Bolt or dart throwers are large crossbows which shoot a spear sized missile. They are so large that they are mounted on their own stands, often with wheels so they can be pivoted easily. A crew of two is required to wind back the powerful torsion arms and position the huge bolt ready for firing. On the whole these weapons are nowhere near as large or cumbersome as stone throwers and cannons.
Bolt throwers are fired in your shooting phase along with other missile weapons. To shoot your bolt thrower first turn it on the spot so that it points toward your intended victim. The bolt travels straight forward and (hopefully) hits the first target in it's path. To determine if the bolt strikes its target roll a D6 to hit using the crew's BS in the same way as bow shots, crossbows, and other missile weapons. The basic score needed to hit is therefore shown on the standard Missile Fire Chart (below). The usual modifiers apply, see the shooting section in the Warhammer rulebook for details.
If you score a hit work out the damage as described below. If you miss then the bolt hits the ground or sails into the air and comes down harmlessly somewhere else.
MISSILE FIRE CHART
Working Out Damage From Hits
A bolt thrower is a powerful weapon which can hurl its bolt through several ranks of troops, piercing each warrior in turn. If you hit resolve damage against the target using the bolt thrower's full Strength of 5. If the model is slain then the bolt hits the trooper in the second rank directly behind: resolve damage on the second rank with a strength of 4. If the second rank model is slain then a model in the third rank is hit: resolve damage with a strength of 3. Continue to work out damage as the bolt pierces and slays a model in each rank, deducting -1 from the Strength for each rank pierced.
A model is damaged by a bolt thrower sustains not 1 but D4 wounds, which means larger monsters can be hurt or even slain by a hit from the bolt thrower. Armor saves are not allowed for hits from the bolt thrower, because the missiles are so fast and deadly that any armor is pierced along with its wearer. Because saves are not taken, a target with only one wound will be slain automatically if it takes any damage, so there is no need to roll a D4 to decide the number of wounds.
Profiles
The bolt thrower hurls a sharp tipped spear which causes considerable damage. The chart below shows its details.
Range
Strength
Damage
Save
Bolt throwers are solid constructions made from wood and iron. They have a profile like a creature with a toughness value and a number of wounds which they can sustain before they are destroyed.
The move rate is the speed the bolt thrower can be moved by it's full compliment of two hobgoblin crew. If either of the crew is slain the bolt thrower cannot move and shoot in the same turn except to face its target.
Move
Toughness
Wounds
Loss Of Crew
A bolt thrower has a crew of two and if one crewman is slain then the remaining crewman can just about get by without slowing up the machine noticeably. If both crewman are slain the bolt thrower may not fire!
Summary Of Bolt Throwers
1. Align bolt thrower on target and roll to hit
2. Resolve damage at Strength 5. No save is allowed for a bolt thrower.
3. If the target is slain roll damage against the second rank at strength 4.
4. Continue rolling for damage until you
fail to slay the target or run out of ranks. Deduct -1 from the Strength
for each rank already pierced.
| Bolt Thrower | 42 points |
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