaults:

1. Set up on level or higher ground if possible directly across from the walls I want to breech.
2. Place the engines as far back as possible while still in range of the innermost wall. Also, if possible, select wall with fewer ballistae or catapults.
3. If there is a single close ballista or catapult tower, target it first--the misses often knock down chunks of wall on either side or behind as well, so it is an efficient use of ammo to get rid of overly accurate defensive hardware.
4. Never let your general be in range of ANY castle arrows, ballista, catapult, cannon, etc. The AI is a one shot wonder when it comes to generals.
5. Before starting battle, group your siege equipment and target something immediately on start. They will already be loaded so they get off the first shot unanswered. If you are in range of the defensive fire targeting a catapult or ballista tower immediately like this could save you an engine or even two compared to manually selecting and targeting each engine.

[mav3434]

My strategy in sieges is to plant a big fat unit of peasants or other cheap troops in front of the siege weapons. The AI cant resist targeting all its missile fire on them.

[Beelzebub]

heheh evil http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif, spearmen are probably a better choice, almost as cheap, and heavy large shields.

[Foreign Devil]

Mercs work even better. With enough Inns, you can usually find a few units of byzintine infantry, which can be used to absorb missles or to storm the gates.

[Red Harvest]

Decoys are nice, but the AI won't always target them exclusively. I've found the AI will still target my siege gear even with fellows out there yelling, "Yoohoo, over here" Tends to draw some fire (arrow towers, more distant ballista, catapults that can't reach the big guns) but not necessarily the most damaging heavy stuff that is in range of the gear.

[Forward Observer]

I have mentioned this before, but this topic made me remember it. When you are going to lay seige to a castle, use the mini-map to locate and move your seige engines.

Expand the map out to full screen. It is basically a topographical map with an overhead view of the castle layout. You can select a seige engine or unit on the mini map and also move it by clicking a new location on the mini-map. Now you can move your curser over the castle walls and they will go green when in range just like when you are on the real terrain. Ballista towers and such will also show up on the mini-map when you move you curser over them.

This will easily reveal the best spots for your engines, and also save you a ton of time preparing for a seige .

Cheers

[Mori Gabriel Syme]

Wow, thanks for the tip, Forward Observer. I didn't know that could be done.

[Forward Observer]

I forgot to add that doing this on the mini map is not quite as precise because of the small scale and also you can't see which way the unit is facing, but it is real easy after the initial placement with this method to go back and fine tune your facings and positions on the real terrain.

Cheers.