Trebuchet vs. Catapult rant.

TGWarlock

One of my pet peeves is when movies/T.V. shows/games call trebuchet, catapults.

This is a trebuchet


This is a catapult


Normally I just roll my eyes, don't say anything, and move on. But today I just got to a quest ion Wrothgar where a knuckle head NPC actually called his catapults, trebuchet.

It's not that hard, sure they may be called different things in different languages. But one uses gravity, one uses torsion.

Just a rant, fell free to reply or not.

NativeJoe

Well maybe in NIRN they are all called Trebs! lol

Or maybe he was refering to the 300 trebs he had in his pocket...you know right next to the pocket ballistas and pocket base camps

UrQuan

I'd just assume the NPC isn't very well versed in siege warfare. I'd imagine most people, even soldiers, wouldn't really understand the differences - they'd probably just think that a big catapult was a trebuchet without realizing that it actually refers to a specific type of mechanism.

Heck people at work are constantly calling the ballista on my desk a catapult...

Bossdonut

Catapult, trebuchet, M1A1 Abrhams, same ***.

TGWarlock

UrQuan wrote: »

I'd just assume the NPC isn't very well versed in siege warfare. I'd imagine most people, even soldiers, wouldn't really understand the differences - they'd probably just think that a big catapult was a trebuchet without realizing that it actually refers to a specific type of mechanism.

Heck people at work are constantly calling the ballista on my desk a catapult...

Well the NPC was the expert on siege warfare. But he was an orc... so intelligence is in question.

The calling of a ballista a catapult is more what I'm used to, and why this stood out. That's what I just roll my eyes out as is expected. But in this case, calling and catapult by another siege weapon's name just stood out like a sore thumb.

The more I think about it, maybe that was the intent. That the writers used the wrong name on purpose?

UrQuan

TGWarlock wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

I'd just assume the NPC isn't very well versed in siege warfare. I'd imagine most people, even soldiers, wouldn't really understand the differences - they'd probably just think that a big catapult was a trebuchet without realizing that it actually refers to a specific type of mechanism.

Heck people at work are constantly calling the ballista on my desk a catapult...

Well the NPC was the expert on siege warfare. But he was an orc... so intelligence is in question.

The calling of a ballista a catapult is more what I'm used to, and why this stood out. That's what I just roll my eyes out as is expected. But in this case, calling and catapult by another siege weapon's name just stood out like a sore thumb.

The more I think about it, maybe that was the intent. That the writers used the wrong name on purpose?

Was this in the attack on Frostbreak Fortress to go after the Winterborn? If so, I got the impression that the guy in charge of that siege was out of his depth. Probably a good commander in small raids and clashes, but not an expert on more large-scale warfare - and definitely not in siege warfare.

TGWarlock

UrQuan wrote: »

TGWarlock wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

I'd just assume the NPC isn't very well versed in siege warfare. I'd imagine most people, even soldiers, wouldn't really understand the differences - they'd probably just think that a big catapult was a trebuchet without realizing that it actually refers to a specific type of mechanism.

Heck people at work are constantly calling the ballista on my desk a catapult...

Well the NPC was the expert on siege warfare. But he was an orc... so intelligence is in question.

The calling of a ballista a catapult is more what I'm used to, and why this stood out. That's what I just roll my eyes out as is expected. But in this case, calling and catapult by another siege weapon's name just stood out like a sore thumb.

The more I think about it, maybe that was the intent. That the writers used the wrong name on purpose?

Was this in the attack on Frostbreak Fortress to go after the Winterborn? If so, I got the impression that the guy in charge of that siege was out of his depth. Probably a good commander in small raids and clashes, but not an expert on more large-scale warfare - and definitely not in siege warfare.

Pretty sure it was that quest. Though I didn't get a fell that the guy was inept.

Again what stood out to me calling catapults trebuchet, which is normally the opposite.

UrQuan

TGWarlock wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

TGWarlock wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

I'd just assume the NPC isn't very well versed in siege warfare. I'd imagine most people, even soldiers, wouldn't really understand the differences - they'd probably just think that a big catapult was a trebuchet without realizing that it actually refers to a specific type of mechanism.

Heck people at work are constantly calling the ballista on my desk a catapult...

Well the NPC was the expert on siege warfare. But he was an orc... so intelligence is in question.

The calling of a ballista a catapult is more what I'm used to, and why this stood out. That's what I just roll my eyes out as is expected. But in this case, calling and catapult by another siege weapon's name just stood out like a sore thumb.

The more I think about it, maybe that was the intent. That the writers used the wrong name on purpose?

Was this in the attack on Frostbreak Fortress to go after the Winterborn? If so, I got the impression that the guy in charge of that siege was out of his depth. Probably a good commander in small raids and clashes, but not an expert on more large-scale warfare - and definitely not in siege warfare.

Pretty sure it was that quest. Though I didn't get a fell that the guy was inept.

Again what stood out to me calling catapults trebuchet, which is normally the opposite.

No, I wouldn't say inept - just out of his depth. Like someone who was good at his job, and then got promoted too far too fast, and who's trying his best but doesn't have a solid grasp on everything yet. A solid clan warleader who hasn't seen real war until very recently - only smaller scale stuff. That was the impression I got anyway.

TGWarlock

UrQuan wrote: »

TGWarlock wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

TGWarlock wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

I'd just assume the NPC isn't very well versed in siege warfare. I'd imagine most people, even soldiers, wouldn't really understand the differences - they'd probably just think that a big catapult was a trebuchet without realizing that it actually refers to a specific type of mechanism.

Heck people at work are constantly calling the ballista on my desk a catapult...

Well the NPC was the expert on siege warfare. But he was an orc... so intelligence is in question.

The calling of a ballista a catapult is more what I'm used to, and why this stood out. That's what I just roll my eyes out as is expected. But in this case, calling and catapult by another siege weapon's name just stood out like a sore thumb.

The more I think about it, maybe that was the intent. That the writers used the wrong name on purpose?

Was this in the attack on Frostbreak Fortress to go after the Winterborn? If so, I got the impression that the guy in charge of that siege was out of his depth. Probably a good commander in small raids and clashes, but not an expert on more large-scale warfare - and definitely not in siege warfare.

Pretty sure it was that quest. Though I didn't get a fell that the guy was inept.

Again what stood out to me calling catapults trebuchet, which is normally the opposite.

No, I wouldn't say inept - just out of his depth. Like someone who was good at his job, and then got promoted too far too fast, and who's trying his best but doesn't have a solid grasp on everything yet. A solid clan warleader who hasn't seen real war until very recently - only smaller scale stuff. That was the impression I got anyway.

I'll give it to ya. That's why I stick with my username, picked it when I was young, dumb, and full of stupid. (bet you thought I say something else). to remind me of when... (you know the phrase).

But still the trebuchet/catapult just erks me.