Crossbows and Catapults (1983 Lakeside, Complete Battle Set): The Siege Game That Defined a Generation

There are board games that you play and forget, and then there are games that occupy a specific location in childhood memory with unusual permanence. For millions of children who grew up in the 1980s, Crossbows and Catapults falls firmly in the latter category. The game was tactile in a way that most games of its era were not. You actually launched actual projectiles at actual targets. The stakes felt real.

Published by Lakeside Games in the United States starting in 1983 (it had European origins and was known in the UK as Crossbows and Catapults and in Germany as Rampart), the game was essentially a siege warfare simulator reduced to its most satisfying core: build your fortress walls, load your siege weapon, and try to knock down your opponent's defenses before they knocked down yours.

What the Game Included

A complete Crossbows and Catapults "Complete Battle Set" included:

Fortress components: Interlocking plastic wall sections, towers, and battlements in two player colors (typically red vs. blue or yellow vs. green). These stacked and interlocked to build custom fortresses.

Siege weapons:

• Ballista (a tension-powered projectile launcher)

• Catapult (a counterweight-style flipper)

• Some versions included additional weapon types

Ammunition: Flat rubber discs (primary ammunition), sometimes foam balls or other projectile types depending on version.

Warrior figures: Small plastic warrior figures to defend the battlements.

Rules: Instructions covering the basic game format and optional variants.

The key word in "complete" is completeness of the ammunition. Rubber discs were the most easily lost component, and most surviving sets are missing at least some discs.

The "Complete Battle Set" vs. Base Set

Lakeside produced the game in multiple configurations. The base "Battle Set" included one of each weapon type and enough fortress components for a basic game. The "Complete Battle Set" or "Grand Battle Set" versions included more weapons, more fortress pieces, and more ammunition. When buying, verify:

• Number of siege weapons (how many catapults? how many ballista?)

• Wall section and tower count per player

• Number of ammunition discs

Condition Grades and Value

The siege weapons are the most valuable single components because they are mechanically interesting and most often broke from actual play. Working siege weapons in good mechanical condition are essential.

What Made It Special

The physical, kinetic satisfaction of Crossbows and Catapults was genuinely unusual among 1980s board games. Most games were entirely passive physically: you moved a token, drew a card, rolled a die. This game asked you to aim, calibrate, and actually launch something.

The fortress-building element also elevated the game. Unlike games with fixed boards, you built your own defenses at the start of each game. Did you build high thin walls that were hard to hit but toppled easily? Wide low battlements that were more stable? These choices made each game feel different and gave players a creative stake in the setup.

Finding a Complete Set

Complete sets in excellent condition are genuinely uncommon. The game was well-used by most of its original owners, and the small rubber discs were lost with the enthusiasm of active play. A complete set with all ammunition intact typically sat in a box rarely opened.

When buying, ask first: Are all siege weapons present and functional? Are fortress wall sections complete in both colors? How many rubber discs are included?

The Modern Nostalgia Market

Crossbows and Catapults occupies a powerful nostalgia position for adults who grew up in the 1980s. Parents who remember the game often seek copies to share with their own children. This sustained demand keeps values reasonable and interest active in the secondary market.

The game was reissued in newer versions, but collectors and nostalgic buyers specifically seek the original Lakeside version for its specific aesthetic and the memory attached to it.

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