Any official rules for ballistas and catapults?

[zoroaster100]

I thought I remembered seeing official rules for ballistas and catapults in the core books, but maybe I'm confusing this with 1st edition, which had such rules in the DM's Guide. Can someone help me out and point me to such rules for D&D3.5, if they exist?

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I thought I remembered seeing official rules for ballistas and catapults in the core books, but maybe I'm confusing this with 1st edition, which had such rules in the DM's Guide. Can someone help me out and point me to such rules for D&D3.5, if they exist?

I'm pretty sure they are covered in Heroes of Battle. Can't recall any other sources off the top of my head.

 

[Arkhandus]

Pages 151 and 152 in the 3.0 Dungeon Master's Guide, or whatever pages correspond in the 3.5 DMG. The end of Chapter 5: Campaigns.

 

[Ranger REG]

You might want to check your Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5 as well as Heroes of Battle

 

[frankthedm]

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/wilderness.htm#siegeEngines

Ballista
A ballista is essentially a Huge heavy crossbow fixed in place. Its size makes it hard for most creatures to aim it. Thus, a Medium creature takes a -4 penalty on attack rolls when using a ballista, and a Small creature takes a -6 penalty. It takes a creature smaller than Large two full-round actions to reload the ballista after firing.

A ballista takes up a space 5 feet across.

Ballista 500 gp, 3d8 19-20crit 120 ft. increment, 1 crew member


I actually recommend treating material AC bonus [totalof armor, natural, shield] 8 points lower and changing the damage to 3d6+8. But i like slightly more dangerous crossbows...

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

Heroes of Battle does indeed have advanced rules for siege weapons.

 

[zoroaster100]

Frankthedm, I like your suggestion for ballistas ignoring the first 8 points of "armor" (natural, armor and shield AC). That makes the ballistas worth while and approximates somewhat the way they worked in first edition D&D (where I think they basically attacked against the equivalent of the target's touch AC).

But the rules should have also provided for two Medium creatures or four Small creatures operating a ballista as effectively as one Large creature (no attack penalty, and reload once per round).

 

[irishfast]

yeah, because two humans could easily reload a giant crossbow once every six seconds...

 

[Dagger of Lath]

But the rules should have also provided for two Medium creatures or four Small creatures operating a ballista as effectively as one Large creature (no attack penalty, and reload once per round).

Wield oversized weapon?

 

[Goldmoon]

Can you sneak attack with a ballista?