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I’m had this topic on my list for a long time, but I never really found the time to think about it. Still haven’t, which I realized could be part of the reason why I never took it off the bench. I mean, these aren’t the easiest things to put in your story. That problem stems entirely from what they are.
Siege weapons (A.K.A. Siege Engines) are what you think they are. Giant devices used when one is laying siege to a castle or town. Trebuchets and catapults help get projectiles over walls. Ballista could be used to take out distant, large targets or multiple soldiers. Probably even take out gates and doors. You have siege towers to help get your people over walls too. You have battering rams used in a variety of ways that range from many soldiers carrying it to elephants. Modern versions include cannons and howitzers. The list keeps going with a wide variety of devices.
In Beginning of a Hero, I introduced Fritz Warrenberg who was a gnomish inventor and the siege weapon teacher. This wasn’t done with any plan, which is a shame because I could have flushed out my own knowledge here. Not that I could go anywhere with them since there’s the inherent problem. These are MASSIVE weapons that an adventurer wouldn’t be carrying around. Siege weapons are designed entirely for large scale battles involving a heavily defended target. A wandering swordsman isn’t going to drag around a catapult in case they need one. This means you’re focal characters aren’t likely to interact with these things very often. At best, they will help an army using them or, at worst, have to face them in battle.
This doesn’t mean that siege weapons should be ignored either. They have an important place in military history and strategy. Even in a world of magic, armies will create large weapons to overcome and overpower enemies. After all, walls being used as defensive barriers is universal. With those existing, you’re inevitably going to have someone create ways to circumvent or destroy them. Looking at some of the more basic ones, you can see how a fictional world would have the same as us too. Catapults and trebuchets are like giant, mechanical slings. Ballistae are enormous crossbows. You don’t have to be a genius to think about making a few basic weapons larger. Might need help doing it, but the desire is easy to spark.
Now, where can a fantasy author use them? One thing our genre loves to do is sieges on fortified areas and large scale battles. I’m looking at you Helm’s Deep and Battle of Five Armies. These two tropes have been infused into the genre since the modern inception, which is where siege weapons can shine. Whether it be the heroes having to find ways to stop them or making sure they aren’t victims of friendly fire, these enormous action scenes can be accentuated by this addition. You don’t have to go into detail with them either, but having them used in the background and established as a presence can help. If done right, it’s the fantasy equivalent of the opening scene from ‘Saving Private Ryan’.
Another positive to introducing the existence of siege weapons is showing the level of technology. While not as advanced as modern devices, they are still complicated and use some levels of mechanical knowledge. Gears, pulleys, levers, and the like are all implemented in many of these weapons. This allows you to introduce non-military uses of these creations such as dumbwaiters and clocks. In the grand scheme of the plot, these might not mean much. Yet, they can really make an impact for world building and open the door for future advancements. For example, a mechanical golem can be introduced without question.
So, what do you think about using siege weapons in fantasy?
