Our new cheiroballista...

[P. Clodius Secundus]

You guys really are missing the point here ......
the only things you really need to know about an artillary piece are -

pointy end towards the foe
Good guys behind it....

How its made is of little importance, as long as it works and kills the enemy, not the crew serving it. :mrgreen:

I wish it was that simple. Then we could all focus on really important things like belt plates, pugios, and tunic colors :lol:

I fully agree that "pointy end towards the foe" is sage advice. "Good guys behind it..." which would seem to be logical isn't necessarily supported by the evidence. Trajan's Column shows friendly troops in front of the weapons and Dacian bad guys behind one shooting it at the Romans. Vegetius also speaks of them being fired over the heads of friendlies, which has big implications when it comes to the design of the weapon's base.