[Chaos guides] Advanced Catapulting

[thelegionriders 30]

Disclaimer: This is part of a series of guides I'm doing to introduce Chaos to newer players and to people from freedom who wanna venture in the wild lands of Chaos either alone or as part of a kingdom.

 

Advanced Catapulting

 

This is an advanced catapulting guide based on the previous guide I wrote so be sure to read that one first before reading this. 

 

Prerequisites

 

Spyglass x1

Catapult x1

Projectiles

An area to practice

 

Introduction - Theory

 

In Wurm Online, catapults are using the parabolic path formula to throw projectiles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projectile_motion). A projectile will be launched at about 70-80 degrees in angle from the flat plain. The more winch, the more initial velocity the projectile will have. The initial velocity determines how far up the projectile will go and as a result how long it will stay on air. The longer it stays on air, the further away it will go. 

 

In a flat surface, each catapult winch will add enough tension to the catapult so as the initial velocity will guarantee a +4m more from previous winch. Tiles do not exist in the catapulting formula. All the server knows is meters and angles. A catapult will always throw the projectile directly horizontal to where it's facing and the catapult's vertical angle will not affect the formula. So even if the catapult is standing on an uneven surface, this won't affect it at all.

 

There are circumstances where your projectile's trajectory may travel for more time or for less time on the air before hitting a ground than it would do if the surface was completelly flat. When it travels for more time, it will go further away. When it travels for less time, it will land closer. 

 

The following images summarize the prevous statements.

 

For example, in the third section of the image the catapult will throw further away because of the slope of the terrain that goes downwards.

 

-------------//-------------

In this image, a catapult with 10 winch will hit 40m away and hit the base of the wall while a catapult winch of 20 will theoritically hit the inside of the deed but will instead hit the longhouse that's in it's trajectory and numbered with 1. After that section of the longhouse goes down, the projectiles can reach the inside of the deed and hit section numbered with 2.

 

Keep in mind, hitting somewhere on the outer side of this dirtwall between the fence and the longhouse, will damage the fence standing on the bottom of the dirtwall. It will not damage the longhouse standing on the top though. For you to damage the longhouse on the top, you have to either land the projectile inside the longhouse tiles or to make the trajectory hit the walls.

 

Spyglass

 

The most important part in catapulting is a spyglass. The spyglass allows you to do two important things.

 

1)Align a catapult towards a wall you want to hit.

2)Get a distance metric.

 

I)Aligning a catapult

 

A catapult can be aligned  parallel to a tile row by turning clockwise and then counter-clockwise. But that's just aligning to hit vertical to walls. If you want to do angle shots, as will be described later, you need to be able to align the catapult in perfect angle towards a wall. For that, the spyglass can be used as follows. 

 

1) Drag the catapult.

2) Turn towards the area you want to hit.

3) Start using the spyglass.

4) Target the wall you want to hit with the spyglass.

5) Press back and forth so as the catapult aligns with your body that's now facing directly that wall with the aid of spyglass.

 

The spyglass will stop spying and the catapult will now be facing the wall you want to hit.

 

II) Get a distance metric

 

1) Face the wall you want to hit.

2) Spy with the spyglass

3) Get the number.

 

Doing the angle shot

 

Now that you have aligned the catapult and have the metric, you can do the angle shot. As a rule of thumb, divide the metric you got by 4. This will be your winch. If your target is higher than you, you may have to add 1 winch for every 35 slope the target is higher. If the target is lower than you, you have to remove a winch for every 35 slope.

 

Edited June 25, 2015 by thelegionriders