JHermes said:
You can do something similar to what you suggested, using agent_set_hit_points to set all troops within say 7 feet of a cannonball impact to 0hp. Problem is that even though they have 0hp they won't fall over dead until hit by another troop.
There is only one projectile in M&B, and while making it larger might work, it would also affect the basic firearms.
You can't make several NPC's fire at once, or at least not by any way I know of.
all true - but I'd suggest the following way out:
that you make one cannon prop (either as a horse or as body armour) and 2 cannon weapons:
1 x canister + 1x solid shot.
canister (and shrapnel) would rarely kill, becasue the projectiles are small and unaimed. Therefore, using the agent set hitpoints script is a VERY GOOD approximation of the effect: lots of wounds, and, if you have other ranged weapons too, their added fire would soon turn these wounded to dead.
Solid shot would be basically the same as a giant rifle - it would have enough damage (150+p) to kill every time, but only kill one enemy. Again, realistic, as M&B AI will almost always assume a looser formation akin to a skirmish line.
For canister, if you make the weapon THROWN, then you can give it a weapon length of 150 or so, which means it will hit things very easily even if it doesn't go close to them, thus triggering the agent set hitpoints script.....
edit - maybe make the canister BLUNT so that it will also knockback those it hits?