The Ribald is a short-ranged, but mobile and fast firing cannon unique to Savoy. It has a smaller bonus against buildings and a shorter attack and range than other artillery units, but is faster and much more durable. The Ribald upgrades to the Ribaudequin.
Unit Statistics[]
Vital[]
Type: Artillery
Available to: Savoy
Built at: Castle
Century: 14th
Cost: 100 Wood, 75 Florins, 2 population shots
Combat[]
HP: 200
Attack: 20
Armor/Pierce Armor: 1/8
Range: 7
Splash: 0.5
Special: +60 vs. stone buildings, +30 vs. all other buildings.
Upgrades[]
Upgrades to: Ribaudequin
Upgrade Century: 15th
Speed: Cannon Foundries (Savoyard Unique Technology)
Commentary/Strategy[]
At first, ribalds seem like a replacement for later, more traditional cannons: they're faster, more durable, cheaper, don't need Chemistry, and are produced quicker. But they have a shorter range and take damage from anticavalry units. (That's because they're based on AOK's elephants.) A large force of these can smash through fortifications and slow-moving archers or infantry, but like with all siege equipment, they should have an escort, preferably consisting of foot units. The shorter range also means that while they can take down especially walls or town halls with little effort and deal out a good punch to single placed towers, taking on large numbers of castles or high-end is a job better left to your Culverins.
Historical Background[]
With its strategic position on both sides of the Alps, Savoy had the opportunity of being able to observe military developments in both Italy and France. After the invention of gunpowder, it was quickly being pioneered by Italian gunners. The Savoyards were eagerly following this development and were not shying away from adopting the new fire-arms. Batteries of ribalds or ribaudequins were a result of this.