Roman Polybolos

Recruitment Cost 620
Upkeep Cost 120
Missile Damage 85
Range 260
Shots Per Minute 13
Ammunition 60
Melee Attack 9
Weapon Damage 24
Charge Bonus 6
Melee Defence 14
Armour 40
Health 45
Base Morale 35
Abilities
Strengths & Weaknesses
  • High damage
  • Accurate
  • Average range
  • Very high rate of fire
Description

The polybolos was a repeating bolt thrower developed from the ballista and scorpion. A chain mechanism drew, loaded and released bolts from a gravity-fed magazine as quickly as a handle could be turned. Supposedly invented by Dionysius of Alexandria, the polybolos was quite a complex machine: as the operator turned a windlass handle, the bow was tensioned as a launching shuttle pulled back, an arrow dropped into place, and finally a catch was released to fire the machine. The process repeated as long as the operator worked. All he needed was a loader to keep the magazine filled. Efficient and deadly, the polybolos had the greatest rate of fire of all ancient war machines.

Requires
Buildings
Faction Availability