A regular ballista is a massive crossbow that fires heavy bolts. Before it can be fired, it must be loaded and aimed. It takes one action to load the weapon, one action to aim it, and one action to fire it. If a crew of 3 are all working on one ballista, it can be loaded, aimed, and fired in every round.
Ballista Bolt. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 120/480 ft., one target. Hit: 16 (3d10) piercing damage.
Large Object Armor Class: 15 Hit Points: 50
Arcane Ballista:
An Arcane Ballista is a type of Ballista that has been enhanced and redesigned by Artificer wizards, with similar use to a ring of spell storing. The Ballista is covered in glowing arcane runes, and mundane bolts fired from it become imbued with powerful spells, causing devastating damage. Arcane Ballistas are very expensive and difficult to make. They are usually positioned on the walls of powerful cities, or on the decks of military ships.
Arcane Force Shield. The Ballista and it's crew are protected by a magical spherical blue translucent shield, which can be activated with an action. The shield has an AC of 20, and 60 hit points. The shield takes damage instead of the Ballista or crew. The shield can only be active for 1 minute, and has to recharge for 1 hour after being used.
Fiery Ballista Bolt. Mundane ballista bolts fired from this type of arcane ballista become imbued with a Fireball spell as they are fired. When the bolt hits a target, it deals regular piercing damage, plus the additional 8d6 fire damage from the Fireball spell. The Arcane Ballista can fire 3 Fiery Ballista Bolts per day, before needing to be recharged by a spellcaster. A spellcaster needs to expend a 3rd level fireball spell into the Ballista or higher, for a higher level version of fireball.
Lightning Ballista Bolt. Mundane ballista bolts fired from this type of arcane ballista become imbued with a Lightning Bolt spell as they are fired. When the bolt hits a target, it deals regular piercing damage, plus the additional 8d6 lightning damage from the Lightning Bolt spell. The Arcane Ballista can fire 3 Lightning Ballista Bolts per day, before needing to be recharged by a spellcaster. A spellcaster needs to expend a 3rd level lightning bolt spell into the Ballista or higher, for a higher level version of Lightning Bolt.
Ice Ballista Bolt. Mundane ballista bolts fired from this type of arcane ballista become imbued with a Cone of Cold spell as they are fired. When the bolt hits a target, it deals regular piercing damage, plus the additional 8d8 cold damage from the Cone of Cold spell. The Arcane Ballista can fire 3 Ice Ballista Bolts per day, before needing to be recharged by a spellcaster. A spellcaster needs to expend a 5th level cone of cold spell into the Ballista or higher, for a higher level version of Cone of Cold.
AntiMagic Ballista Bolt. Mundane ballista bolts fired from this type of arcane ballista become imbued with a Dispel Magic spell as they are fired. When the bolt hits a target, it deals regular piercing damage, and it activates a dispel magic spell on the target. The Arcane Ballista can fire 3 AntiMagic Ballista Bolts per day, before needing to be recharged by a spellcaster. A spellcaster needs to expend a 3rd level dispel magic spell into the Ballista or higher, for a higher level version of dispel magic.
Notes: Arcane Ballista, Damage, Combat, Artificer, evocation