Talk:Ballista

From the description, isn't the giant crossbow used by Constance and the beaver to kill Cheesethief a ballista? FlinkyTheStoat 15:29, June 2, 2010 (UTC)

That's what I thought --Neildown - De Oppresso Liber File:Neil down.png Semper fi 15:39, June 2, 2010 (UTC)

It's identified as a "giant crossbow". -- LordTBT File:Tbtico.jpg ^Talk! 18:43, June 2, 2010 (UTC)

This is basically a mistake on the part of Jacques; he identifies a catapult in Mossflower as a ballista, when the actual ballista was the bow used in Redwall. The guy probably just mixed up his siege engines. Frankly, I think we should make this the "official" story and remove all that tripe about "ballista" being the Redwallers' term for a catapult. - d2r 05:43, June 6, 2010 (UTC)

No mistake. Read the WP articles on ballistas and catapults. -- LordTBT File:Tbtico.jpg ^Talk! 18:50, June 6, 2010 (UTC)

I have, and ballistas do not have throwing arms of the sort Jacques described. TBH I'm putting the Mossflower "Ballista?!!?1one" bit up to human error on Jacques' part. In any case, the explanation of "Ballista" being the woodlander's name for a catapult strikes me as dubious - wasn't there a catapult at another point in the series? - d2r 21:31, June 6, 2010 (UTC)

In both articles, ballistas are described as types of catapults or vice versa. -- LordTBT File:Tbtico.jpg ^Talk! 03:01, June 7, 2010 (UTC)

I still think that's inaccurate, so I'm going to rent a book on siege engines from the library and get back to you. Until that time, I withdraw my complaint. - d2r 03:08, June 7, 2010 (UTC)

Believe me, I'm obcessed with medieval weaponry, and I know that a ballista in real life is a giant crossbow, while the catapult BJ called "ballista" is often called the onager of mangonel. Out Of The Topic: I hope BJ puts a trebuchet in the series one day! Thornclaw --There's a difference between being a stoat and a vermin...and I proved it to the world. 13:13, June 8, 2010 (UTC)

Adding Info

I think that there should be more information on how the billista works and what are its stats( range, what it shoots)etc.--Steeltooth Slicewind 00:03, June 6, 2010 (UTC)