Matri Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 The Romans also had a catapult that threw a massive spear at great range and as stated the Greeks used them from inside their fortifications to attack ships.In game-speak I believe it's called a "ballista". Looks like a giant crossbow on wheels to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uriaheep Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 In game-speak I believe it's called a "ballista". Looks like a giant crossbow on wheels to me. That's the kiddie - somewhere in a museum in the UK (memory failure) there is a bit of spine (of some unfortunate Briton) that still has the head of one of these things embeded in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kernel Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 If I'm not mistaken the Romans also developed what's known as the Repeating Crossbow. It had a handle that the soldier turned which wound back the line, when the line was fully wound back it tripped a switch that dropped an arrow from a hopper, Continuing to turn the handle caused the arrow to be fired off and the whole process start again. It could fire several arrows per minute but it was horribly inacurate and required two men to operate. I guess it was the Roman equivelent to an early machine gun. Edit: I just found out that the repeating crossbow was the name of the Chinese version. It worked slightly differenty to the roman version but had a similar effect. Edit2: Further searching reveals the Roman Version was called the Repeating Ballista... (obviosly ) and it was used as a siege weapon.https://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/mil_roman_artillery.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uriaheep Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Edit2: Further searching reveals the Roman Version was called the Repeating Ballista... (obviosly ) and it was used as a siege weapon.https://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/mil_roman_artillery.htm You also found the bolt stuck in the spine at this website too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Accounting Troll Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 I would imagine that the repeating ballista would have been best used as a way of installing fear into the enemy. The Britons never used artillery weapons like ballistae, so to go up against something that could throw spears at a target half a kilometre away would have been terrifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uriaheep Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Even if they couldn't get the damn thing to work on the day I guess to Naked Blue Painted Britons, any 'war machine' would seem like very strong magic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Admittedly, not as strong as several thousand charging tribesmen, equipment a-swinging Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matri Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 A couple of land mines should take the fight right out of them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kernel Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Admittedly, not as strong as several thousand charging tribesmen, equipment a-swinging Flaming pigs were one of the best Terror weapons the Romans used against the charging tribesmen.They used to cover the pigs in a sticky oil type substance, light them with a flaming torch and set them running towards the enemy. I suppose it served 2 purposes really... it frightens the enemy away and after the battle you get roasted pork for food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uriaheep Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 A couple of land mines should take the fight right out of them As odd as it sounds there was an ancient equivalent. If a commander held the ground during night, he may send troops out to dig small pits with wooden stakes in them and have them disguised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matri Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 They're called "pit traps". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gungadin Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Lots of nasty weapons used in ye olde days. In ship to ship combat, sealed jars full of angry bees or killer snakes were hurled at enemy ships as terror weapons, in sieges bloated corpses were catapulted over city walls in order to cause plauge and general unhealth and that's not even MENTIONING Greek Fire, an ancient Byzanthian flamethrower. Yes sirree, lotsa fun to be had at an ancient battlefield. I read a National Geographic article on evil weapon use once. Most enlightening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kernel Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Speaking of flame throwers... anyone seen this home made one? Link That guy was nuts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Me and my friends once made one with a petrol can, some rubber tubing, a car battery and a pump. It self destructed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matri Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 ... I hope none of you were wearing it at the time.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 No, we'd all retreated to a safe distance when the pump started melting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kernel Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Home made mortars are better, easier to make too... Piece of drainpipe, tin can with the top cut off, lighter fuel, and LOTS of tennis balls.Stick the can to one end of the drainpipe, fill it with a bit of lighter fuel. Drop the tennis ball down the drainpipe and light the fuel... You get a nice "THOMP" sound followed by a tennis ball flying 200 feet into the air, in whatever direction you have the mortar pointing. DON'T TRY THIS INDOORS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uriaheep Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 One better, nice hot brazier, 2 feet of 2 inch steam pipe thrust well into bazier, one full tin of wd40 droped down pipe, handfull of gravel thrown down pipe. RUNNNNNN! Don't try this at all. I did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivory Posted December 3, 2005 Author Share Posted December 3, 2005 christmas shopping is the WORST experience of my whole life, next year i shall be returning to tradition and doign it all int eh sunny, dry, uncluttered month of JULY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strong Bob Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 In my home-city, around the mid 90s, two 30-something year old women engaged in unarmed combat at the local Toys R Us. A crowd formed, as their children watched, when one woman broke the arm of the other. They were fighting over a "Tickle-me Elmo". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Truly, a cause worth fighting for. To date, an opened bottle of salad cream has been in my possession for three years and counting, and has still not gone off. I presume it's used to coat bunkers in perparation for World War III Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kernel Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Yes we've had things like that happen in our house. We once had a bottle of milk that lasted a full 3 weeks past it's Best Before date before going off. We guessed that either they got the date wrong or it passed a little too close to a nuclear reactor on the way to the shop. Reminds me of those Pot Noodle things... hmmm... Chicken Flavour.... yes... the closest it's been to a chicken was when it passed the chicken farm on the way to the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uriaheep Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Flavour? ....... in a Pot Noodle? .......... never. What will they think of next? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivory Posted December 5, 2005 Author Share Posted December 5, 2005 remind me never to accept food or drink in ANY of your homes ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FullAuto Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Hey, Beef and tomato Pot Noodles are beautiful, ok? You just need to make them right. Don't blame the Pot Noodle for your inept timing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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