Cannons

Cannons are powerful artillery weapons that have been used for years in warfare and other applications. They are large, heavy firearms designed to launch heavy projectiles over long distances with great force. There are various types of cannons, each serving specific purposes and possessing unique characteristics. In this article, we will explore some of the most common types of cannons and their overall features.

## General Information

Cannons come in various shapes and sizes, but they all share some common elements. These include:

* **Design and Material**: The choice of material affects the cannon's durability, weight, and firing capabilities.
* **Ammunition**: Cannons use gunpowder as a propellant to launch projectiles. The type and size of the projectiles vary depending on the cannon's purpose.
* **Angles and Aiming**: Cannons can be adjusted to different angles to control the trajectory of the fired projectiles. This allows for different firing distances and targeting options.
* **Firing Mechanism**: Cannons use various methods to ignite the gunpowder and propel the projectile. This can include flint and steel, autoaim mechanisms, or other firing items.

## Types of Cannons

### Classic Cannon

The Classic Cannon is a basic, small, and cheap cannon design. It is often constructed with wool and is not as durable as other types. The Classic Cannon is suitable for simple applications and short-range firing.

#### Specifications:

* **Description**: A small, cheap cannon - nothing fancy. Will break very easily since it is made out of wool.
* **Maximum Gunpowder**: 3
* **Maximum Projectile Velocity**: 2.7 times the loaded gunpowder
* **Horizontal Angle Range**: -45.0 to 45.0 degrees
* **Vertical Angle Range**: -45.0 to 45.0 degrees

### Iron Cannon

The Iron Cannon is a more robust and sturdy design compared to the Classic Cannon. It is made of iron, providing increased durability and better performance. The Iron Cannon is suitable for medium-range firing and can handle larger amounts of gunpowder.

#### Specifications:

* **Description**: Compact iron cannon. Sturdier than the wool design.
* **Maximum Gunpowder**: 5
* **Maximum Projectile Velocity**: 3.5 times the loaded gunpowder
* **Horizontal Angle Range**: -45.0 to 45.0 degrees
* **Vertical Angle Range**: -45.0 to 45.0 degrees

## How to Fire

### Loading a Cannon

1. **Cleaning**: Begin by cleaning the cannon barrel with a stick (ramrod) to remove soot. Click the barrel until it's clean enough for firing. If your cannon produces minimal soot, cleaning might not be necessary all the time.
2. **Loading Gunpowder**: Load gunpowder into the cannon by clicking the barrel with gunpowder. The amount of gunpowder loaded will determine the projectile's speed. There is a recommended maximum gunpowder load per cannon, but overloading the cannon can increase range at the risk of explosion.
	* TIP: You can check the explosion probability by clicking the loaded cannon with a gold nugget (thermometer).
3. **Loading Projectile**: Load the desired cannonball by right-clicking with the projectile on the barrel. Various projectiles are available in the list below.
4. **Pushing Projectile**: Push the projectile with the stick into the barrel by right-clicking. Once this is done, the cannon is ready to fire.

### Aiming

Before firing, it's essential to adjust the cannon's aim to hit the target. Aiming can be done manually or automatically depending on the method chosen:

1. **Manual Aiming**: Right-click the barrel with no item in hand to adjust the aim up/down and left/right. Press Shift + Right-click to invert the aiming (e.g., click the upper part and still aim down).
2. **Autoaiming**: Activate autoaiming by clicking the cannon with a clock. In this mode, change the angle by looking in the direction and holding Shift. Releasing Shift will lock the angle.

### Firing

Once you've aimed at the target and loaded the cannon, you can initiate firing in the following ways:

1. Click the torch on the cannon.
2. After activating this, the cannon will fire after a short time.

## Heat Management

Both types of cannons utilize heat management to prevent overheating. When a cannon fires, it generates heat, and excessive heat can lead to damage or even explosions. Heat management involves various mechanisms to cool down the cannon after firing.

#### Heat Management Features:

* Automatic temperature control to prevent firing if the temperature is too high.
* Touching a hot cannon can cause damage and slow down the player.
* Cooling items, such as water buckets, can be used to cool down the cannon.
* Cannon temperature is displayed, and warning and critical temperature thresholds are set to prevent damage.

## Overloading

Overloading is a feature that allows cannons to be loaded with more gunpowder than their standard capacity. However, overloading increases the risk of explosions after firing, making it a high-risk option.

Cannons can explode if overloaded with gunpowder, and the chance of explosion depends on the number of overloaded gunpowder and the cannon's temperature.

## Impact Predictor

The Impact Predictor is a feature that shows the predicted impact location of a loaded cannon. It can be useful for aiming and adjusting the cannon's angles. The impact location is shown after the last angle change of the cannon.

## Types of Projectiles

On Zenith, cannons are an essential part of combat and siege warfare. To cater to diverse playstyles, we offer a variety of cannon projectiles, each with unique characteristics and effects. Below, we introduce you to the different types of cannon projectiles available for your battles:

1. **Canistershot:**
	* **Description**: Turns your cannon into a giant shotgun, spraying enemies with a barrage of projectiles.
	* **Item**: Melon Seed
	* **Special Characteristics**: Canistershot fires 8 bullets in a spread pattern (Spread: 10 blocks), making it ideal for close-quarters combat. It does not cause explosions or penetrate blocks, but can deal direct hit damage to players (50 HP). It has no time fuse, and each magazine holds 2 rounds.
2. **Cannonball**:
	* **Description**: A cheap and simple cannonball used in basic attacks.
	* **Item**: Cobblestone
	* **Special Characteristics**: Cannonball is straightforward and doesn't have any special effects. It travels with a velocity of 0.5 blocks per second, dealing a moderate direct hit damage to players (100 HP). It can penetrate weaker blocks, making it capable of breaking through weaker materials like wood and stone.
3. **Hardened Cannonball**:
	* **Description**: This cannonball contains a diamond and can even break obsidian.
	* **Item**: Diamond
	* **Special Characteristics**: Hardened Cannonball is made of a diamond, granting it superior penetration power. It can break through obsidian, one of the toughest materials in Minecraft. This cannonball also deals extra damage and set enemies on fire.
4. **Teleporter Projectile**:
	* **Description**: This cannonball will teleport you to the impact location.
	* **Item**: Ender Pearl
	* **Special Characteristics**: Teleporter Projectile is an Ender Pearl used as ammunition. Upon impact, it teleports you to the location of impact, allowing for swift movement and strategic positioning. It doesn't cause explosions, but it can deal direct hit damage to players (100 HP).
5. **Firecharge**:
	* **Description**: Cause massive amounts of fire on impact.
	* **Item**: Fire Charge
	* **Special Characteristics**: Firecharge has a spread effect upon impact (Spread: 2 blocks), causing fires to spread rapidly and engulf your foes. It also has a powerful explosion with an explosion power to engulf a large area. It can be used to create chaos and disruption on the battlefield.
6. **Piercing Cannonball**:
	* **Description**: This cannonball pierces through strong blocks.
	* **Item**: Obsidian
	* **Special Characteristics**: Piercing Cannonball has impressive penetration capabilities, allowing it to penetrate through stronger materials like obsidian. It also causes enemies to catch fire upon impact.
7. **Clusterbomb**:
	* **Description**: Spawn primed TNT on impact.
	* **Item**: TNT
	* **Special Characteristics**: Clusterbomb explodes into a cluster of 5 primed TNTs, creating a chain reaction of explosions. It has an explosion power that can deal significant damage to players. Use it strategically to devastate enemy defenses.

Each cannon projectile offers a unique playstyle and strategy. Experiment with different combinations to find the perfect ammunition that suits your gameplay and crush your enemies in the world of Zenith! Enjoy the exciting battles ahead!