AOK:PETARD

From GenieWiki

This unit class contains only the petard

The petard is a demolition infantry unit armed with explosives used primarily against buildings, walls and siege weapons. It is one of the new units added in the Conquerors expansion pack and is available to all civilizations. The petard is portrayed as a large bald man with a beard carrying a barrel of gunpowder under each arm.

Petards self destruct upon attack, dealing splash damage to the surrounding area. This is similar to the Martyrdom sacrifice of priests for instant conversion in Age of Empires. They are used most effectively against buildings. However its effect on units is disappointing, though if positioned to damage many adjacent units at once they may be worthwhile. Because petards die when used, they are an expensive method of damaging buildings. They are useful for a quick take-down of a vital structure like a castle, but very costly for a prolonged siege, where rams or a trebuchet would be more cost efficient. Petards cannot garrison inside battering rams.

In history petards were large bombs full of gunpowder that were pressed against the walls or foundations of an enemy fortification and set off. The operator was in great danger because the petard could light early and explode before he had time to get away. The word petard originally meant to break wind.

Use in scenario design

In custom scenarios petards are often used to represent porters, as they appear to be carrying a barrel (e.g. of wine). They are also used for their explosive effect, for example creating and destroying them with a trigger to create an explosion or fire effect. This was used spectacularly in the early days of Age of Kings scenario design by Ingo van Thiel in The Quest. The effect can also be used more subtly, for example behind the chimney of a house to create a smoke effect, as seen in Teuton in Love

Petards can also be modified in their use with triggers. For example, petards could be made effective for defending choke points against units by increasing their attack. A petard could also be used to blow up buildings (e.g. houses) simply by approaching them with the petard and having the player click on the building, which could then set off a timer for the house to blow up. Any units around the house could be killed with triggers, and explosion effects created with more petards, or a bird explosion.

Statistics

Petards are costly in terms of food and killed fairly easily. They have a large attack bonus against buildings, especially with siege engineers researched, and can be devestating in a group. They are killed very easily by melee units, with slightly more resistance against arrows.

• Cost: 80F, 20G
• HP: 50
• Attack:25 Siege Engineers = +40% attack)
• Attack bonus vs. buildings
• Armor:0/2
• Range:0
• Speed:Medium
• Special attributes: Self-destruct on attack, splash damage