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* REMASTERED EDITION *
You vs King Computer
You:
Him:

About the Game

Kannons and Katapults is a legendary turn-based strategy game where you engage in medieval castle warfare. Originally created by Alan Davenport in 1991 during the golden age of BBS door games, this remastered edition brings the classic gameplay to modern Linux and Windows systems—now with the historic addition of Player vs Player multiplayer.

Command your kingdom wisely! Manage your castle's defenses, recruit soldiers from your civilian population, purchase devastating weapons, and employ cunning tactics including assassination attempts. With only one action per turn, every decision matters in your quest to victory by destroying the enemy castle, defeating their army, or through assassination.

Game Modes

Klassic Mode
Challenge King Computer in the original single-player experience. Battle the AI in strategic warfare, just as players did in the 1990s. Perfect your strategy before facing human opponents.
Multiplayer PvP Mode ⚔️ NEW!
For the first time ever, challenge other players in asynchronous turn-based battles. Create games, join matches, and see whose strategy reigns supreme. Separate monthly and all-time rankings track PvP performance.

Gameplay Features

Core Mechanics

  • Classic turn-based castle-versus-castle warfare
  • Strategic resource management: gold, food, troops, and weapons
  • Two primary weapons: inexpensive low-damage kannons and expensive high-damage katapults
  • Recruit soldiers from your civilian population
  • Deploy assassins and guards for covert operations
  • Repair castle walls and manage your treasury
  • Dynamic scoring based on damage dealt

Multiplayer Features

  • Asynchronous turn-based gameplay—play on your schedule
  • Create and join games with custom display names
  • Complete turn history shows opponent's actions
  • Separate PvP and vs-Computer rankings
  • Monthly and all-time leaderboards
  • Game persistence with multiple concurrent matches
  • Comprehensive statistics tracking
⚡ Want a Quick Start? ⚡
Skip the setup and jump straight into live multiplayer games! Join us on The X-League's dedicated Kannons 'n Katapults rlogin game server. Connect via your favorite BBS software and start battling other players immediately—no installation required.
VIEW RLOGIN CONNECTION DETAILS
Hosted by X-Bit BBS • Part of InterBBS League 777 • Supports Synchronet, Mystic, and more

Downloads

Remastered Versions

Modern ports built for Linux and Windows, bringing authentic BBS gameplay with multiplayer PvP to contemporary systems.

Kannons and Katapults - Linux 64-bit
For Linux x86_64 systems • Includes Klassic & PvP modes
DOWNLOAD
Kannons and Katapults - Raspberry Pi
For Pi systems • Includes Klassic & PvP modes
DOWNLOAD
Kannons and Katapults - MS-DOS
For DOS systems • Includes Klassic & PvP modes
DOWNLOAD
Kannons and Katapults - Windows 32-bit
For Windows 32-bit systems • Includes Klassic & PvP modes
DOWNLOAD
Kannons and Katapults - Windows 64-bit
For Windows 64-bit systems • Includes Klassic & PvP modes
DOWNLOAD

Original Versions

The classic DOS door game versions for nostalgia and historical preservation.

Kannons and Katapults v4.4
Final DOS release • September 12, 1995
DOWNLOAD
View All Original Versions
Complete archive from v3.0 to v4.4
VISIT WIKI

History

1991-1995: The BBS Era
Kannons and Katapults was created by Alan Davenport during the golden age of bulletin board systems. The game became a beloved classic of the BBS door game scene, with versions released from v3.0 (May 1991) through the final v4.4 (September 1995). Players would dial into BBSs to compete for the best scores against King Computer.
1993: Critical Recognition
In May 1993, Computer Gaming World's "Telegaming" issue awarded Kannons and Katapults two points out of three, praising its quick gameplay and noting that "the computer fights back fairly well." The review highlighted that an entire game could be completed during a single BBS logon session.
1999: Calculator Port
Jason Radojcsics created a port of Kannons and Katapults for the TI-86 graphing calculator, bringing the strategic gameplay to the classroom and demonstrating the game's enduring appeal.
2009: JavaScript Port
Deuce created a port of Kannons and Katapults for JavaScript, primarily used for Synchronet BBS systems, continuing the game's legacy in the modern BBS community.
2025: The Multiplayer Revolution
After 34 years of single-player battles against King Computer, Kannons and Katapults receives its first-ever Player vs Player multiplayer mode. This historic remaster brings native Linux and Windows builds with asynchronous turn-based PvP, complete game state persistence, turn history playback, and comprehensive rankings. The addition of multiplayer fulfills a dream that players have had since the game's creation, allowing human strategists to finally test their skills against each other in medieval castle warfare. All original gameplay mechanics are preserved while adding modern quality-of-life improvements.

System Requirements

All Versions

  • Compatible with most modern and classic BBS systems (Synchronet, MBBS, Mystic, etc.)
  • Terminal with ANSI color support recommended
  • Minimal system resources required
  • For multiplayer: Shared file system access between BBS nodes
Challenge awaits: Klassic Mode or Multiplayer PvP --> █
Original Game by Alan Davenport (1991-1995) • Remastered Edition with Multiplayer 2025
JavaScript Port by Deuce (2009) • Port & PvP Implementation (2025)
Visit the Official Wiki