Kataparuto (Japanese: カタパルト, Catapult) is a technology in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors that is unique to the Japanese and can be researched at the Castle once the Imperial Age is reached. Once researched, it allows Trebuchets to pack and unpack four times faster, and fire 33% faster.
Strategy[]
Kataparuto lowers the pack/unpack time of Trebuchets from about 11 seconds to about 3 seconds, and it also allows them to fire 33% faster. Trebuchets become a lot more versatile as they are much more maneuverable and can escape from combat. Their faster firing rate also means that they can take down enemy buildings faster, and become valuable in defense. With the increased maneuverability Japanese Trebuchets can fulfill the anti-building role that Siege Rams or Bombard Cannons fulfill.
Kataparuto excels in winning what is commonly called "Treb wars", as Trebuchets with Kataparuto inevitably win on average versus generic Trebuchets if they are attacking each other. This makes the technology useful to defend against enemy siege attacks once a big enough mass of defending Trebuchets is amassed. The technology can then be reused if the same Trebuchets are used offensively later.
Team bonuses[]
Portuguese: Researching Kataparuto is 25% faster.
Changelog[]
The Conquerors[]
Dynasties of India[]
- With update 81058, Kataparuto costs 550 wood, 300 gold.
Trivia[]
- Both the name and the spirit of this technology are ahistorical:
- The word "Kataparuto" is "カタパルト" written in romaji characters, which itself is nothing other than the English word "catapult" rendered in katakana characters.
- Historically, the Japanese had practically no siege weapons before the arrival of gunpowder. Medieval Japanese castles were usually wooden hillforts, so it was neither necessary nor practical to operate heavy siege equipment in the squidgy hills, where these forts were typically located.
History[]
| “ | For most of the period when the samurai traditions dominated Japanese life the conduct of the individual warrior was the focus of their culture. When more pragmatic men came to power, they put greater emphasis on the effective employment of large armies, often including men of low social rank. New technologies were embraced, most notably the firearm, but also better siege weapons to force enemies from strongholds. The last great battle of samurai was forced by a siege that made a stronghold indefensible. | ” |
| —The Conquerors manual | ||
