Trebuchet versus Bombard Cannon showdown (2024)

Hello and welcome to the trebuchet vs bombard cannon showdown. I'll be your host and tester.
These tests not only pit the treb vs the BC, but also show how effective siege engineers are and how the different civ bonus stack up against each other. Lets begin shall we...

Parameters
Attacker = human (me)
Defender = AI, 6 Byzantine castles
All units and castles = post imperial
Tests done cost effective, meaning 8 bombard cannons vs 9 trebuchets (total cost both = 3600)
NOTE - An average of 1 treb and 1 BC did not fire or fired well late each castle so essentially it was 7 BC vs 8 trebs.
Castles separated meaning in a row so BC's had to move, trebs had to pack and move for each castle

TEST 1
Trebuchets baseline (no bonus or siege engineers)
Time = 4:58

TEST 2
Bombard Cannons baseline (no bonus or siege engineers)
Time = 5:00

TEST 3
Bombard Cannons with siege engineers
Time = 4:31

TEST 4
Trebuchets with siege engineers
Time = 4:52

TEST 5
Celtic trebuchets with siege engineers (Fire 20% faster)
Time = 4:44

TEST 6
Hunnic trebuchets without siege engineers (+30% accuracy)
Time = 5:02

TEST 7
Japanese trebuchets with siege engineers (Fire/pack faster)
Time = 3:52

TEST 8
Spanish Bombard Cannons without siege engineers (Fire 15% faster)
Time = 4:23

CONCLUSION

Trebuchet vs Bombard Cannon
Results = Without siege engineers the treb and BC's virtually tied cost effectively.
With siege engineers the BC did about 8% faster. Still fairly close.

Civ bonus rankings (faster than baseline)
1. Japanese Trebuchet = 45% faster
2. Spanish Bombard Cannon = 14% faster
3. Celtic Trebuchet = 5% faster
4. Hunnic Trebuchet = No improvement

Siege engineers vs no siege engineers
Siege engineers = average of 6.5% faster

Of course this only compares ability of the two units to take down buildings (the most important feature). I save for another time the ability to kill units as well as HP's and defense.

Bombard Cannons vs Trebs when attacking units? I'd take BC's clearly, especially when combined with other units. BC's take less management, and attack units naturally with higher accuracy even when compared to Hun trebs.

Otherwise, you can't compare Trebs and BC's vs buildings to the point where you can clearly say one is better over the other. They BOTH do the job against buildings - it's just that they have different quirks. Mobility, Higher Accuracy, Less Range vs More Range, Cheaper, 'Every civ gets them.'

My personal preference is the Cannon, but then again, I'm capable of getting 5 Trebs with my army and just bombarding enemy buildings from distance. I basically do whatever is necessary.

Trebs have the additional range, for a less-experienced player that can mean the difference between guarding successfully and losing costly units and an excellent opportunity to break your opponent.

I prefer trebs. One real advantage of treb is that they can be made right after you reach Imp. BCs will have to wait to get chemistry researched.

There is an exception to this - Turks. They can train BCs as soon as they Imp (free chemistry). They also have 100 HP as compared to 80 HP of normal civs, not to mention that they train faster than usual civs' ones.

Crowd: It's pros and cons time! (with jordanthejq12)

Hello, folks! Today, we'll be comparing the pros and cons of using bombard cannons and trebuchets! (crowd: Yaaaaaaaaaaaah!)

The pros of having a cannon:
-More effective vs. units
-Mobile while firing, which can mean the difference between survival and destruction
-Able to hit and run
-Has splash damage(I think)
-Turks can produce immediately upon advancement to Imperial

The cons of a cannon:
-Must research chem first
-Not every civ has them
-More expensive than treb
-Can be outranged by Teuton castle
-Prone to rams(rams have attack bonus vs. siege)

The pros of a trebuchet:
-Benefit from conscription
-Longer range
-More attack power
-Instant kills(must hit unit with <200 HP or HP+PA<200)
-Can only be outranged by each other(heroes Bad Neighbor and God's Own Sling)
-Exciting to watch battle each other
-Every civ has them

The cons of a trebuchet:
-Less mobile
-Prone to rams(rams have attack bonus vs. siege)
- Packed=home of the most infamous unit, beta or otherwise, in AOC(PMANG and its terrifying, sudden, yet predictable crashes)

Well that's our show for tonight. Live from the "Trebuchet vs. bombard cannon showdown" thread of the General and Strategy Discussion Forum of Age of Kings Heaven(a division of HeavenGames, Inc.{Or is it LLC?}), this is jordanthejq12 saying solong!

Wow. That was actually useful. Well done Jordan!

HUH?(Mouth hangs open) Why thank you...(thinks)...Hmmph. I should do more of these. Ladies and gents, I think I've found my calling!(Here at AOKH, that is.)

i like to mass trebs against massed other units when playing against humans. yu just aim for the middle unit it the trebs miss and take down other units

Quote (anonymous) You are the
smartest, yet dumbest person I've
ever met.

LOST: Brain. Pretty small. Lost
several years ago at birth. small reward.