[BigbysBackhand]

After being assigned to helping in the defense of the city walls from attacks and training the new recruits for such purpose I test fired several of the new siege engines posted around the walls. The Balistas in my oppinion seem to be the most useful as they have a wide array of ammunition choices, as did the catapults, however many of the shots fired by said catapults were lost to sight and the devastatation and effective range on the field was hard to determine. //i think the range on several of the shots might be too long, as i never saw them land in the NE sector they are facing and therefore saw no effect those i did see however are pretty cool :D// Also, the walls must not fall for the siege engines could then be turned inwards towards the city and cause all sorts of havoc, perhaps some sort of anchoring device to prevent this, or preventive measures to keep them from ever falling into enemy hands. I recomend two men firing teams at the least, as aiming the machines is somewhat difficult and would be be unfeasable against a swiftly moving target while also trying to load and fire the shots.

*signed and sealed*
Sgt. Aerin Stormbringer Priador Legion

[Balanor]

Well done, sergeant. You have my thanks and I will pass on your findings to the Tribunes and Tharchion. However, I would like to offer a few suggestions for you -
1. Seige Ammunition can be used on any piece of artillery. The ammunition itself is what determines how far it will travel, while the seige equipment itself simply launches it in a different manner. For example, Ballistas will launch any of the ammunition in a straight line, or slightly arced trajectory, to the target location - while catapults will shoot it high into the air, which may result in you losing sight of it, only to hurtle almost straight down at the target location.
2. But your feedback on the ranges of the ammunition is also vitally important. If you still can't see where certain ammuntion lands, then report back what type of ammunition that is and we will request the Red Wizard Apprentices charged with making it try to reduce the effective range. Note also that, on each piece of seige ammunition, the effective range is listed in meters. This may be easier to test with ballista as you can see the entire path the ammunition takes when fired.
3. While I have the utmost faith you will die before you see the walls fall, in worst case scenarios and before you perish defending the walls, you may destroy the seige equipment so they may not be turned on our own positions. HOWEVER, this is a double-edged sword as you must also defend against any attackers trying to breach the walls who are targetting the seige engines as well.

Keep up the good work sergeant, and I look forward to continued reports from you, your legionnaires, and your superiors in regard to the operation of these vital defensive placements.

In the service of Thay,
Master Sergeant Samuel Martin

[BigbysBackhand]

Thank you Master Sergeant, I will relay your orders concerning the siege equipment incase of emergency I will give my life and that of my men for the Priador before they fall into enemy hands. A list is to follow with a key at the bottom concerning the use of the various ammunitions in the different machines after several rounds of testing.

......................Catapult.............Arbalest Ballista.......Homing Fire Ballista
Acid Bomb........F T F..................F T F.....................F T F
Discus Bomb.....I A.....................Fires E..................Fires E
Flame Bomb.....I A.....................Fires E...................Fires E
Pulse Bomb......Fires E................Fires E...................Fires E
Rock Bomb.......F T F..................I A.........................I A
Snow Bomb......F T F..................F T F.....................F T F
Sound Bomb.....F T F..................F T F.....................F T F
Key: F T F= Fired to Far IA= Invalid Ammo Fires E= Fires Effectively

All three kinds of ballista bolts fired effectively out of both kinds of ballista. Thank you for your personal oversight in ths matter Master Sergeant.

*Signed and Sealed*
Sergeant Aerin Stormbringer
// by F T F i mean that they either reached the edge of the map before showing any visual effect or were lost in the "fog" of the effective view of a PC fully zoomed in and I saw no "boom" of any sort. My personal favorite is the Discus bomb btw :D sorry for all the periods but only way i could get it to actually do a list like how i wanted it to show. //

---

*another small note left on the master sergeants desk* I have also had a few thoughts on the training of the men, if you would authorize a few training dummies placed in the firing field so we might better learn how to aim, and which shots to best utilize. I plan on training three men fire teams for each weapon one to aim, one to fire, and one to take the spot of another should they die, i would also ask for a detachement of archers to cover the posistion from retalition during reload times.

I also thought it would be entertaining and perhaps proffitable to sell tickets to the populace and take bets on the outcome or distance by use of the catapult to execute prisoners by launching them with the machine, this came to me after seeing a few of the Gnoll soldiers load a goblin into it and firing...unfortunatly the goblin got stuck in one of the trees and is now rotting there..

Signed,
Sgt. Aerin Stormbringer

[kta]

btw :D sorry for all the periods but only way i could get it to actually do a list like how i wanted it to show. //

There is always the option to insert formated code :) Anyway good posts!

KTA

[Balanor]

Sergeant,
As you know, being a legionnaire is an 'entreprenuerial activity' in Thay. If you can make coin while still adequately performing the duties given you - then so be it. I appreciate your initiative in this matter. I agree that 3 men fire teams are necessary and appropriate. Get those teams setup!

Combat dummies will be placed on the Bezantur firing range within the next day or two.

I have passed on your finding to the Red Wizards and have been assured ranges will be adjust 'sometime', and that ammunition will be properly modified to fit in all seige engines. I cannot say how soon this will happen, however I would hope they adjust it within the next few tendays. Once I have word it has been done, I shall let you know so further testing can be done.

In the service of Thay,
Master Sergeant Samuel Martin

[Balanor]

Sergeant,
I have been 'kindly' informed by the Red Wizards working on our concerns that not all ammunition is meant, or able, to be fired from every type of seige machine. I stand corrected. I have also been informed that seige ammunition with appropriately modified ranges will be arriving within the tenday. Note that you'll need to requisition new ammuntion as any you are carrying will not magically change itself.

Once the new ammunition has arrived, test it to verify the ranges are appropriate.

In the service of Thay,
Master Sergeant Samuel Martin

OOC: The next server update, schedeuled for this weekend, will contain ammunition with the modified ranges. At that time, any further testing by anyone interested in playing around with them in Bezantur or elsewhere will be much appreciated!

[BigbysBackhand]

*to Master Sergeant Samuel Martin*

The ammunition has been retested and all versions now fire as expected, there is a small discrepency in the destruction they cause based on type that might need looking into such as..//fire bomb and acid bomb did like 4 damage to a single dummy while snow bomb and sound bomb did several hundred..and i mean like 400+ to multiple// while i underestand the damages can be variable based on how well placed the shot is and the radius effect of the damages...i would see no reason to ever use one of the weaker shots if the others are so greatly more effective. The newer ammunition straight from you were also very effective...//and very awsome :D my favorite being the demon hand// ..in fact they came in quite handy as while testing we were plagued by a horde of zombies which were quickly put down in large part to Soldier Rente a natural with the machines and i hope he is given a special accomodation for his actions, Diego was also present and performed quite well in the defense of our glorious city.

On another note i spoke with Sgt. Victoria as you asked...she has since decided to leave the Priador Legion and is looking for a place in the Lapendrar forsaking her oathes to our tharchion she gave her cloak to master Ihsahn to hold for her...though i told her should things not work out in the Lapendrar//not sure if she can actually leave the legion and join another// she should not expect a warm welcome back after abandoning her postition despite having also taken part in the defense of our city against the zombie horde.

*signed and sealed with two parrallel stylized lightning bolts*
Lt. Aerin Stormbringer