Catapult, Shipboard

A catapult is an enormous engine capable of throwing rocks or heavy objects with great force.

Ultimate Equipment Guide II

Author Greg Lynch, J. C. Alvarez
Publisher Mongoose Publishing
Publish date 2005

Because the catapult throws its payload in a high arc, it can hit squares out of its line of sight. To fire a catapult, the crew chief makes a special check against DC 15 using only his base attack bonus, Intelligence modifier, range increment penalty and other appropriate modifiers (see DMG). If the check succeeds, the catapult payload hits the square the catapult was aiming at, dealing 4d6 damage (with a stone) to any object or character in that square. Characters who succeed on a DC 15 Reflex save take half damage. Unlike a land-based catapult, a shipboard catapult will not continue to hit the same square with subsequent firings, unless by some strange circumstance the ship on which the catapult is mounted remains absolutely still.

If the catapult stone misses, roll 1d8 to determine where it lands. This determines the misdirection of the throw, with 1 being back toward the catapult and 2 through 8 counting clockwise around the target square. Then, count three squares away from the target square for every range increment of the attack to determine where the catapult’s payload actually lands.

Loading a catapult requires a series of full-round actions. It takes a DC 10 Strength check to winch the throwing arm of the catapult down; most catapults have wheels to allow up to two crew members to use the aid another action, assisting the main winch operator. A DC 15 Profession (siege engineer) skill check latches the arm into place, and then another DC 15 Profession (siege engineer) skill check loads the catapult ammunition. It takes two full round actions to reaim a shipboard catapult (multiple crew members can perform these full-round actions in the same round, so it would take a crew of two only one round to reaim the catapult). By definition, all shipboard catapults are light catapults. They are mounted to the deck, but can swivel to redirect their aim. Shipboard catapults are usually mounted in the bow and/or the stern of the ship. The cost of a shipboard catapult includes the mount.

Catapult, Shipboard: Siege Weapon; 650 gp; Dmg 4d6; Range 150 ft. (100 ft. minimum); Typical Crew 2