Trebuchet

General
The trebuchet is a powerful siege weapon that can be found in the Fort Ranik mission as well as in some PvP scenarios (outside the Guild Hall). It is different to a ballista in such as it has to be armed before it can be fired. To arm a trebuchet, the lever beside it has to be pulled once. Another activation of the lever will trigger the shot. Trebuchets have unlimited ammunition.

The Trebuchet in the PvE Campaign
The Trebuchet appear several times in the PvE campaigns, though are not repaired in the same manner that they are in GvG matches.

Prophecies
In the Fort Ranik mission, players must repair a trebuchet by finding and returning three bundle items to it. The mission has another trebuchet that is already in working condition. As the campaign goes on, there are Stone Summit ballistae and numerous other enemies with siege attacks, such as Siege Wurms. These cannot be operated by players, and their base AoE damage varies.

Location
There are two Trebuchet situated on the following guild hall maps:


 * Warrior's Isle
 * Hunter's Isle
 * Wizard's Isle

They are found on the high ground just outside and to the left of the main entrances to the Guild Hall and Away Team Base.

Uses
They can be used during GvG matches do deal huge amounts of damage to any player or NPC caught in the blast of their projectile impact. Trebuchet strikes will normally kill any character instantly. They cannot be aimed; the landing area of the projectile impact is in a random place between the gate of the hall and the area where the Guild Lord is.

Repairing
The Trebuchet must first be repaired with the Repair Kit; this item can be picked up from the high ground just outside and to the right of the Hall and Base Entrances. It must then be carried to the Trebuchet and activated by clicking on the lever of the Trebuchet while carrying the Repair Kit.

The Repair Process takes 4 seconds, once finished the Trebuchet will be ready to load.

Loading
The Trebuchet must be loaded before firing by clicking on the lever of the Trebuchet once more. The loading process takes 6 seconds.

Firing
Firing the loaded Trebuchet is achieved by clicking on the Trebuchet lever. The time from firing (clicking on the lever) to the impact explosion is 7 seconds.

Trebuchet Tactics
Stashing the Repair Kit: Stash the Repair kit from outside your Base or Hall at the start of a GvG match inside your Base or Hall. This is very important as it ensures you will always have access to a repair kit if needed, and ensures the opposing team will not have access to your repair kit. If your opponent neglects to use this tactic you should endeavour to repair his Trebuchet with his own kit as soon as possible.

Preparing the Trebuchet: You should try and repair and load the Trebuchet outside the opponent’s Base or Hall as soon as possible in a GvG match. Having the Trebuchet ready to fire will save time should you need to fire it off quickly.

When to Fire: There are 3 main opportunities for you to use the Trebuchet.


 * The first is to disrupt the opponent team’s flag runner by firing the Trebuchet and killing the runner or forcing the runner to stay back from the gate and the side exit.


 * If you have pushed back the opposing team to their Hall or Base entrance have a player ready to fire the Trebuchet should they retreat to within the Hall or Base. The Trebuchet will kill any players which have fallen back through the doorway, including your own so make sure your team knows you are firing the Trebuchet and they do not follow the opponents into their Base or Hall.


 * Trebuchet Coup de Grace: This is a common tactic used by many Guilds when GvG’ing in Guild Halls with a Trebuchet, and can turn the game around for a Guild which is loosing. On the 20th minute of a GvG what Victory or Death (VoD) occurs all the remaining NPC’s, aside from the Guild Lord, march out towards the middle of the map via the front door of the Guild Hall. A well timed Trebuchet shot can kill all of an opponents NPC’s in one fell swoop.

The bodyguard, who is the rearmost NPC to march out from the Hall or Base, takes 29 seconds to walk from his starting spot to the doorway of the Hall or Base and the optimum Trebuchet blast zone. Assuming the Trebuchet is loaded you will need to fire the Trebuchet at 20:22 to compensate for the 7 seconds flight time of the projectile.

Counter Trebuchet Tactics
You can avoid the Trebuchet Coup de Grace of your own NPC’s by using one of the following methods.

Body block the Trebuchet restricting your opponent’s access to the lever as your NPCs move safely out of the Trebuchet range.

Fire the Trebuchet after the opponent has repaired and loaded it. This will throw off your enemies' timing as they will now need to reload the Trebuchet before firing.

Using a Spirit combination of Shelter and Union within range of the NPC’s as they exit the wall will enable you NPC’s to survive the Trebuchet blast. Some Monk Protection Skills such as Protective Spirit can be used to protect individual NPCs from the Trebuchet's damage.

Anti Counter Trebuchet Tactics
If you miss this opportunity due to your opponent body blocking or pre firing the Trebuchet or if the Trebuchet wasn’t repaired and loaded in time then you can place one of you team mates or a spirit in the opponents Hall or Base doorway. The NPC’s coming out will stop to attack your team mate thus giving you enough time to fire the delayed shot and hit the NPC’s where they stand.