Cannon
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]
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 |
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Melee Weapons | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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Other Weapons | Weapons in Savage Empire ☥ Weapons in Martian Dreams ☥ Gloves ☥ Rope & spikes |
Specific Weapons | |
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Specific Enchanted Weapons | Axe of Fire Doom ☥ Axe of Life Stealing ☥ Blade of Striking ☥ Bone Crusher ☥ Cudgel of Entry ☥ Crook of Charming ☥ Deceiver ☥ Erinon’s axe ☥ Firedoom staff ☥ Flame Sting ☥ Frost sword ☥ Gringolet ☥ Hammer of Dedication ☥ Juggernaut hammer ☥ Mace of Undead Bane ☥ Magebane ☥ Protector ☥ Korghin’s Fang ☥ Scimitar of Khumash‑Gor ☥ Slayer ☥ Sword of Poison Weapon ☥ Sword of Stone Strike ☥ Staff of the Dead ☥ War Bow of Blood |
Other Items | Black sword ☥ Caliburn ☥ Ophidian sword ☥ Practice sword ☥ Quicksword ☥ Serpent artifacts ☥ Serpent Staff |