Top Ballista
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Author | Carl Sargent |
|---|---|
| Genre | Role-playing game |
| Publisher | TSR |
Publication date | 1989 |
Top Ballista is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Top Ballista is a supplement for a campaign setting in the city of Serraine, populated by the magical biplane-piloting skygnomes, and presents rules to create player characters (PCs) of skygnomes and other races.[1]
The aerial city of Serraine flies over the Known World carrying its skygnome inhabitants, creators of bizarre yet workable inventions. The book describes the flying aces of the Top Ballista squadrons, gnomes who pilot flying machines, World War I style fighter planes, equipped with lightning guns and synchronized crossbows.[2] Creatures featured in the product, all living in Serraine, are faenare (birdmen able to create spell-like effects through songs), gnomes, gremlins, harpies, nagpa (vulture-headed humanoids), pegataurs (winged centaurs), sphinxes, and tabi (catlike creatures).[2] Each of these races is introduced by a character who describes their cultures, evolution, and lifestyles. Some creatures start with negative experience points totals when used as PCs.[2]
There are three adventures for characters of various experience point levels. The first contains a basilisk that must be defeated by the PCs. The longest adventure is for characters of levels 7–11, and is set within the flying city. The opening stages require a fair bit of detective work from the PCs, and after the investigation in the city, the PCs chase the villain through the air in one of the planes.[2]
Publication history
PC2 Top Ballista was written by Carl Sargent and published by TSR in 1989.[1] The package included a sixty-four page booklet, a thirty-two page adventure booklet, a full-color map of the city, and a two-panel card cover.[2] Editing was by Jennell Jaquays[a], with cover and interior illustrations by John Lakey.[2]