Ballista Box

aka thorn throwers, pincushion machines

Cost: 700 gp
Range: 2 hexes(1,000 yds)
Damage: 2d4 each missle
Crew: 1(to fire), 3(to reload)
Rate of Fire: special
THACO: 15

Ballista boxes are a new invention that have begun appearing through-out the spheres as the weapon of choice for attacking groundling settlements. No one knows who exactly invented these weapons, although many races have taken credit for them. These are war machines that fire a dozen, four foot long missles. The missles are similar to spears, although some users have developed miniature versions of the projectiles that ballistas fire(the ones with the barbed heads). The boxes have cylindrical tubes on the front facing of the weapon, and tightly coiled springs in the base of the box that shoot out the projectiles with devastating force. The rear of the box can be opened to re-coil the springs through the use of hand cranks. The box can be reloaded of it's missles from the front. The missle tubes are reinforced with thin sheets of metal that are specially fitted for the weapon.

The boxes are usually fitted onto swivel stands that can be swung upwards or downwards in a 180 degree angle. The missles do not fall out if the box is swung down, as the projectiles are pushed into the springs until they are released. The positioning allows for easy reloading in a battle. Reloading takes 4 rounds for a single volley, or 12 rounds for a full volley.

The firing mechanism is usually a lever near the machine. Pulling on the lever causes four missles to be fired at one time, and subsequent pulling of the lever will cause the weapon to discharge its missles unto all are fired. Pushing forward on the lever will fire all twelve missles. Any firing mode requires one attack. Also, you may want to use the direct fire modifiers on p. 159 in C&T.

Ballista boxes can be mounted on the decks of SJ vessels. These have the same stats, although they may have a bigger payload, and can be swiveled in a 360 degree circle.

Some groundling communities have acquired ballista boxes as well. The groundlings have found that ballista boxes are not that effective against SJ craft, but are mostly interested in using them to keep SJ crews that are attacking them preoccupied, or against dragons and other flying creatures.

The giff have tried using smokepowder to propel the missles in the ballista boxes, instead of springs. On the few times this has been successful, the range and damage have doubled. But more often than not, the boxes have blown up, killing the unfortunate giff.