Cannon

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

Description[edit]

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[edit]

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

History[edit]

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[edit]

  • 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[edit]


Weapons
Melee Weapons
Basic Melee Weapons AxeBladed staffClubCustom swordCutlassDaggerDecorative swordDum‑dumHalberdHammerJeweled weaponsKnifeMaceMain gaucheMorning starPoison daggerSaberScimitarSerpentine daggerSerpentine swordSilver swordSpearSpiked helm ☥ Spiked shield ☥ StaffSwordTwo‑handed axeTwo‑handed hammerTwo‑handed sword
Enhanced Melee Weapons Blackrock swordExotic WeaponsFire swordGlass swordGreat daggerLightning swordLightning whipMagic swordMystic WeaponsSword of defense
Ranged Weapons
Basic Ranged Weapons BlowgunBoomerangBowCrossbowIolo’s bowFlaming oilHawkMusketSiege bowSlingThrowing axeTriple crossbow
Enhanced Ranged Weapons Anachronistic weaponsFire wandInfinity bowLightning wandLightning whipMagic axeMagic boomerangMagic bowMagician’s wandStarbursts
Ammunition
Basic Ammuntion AmmunitionArrowsBoltsCannonballsSling stones
Enhanced Ammuntion Burst arrowsFire arrowsLove arrowsLucky arrowsMagic arrowsMagic boltsMana arrowsSerpent arrowsSleep arrows
Non-traditional Weapons
Non-traditional Weapons CannonCleaverDeath scytheFellowship staffFishing rodHammerHoeHoe of DestructionPickPitchforkPowder kegRakeRock hammer ☥ Rolling pin ☥ ScytheShearsShovelTongsTorchesWhip
Others
Other Weapons Weapons in Savage EmpireWeapons in Martian DreamsGlovesRope & spikes
Specific Weapons
Specific Enchanted Weapons Axe of Fire DoomAxe of Life StealingBlade of StrikingBone CrusherCudgel of EntryCrook of CharmingDeceiverErinon’s axeFiredoom staffFlame StingFrost swordGringoletHammer of DedicationJuggernaut hammerMace of Undead BaneMagebaneProtectorKorghin’s FangScimitar of Khumash‑GorSlayerSword of Poison WeaponSword of Stone StrikeStaff of the DeadWar Bow of Blood
Other Items Black swordCaliburnOphidian swordPractice swordQuickswordSerpent artifactsSerpent Staff