The Complete Guide to Trebuchets [DM & RM]
The Ultimate Siege Weapon
In my experience on the zone the most commonly used siege used
in the game is the Trebuchet. Most possibly the best unit in
the game, it is often the single unit that can tip the scales
in a battle. Undeniably the best counter unit for buildings,
particularly castles, is none other than the Trebuchet so it
would make sense that every zoner knew the ins and outs of
Trebuchets, right? Wrong!
Of all zoners only a handful of rmers and dmers fully know
everything about and use the most potent weapon of all
effectively, although I must admit that dmers have more knowledge of it than rmers. This guide will help to outline
the humble Trebuchet.
Topics looked at:
Introduction to the Trebuchet
Trebuchets vs. other siege [Using fire at ground]
Trebuchets unpacked/packed
Trebuchet formations [Box, flank, tight(default)]
Repair of Trebuchets
Nasty Tricks [Walling in, house/unpack, stacking]
Introduction to the Trebuchet
The trebuchet was a large catapult powered by a heavy
counterweight, usually a large box of rocks. The long throwing
arm was pulled down against the mass of the counterweight and
a large stone was loaded. When the arm was released, the heavy
weight dropped down, pulling the throwing arm up, and flinging
the large stone missile in a high arcing trajectory. Missiles
thrown by this weapon plunged downward and were best used to
smash the tops of towers, embattlements, and hoards. It was
difficult to damage sheer vertical walls with the trebuchet
unless the missiles came down right on top of the wall. The
trebuchet was assembled out of bow shot and defended against a
possible sortie by the defenders seeking to burn the weapon.
The trebuchet was useful for smashing wooden roofs and then
setting the rubble on fire with incendiary missiles.
Trebuchets vs. other siege
Not unknown is that Trebuchets are an excellent counter to
other siege and if you didnt, well, now you know. Scorpions
run in fear of being hit by them, Rams prove no threat unless
the Trebuchets are unguarded and if used smartly Onagers prove
no threat as well. However, Siege Onagers totally obliterate
Trebuchets, two shots from one Siege Onager takes down a
Trebuchet something that is slightly avoidable using the
fire at ground option. Using the fire at ground option,
default short-cut key T, you can roughly guess where a siege
unit will be heading and thus target those nasty Onagers that
get too close to your siege. Using the normal right-click
attack will only result in the Trebuchet firing at open space
and missing the moving siege. Using the target ground,
although not entirely accurate is far better than letting your
Trebs just sit there and be picked off one by one. Simply by
targeting opposing siege from a distance and thus using the
Trebuchets range will ensure many siege from approaching
anytime soon.
Often in many situations your opponent will send a solitary
Ram against your lone castle, in the meantime there is a Treb
garrisoned inside your castle what do 99% of zoner's do? Let
the opponent ram the castle down due to no spare troops
(another option is to build a unit from the castle or another
anti-siege unit, the Petard
. One or two shots from one
Trebuchet will bring that Ram down.
Trebuchets packed/unpacked
Trebuchets are at their most vulnerable when packed in their
transportable form. You must NOT ever pack a Trebuchet when
you see your opponent approaching with troops, most likely
they will reach your Trebs before theyre even packed! Never,
ever panic and pack your Trebs, unpacked they have much more
armour. Having a considerable amount more pierce armour
unpacked Trebuchets beat a far larger force of archers or
skirmishers in a dual.
Trebuchet Formations [Box, flank, tight(default)]
Rarely used are formations for Trebuchets But more often than
not it is formations that just might save the day for them.
The best and most useful being the box formation surrounding
it with your troops totally protecting your Trebuchet/s from a
raid. Another useful formation, verse Siege Onagers is
flanking your Trebuchets minimizing the casualties received
from Onagers by splitting your forces in half. It does have
its disadvantages, eg. Your enemy may choose to attack from
one flank and diverting your troops, but advantages are far
more apparent. The default formation for Trebuchets is safe
against raids having all your Trebs in a close space but more
susceptible to those nasty Onagers again. I did not list the
staggered formation for obvious reasons mainly due to the
formation pushing certain lines of the Trebuchets further
forward or further behind and out of range of buildings.
Ultimately the box formation is the best if you have guarding
troops, the default or flank formation if left unguarded.
Repair of Trebuchets
Quite often than not, your Trebuchets to all your efforts will
suffer some amount of damage so, I say?!?! Just repair them,
simple as that. Usually one villager is enough but if in a
Treb war then 2+ villagers per Trebuchet are recommended one
simply repairs too slowly.
Nasty Tricks
The best nasty trick IMO (In my opinion), is walling your
Trebuchets in from a raid. Simply stone or palisade wall your
Trebuchets in from attack while your enemy watches you Treb
their castle down without being to do a single thing. Very
nice
Another nasty trick I use quite often when I have spare
resources is laying down a few dozen unbuilt houses. Then send
in your Trebuchets your opponent wont be able to tell the
difference between a house and an unpacking/packing trebuchet.
Also useful if your opponent knows you use this trick and
suddenly redirect their force when they see unbuilt houses
being laid en-masse. *Hint* diversion *Hint*
A deceiving trick is the method of stacking Trebuchets upon
one another. It may look as though you have only one or two
Trebuchets in one spot when you have far more than the eye
perceives. A very hard formation to pull off Mastered only by
a few.
I hope that by writing this guide Ive opened peoples eyes to
the full power of Trebuchets hopefully many Trebs will be
saved in the future Happy Trebbing
