Does an articifer have disadvantage on an attack from his force ballista if an opponent is within 5 ft of the ballista or the articifer? And would the ballista provoke an opportunity attack if it moves? PHB pg 195, "You can make an opportunity attack when a hostile creature that you can see moves out of your reach."

An eldritch cannon isn't a creature.

— Dan Dillon 👥 (@Dan_Dillon_1) January 23, 2020