Cannon

A cannon is truly a powerful – but mostly stationary – weapon commonly found on warships and fortresses.

Description

Cannons in Britannia essentially work the same as those on Earth. Once the gunpowder in the barrel is ignited, it forces the iron cannonball on its way at high speed. However, as advantageous as its firepower is, the weapon is difficult to move, and needs a constant supply of both gunpowder (from powder kegs) and cannonballs. This makes them only practical for use in fortresses and aboard ships. They appear in Ultima I, Ultima II, Ultima III, Ultima IV, Ultima V, Ultima VI, Martian Dreams, Ultima VII and Ultima IX.

Effectiveness of a Cannon

According to Vetron's Guide to Weapons and Armour, a cannon has a damage power of "90".

History

Cannons existed since the First Age of Darkness, but they were always installed on ships and could be used to destroy foes. Only beginning from the time of the Shadowlords in Ultima V was it possible to use cannons on land as well, and the Avatar could already make use one to break open the door to Lord British's rooms in Castle Britannia to gain the magic carpet – though at the cost of alerting all guards in the castle. In Martian Dreams, a barge cannon, loaded with Andrew Carnegie's custom-made steel cannonballs, was an essential component of finally getting entrance to Argyre. Many years later, while the presence of cannons had somewhat waned in Ultima IX, one was needed in Buccaneer's Den in order to break open the boarded-up cave with the Gauntlets of Fury.

In other worlds, cannons – and thus gunpowder – were virtually unknown.

Trivia

• Successfully destroying water-borne enemies with a ship's cannons in both Ultima I and Ultima II would automatically earn the player gold; not so in later installments. In Ultima II, it would also grant items, making it the easiest way to stack up on these.
• Throughout Ultima V, both ship- and land-mounted cannons had unlimited ammunition – even when not placed next to a supply of cannonballs.
• Dancek, found in Buccaneer's Den during Ultima IV, is a cannon builder.
• In Ultima VII, a cannon can be equipped in the weapons slot, though it is very heavy. It will not appear on the Avatar's sprite, but in combat the Avatar will make a throwing motion and lob a cannonball.

Gallery

• 

  Blasting open the door to the magic carpet

• 

  A cannon blasting Argyre's gate

• 

  Cannons guarding Jhelom in Ultima VII

• 

  Firing a cannon in Ultima IX

---

Weapons

Melee Weapons
Basic Melee Weapons	Axe ☥ Bladed staff ☥ Club ☥ Custom sword ☥ Cutlass ☥ Dagger ☥ Decorative sword ☥ Dum‑dum ☥ Halberd ☥ Hammer ☥ Jeweled weapons ☥ Knife ☥ Mace ☥ Main gauche ☥ Morning star ☥ Poison dagger ☥ Saber ☥ Scimitar ☥ Serpentine dagger ☥ Serpentine sword ☥ Silver sword ☥ Spear ☥ Spiked helm ☥ Spiked shield ☥ Staff ☥ Sword ☥ Two‑handed axe ☥ Two‑handed hammer ☥ Two‑handed sword
Enhanced Melee Weapons	Blackrock sword ☥ Exotic Weapons ☥ Fire sword ☥ Glass sword ☥ Great dagger ☥ Lightning sword ☥ Lightning whip ☥ Magic sword ☥ Mystic Weapons ☥ Sword of defense

Ranged Weapons
Basic Ranged Weapons	Blowgun ☥ Boomerang ☥ Bow ☥ Crossbow ☥ Iolo’s bow ☥ Flaming oil ☥ Hawk ☥ Musket ☥ Siege bow ☥ Sling ☥ Throwing axe ☥ Triple crossbow
Enhanced Ranged Weapons	Anachronistic weapons ☥ Fire wand ☥ Infinity bow ☥ Lightning wand ☥ Lightning whip ☥ Magic axe ☥ Magic boomerang ☥ Magic bow ☥ Magician’s wand ☥ Starbursts

Ammunition
Basic Ammuntion	Ammunition ☥ Arrows ☥ Bolts ☥ Cannonballs ☥ Sling stones
Enhanced Ammuntion	Burst arrows ☥ Fire arrows ☥ Love arrows ☥ Lucky arrows ☥ Magic arrows ☥ Magic bolts ☥ Mana arrows ☥ Serpent arrows ☥ Sleep arrows

Non-traditional Weapons
Non-traditional Weapons	Cannon ☥ Cleaver ☥ Death scythe ☥ Fellowship staff ☥ Fishing rod ☥ Hammer ☥ Hoe ☥ Hoe of Destruction ☥ Pick ☥ Pitchfork ☥ Powder keg ☥ Rake ☥ Rock hammer ☥ Rolling pin ☥ Scythe ☥ Shears ☥ Shovel ☥ Tongs ☥ Torches ☥ Whip

Others
Other Weapons	Weapons in Savage Empire ☥ Weapons in Martian Dreams ☥ Gloves ☥ Rope & spikes