Mr. Bistro's Siege Devices

[mrbistro]

So your opponent has a castle that you need to attack? He's got a reinforced door, troops lining the walls, and multiple lines of defense? No sweat.

This 'tron army has to take out a nasty reinforced fortress door. Not a problem with their handy battering ram.

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/ram_left_side.JPG

Ram: (Destructible Object, Height 6, Double-sized Base) Life 10, Move 0, Range 1, Attack 0, Defense 4.
Vehicle: A ram may not move unless 'manned.' To be considered manned a unit of 4 medium figures or 2 large figures must be adjacent to it. When the 'manning' unit is activated and moves, the ram may move along with it, provided it ends this move still adjacent to all figures in the unit. Units 'manning' the ram may not be targetted by normal attacks by enemy units who are not adjacent to them.
Wheels: For purposes of movement, rams count as having a height of 2.
Ram Special Attack: Range 1, Attack 10
A ram may only ever use this special attack against adjacent fortress doors.

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/ram_back_side.JPG

The 'trons can wait around for the ram to destroy the gate, but why wait around? These units are using the ladders to take the fight to the castle ramparts.

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/above_gatehouse.JPG

Siege Ladder: Siege ladders may be used (scenario permitting) by medium-sized, single-based squads. A squad may carry one ladder, which is placed on the unit's card. When a member of the squad moves to a space adjacent to a castle, place the ladder on that space, with its top attached to the battlement above. Siege ladders may only be used to scale walls of a height up to 13. Once in play, siege ladders remain on the battlefield unless 'thrown down' by the enemy.

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/mount_ladders_2.JPG

Friendly figures beginning a round in a space where a ladder is placed may, as their entire move, move to an empty castle space adjacent to the ladder. If no space is available, the friendly figure may instead attack enemy figures on wall walk spaces adjacent to the ladder. Enemy figures attacked this way, still retain bonuses for height. If an enemy figure moves to a space adjacent to a ladder that is not adjacent to a friendly figure, the ladder is automatically destroyed.

But how can these 'trons get close enough to shoot enemies on the walls without exposing themselves to fire? Mantlets!

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/in_front_of_mantlets.JPG

Mantlets: (Height 5) A squad of medium-sized, single-based figures may be given mantlets (scenario permitting). Mantlets move with each figure. Figures may voluntarily abandon their mantlets. Abandoned mantlets are automatically destroyed. Figures with mantlets may use the sight holes in the front of their mantlet as an alternate target point for making ranged attacks. Mantlets are wheeled, which means they have a height of 2 for purposes of movement.

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/behind_mantlets.JPG

Mantlets offer protection from enemy fire. Figures targetting enemies behind mantlets lose any height bonuses.

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/archers_down_on_mantlets.JPG

Now you can bring the fight to the enemy. Have fun storming the castle!

[mrbistro]

Gah! Let me figure out how to fix the stupid pictures.

Advice anyone? What am I doing wrong?

EDIT: Fixed.

[atmospro]

your using the picture URL and not the Database properties link file information

This the first one
http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/ram_left_side.JPG
Open the picture to full size and right click and got to properties.
Copy the properties line in between the correct img tags

Incorrect http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/displayimage.php?album=3&pos=8

Correct
http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/ram_back_side.JPG

[srmalloy]

Gah! Let me figure out how to fix the stupid pictures.

Advice anyone? What am I doing wrong?
For links into the gallery, what you have to do is go to the link you put in your post, click on the image to get the pop-up window with the full-size image in it, then right-click on the image, select 'copy image location', then paste that into your IMG tags:

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/ram_back_side.JPG

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/above_gatehouse.JPG

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/mount_ladders_2.JPG

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/in_front_of_mantlets.JPG

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/behind_mantlets.JPG

http://www.heroscapers.com/oldgallery/albums/userpics/10017/archers_down_on_mantlets.JPG

[mrbistro]

your using the picture URL and not the Database properties link file information

I need some sleep. Thank you sir!

[InfinityMax]

Bistro, those are hot. Hasbro needs to make some of those. They're genius.

[reapersaurus]

These are fantastic additions to the game! :thumbsup:

Did you mention where these battering ram & mantlets, etc are from?

[mrbistro]

These are fantastic additions to the game! :thumbsup:

Did you mention where these battering ram & mantlets, etc are from?

I made 'em. Ladders and mantlets are made out of balsa. The ram is made from a wooden model kit of an old west fort I found in the craft store while picking up the balsa.

I like sieges that involve tons of common troops swarming over a castle. The way the rules currently stand, an army of Gruts would have no chance in a siege, so all of these things were created to allow essentially any type of army to have a chance at laying siege. I haven't playtested the rules yet, but they're straight-forward enough that I think they'll work just fine.

In two weeks from now I'll have boiling oil emplacements for the defenders, and a siege tower for the attackers.

[justjohn]

These are really cool. A much needed addition to HS after the castles came out. I'm pretty sure that official ones are not that far off, but your's look great. Kudos on making them, you did a really good job.

[LilNewbie]

Awesome ideas and great work on the items too!

Newb.

[Annerios]

Fantastic work! :thumbsup:

It is great to see people filling in the gaps on all of these things we need for use with the castle set.

[jbbnbsmith]

Yes, brilliant stuff! As you said, very simple, straightforward rules. Off to the craft store!

[AnubisGX]

I like that battering ram!!!
The battering ram squad can't be attack by a normal attack unless by an adjacent fig, nice idea!
Similar to the mantlets, there should be mobile ballistaes.
These would allow small or medium figs to shoot guys atop the castle walls. It would also give cover to the unit similar to the mantlet. It would also only be used for attacking units on a castle wall. Gives ground units a better chance, and make the castle campers think twice about camping up there!

But what about larger figs, they can't even get up there via ladder. What if it came down to jotun versus syvarris or some other long range arse, the range guy would just camp the walls and all jotun can do is try to run as far as possible, and eventually lose to such long range attacks. I can assume that most castle won't have a ramp that leads to the upper levels. So that pretty much screws the big guys.

Hmm, possibly a catapult used only by larger figs. Select a unit on top a castle wall, roll d20, if you roll whatever #, remove any battlements on that figures space, and move the figure two spaces closer to the catapult, falling damage applies. Sort of like hitting the walls and shaking the guys off.

Yeah, Hasbro really needs to make a large expansion box with siege units. That'd be nice.

[mrbistro]

The battering ram squad can't be attack by a normal attack unless by an adjacent fig, nice idea!

Had to do that. The ram needs a full squad to work, and otherwise it's too easy to pick off one member of the unit to bring it to a screaching halt.

But what about larger figs, they can't even get up there via ladder. What if it came down to jotun versus syvarris or some other long range arse, the range guy would just camp the walls and all jotun can do is try to run as far as possible, and eventually lose to such long range attacks.

Yeah, but I think that's as it should be. Just as the Obsidian Guard have advantages in lava that no one else has, I don't think every figure should excel in every type of terrain. Jotun should be great at breaking down the door, but little else. It just fits. Let the medium figures have their day. Jotun can smash them all later on a different battlefield.

Hmm, possibly a catapult used only by larger figs.

Not a bad idea. I'm working on cannons right now. For both attackers and defenders.

Yeah, Hasbro really needs to make a large expansion box with siege units. That'd be nice.

Amen. Here's hoping they do.

[Taelord]

Those are awsome Mr bistro. I want them. could you make me some pleeeeeeeeeeeease :D

[mrbistro]

Those are awsome Mr bistro. I want them. could you make me some pleeeeeeeeeeeease :D

Actually I was thinking of selling off some sets.

[Miniature Geek]

Great stuff Mr. Bistro, is the shop you went to a Ben Franklin's crafts? I've seen a few Wild West scenery looking sets they sell for kids school projects, and I've thought about buying them before.

[Jandars_Hope]

MR B, those seige weapons are cool!
I like the battering ram the most i think!

[mrbistro]

Great stuff Mr. Bistro, is the shop you went to a Ben Franklin's crafts? I've seen a few Wild West scenery looking sets they sell for kids school projects, and I've thought about buying them before.

No, it was a Michael's. I just went to all of the ones in my area, but only the one had them. It's simply called Old West Fort.

[robaula]

Great stuff Mrbistro - particularly like the mantlets. Look very nice. :-)

[mrbistro]

Great stuff Mrbistro - particularly like the mantlets. Look very nice. :-)

Thank you sir. Nothing but balsa wood and some paint.

[robaula]

inspiring me to get building myself.... have you made anything else?

[mrbistro]

inspiring me to get building myself.... have you made anything else?

Nothing yet. I built balsa bridges before the official bridges came out (wish I had kept those). I'm thinking about a siege tower right now.

[Satyr]

Those are some sweet siege devices! I’m going to need some of them.

I appreciate the simplicity of the rule set. Some constructive criticism:

My first thought was that the ram and Mantlets should hinder squad movement since they are so large … possibly ladder carriers as well. I was expecting the move of the squad to be reduced by one. Makes it tough on knights to man the ram, but feels right for other units. Yeah, I know it reduces the simplicity … take it, or leave it.

More importantly, the ram needs to be manned in order to attack.

Great work! What are your thoughts on sale prices?

[mrbistro]

My first thought was that the ram and Mantlets should hinder squad movement since they are so large … possibly ladder carriers as well. I was expecting the move of the squad to be reduced by one. Makes it tough on knights to man the ram, but feels right for other units. Yeah, I know it reduces the simplicity … take it, or leave it.

More importantly, the ram needs to be manned in order to attack.

Great work! What are your thoughts on sale prices?

Good points. I'll change it so the max movement a manned ram or mantlet can make is 4. And you're absolutely right about the ram needing to be be manned to use its special attack.

As for prices, I was thinking of just throwing a set on ebay to see if people were interested. But I'm also going to host a contest here for a ram, and if I can get my wife's digital camera to work (it doesn't like me) I might do a tutorial so people can make their own.

[Taelord]

That's awesome. What's the contest about.

[mrbistro]

That's awesome. What's the contest about.

Dunno. Still thinking about that. But I expect it will probably be a siege scenario design.