STRUCTURES
These are the parts of the castle that you should make good use of, and use to defend your kingdom. Some structures are used to defend the castle during a battle, or when attackers are attacking the castle.
Walls
Walls are upright structures that are constructed to protect and defend an area from certain dangers, such as invaders, natural disasters, etc.
Walls are upright structures that are constructed to protect and defend an area from certain dangers, such as invaders, natural disasters, etc.
- Walls must be sturdy to reduce chance of invaders invading your castle
- They should be tall to prevent invaders, and made of stone to prevent being burned down
- Build multiple layers to provide extra protection against attackers
- Should be thick to prevent invaders or attackers from knocking down the walls
Gatehouse
The gatehouse was the entrance to the castle, and it contained the portcullis, and pulleys and chains that would allow it to rise and be lowered.
The gatehouse was the entrance to the castle, and it contained the portcullis, and pulleys and chains that would allow it to rise and be lowered.
- Use the pulley to rise the portcullis and allow allies into the castle
- Use the pulley to lower the portcullis and block the invaders/attackers
Moats
Moats are bodies of water that surround the castle, and serve as an obstacle for invaders.
Moats are bodies of water that surround the castle, and serve as an obstacle for invaders.
- The people often put waste in the moats, so they were often very dirty
- Invaders wouldn't swim in these, so throw plenty of waste into your moat!
- The only way to cross a moat safely would be by the drawbridge
- Mining/digging under a moat was rather difficult
- They ranged between 3 and 30 feet deep, and were mostly over 12 feet wide
Drawbridge + Portcullis
The purpose of the drawbridge is to allow people in and out of the castle by being lowered.
The purpose of the drawbridge is to allow people in and out of the castle by being lowered.
- The drawbridge should be raised when invaders are attacking your castle, so invaders can't get in.
- The portcullis should be raised for allies, but lowered to prevent invaders from getting in, in case they get onto the drawbridge.
Crenels + Merlons
Often at the top of medieval castles, there are structures that seem to resemble teeth. The openings, or the space in between the "teeth", are called crenels. The merlons are the "teeth".
Often at the top of medieval castles, there are structures that seem to resemble teeth. The openings, or the space in between the "teeth", are called crenels. The merlons are the "teeth".
- Archers stayed behind the merlons, and then shot from the crenels. This way, they stayed hidden and protected, and are able to defend at the same time
Arrow Loops
Arrow loops are slits in the wall. People shoot arrows out these slits without risking being shot. It is in the shape of a cross so they can shoot up, down, left, and right.
Arrow loops are slits in the wall. People shoot arrows out these slits without risking being shot. It is in the shape of a cross so they can shoot up, down, left, and right.
- Shoot invaders through arrow loops to avoid getting hit.
- Use the shape of the cross to change the direction in which you want the arrow to go.
- Point up to shoot higher/up, point down to shoot towards the ground, point to the left to shoot left and point to the right to shoot right.
Murder Holes
Murder holes are holes that were used in defense when invaders got in. These holes would transport stones and boiling water and fall upon the enemy.
Murder holes are holes that were used in defense when invaders got in. These holes would transport stones and boiling water and fall upon the enemy.
- When you spot an enemy below a murder hole, drop some stones or boiling water to attack them
Talus
OTHER NAMES: Batter, Plinth
The talus is an outward slope towards the bottom of a castle wall. They are often hard to break through, due to their great mass. Weapons would also be less effective against the talus, and scaling ladders was also difficult. Attackers often didn't reach the top of the walls, and the ladders broke due to the stresses caused by the angles.
OTHER NAMES: Batter, Plinth
The talus is an outward slope towards the bottom of a castle wall. They are often hard to break through, due to their great mass. Weapons would also be less effective against the talus, and scaling ladders was also difficult. Attackers often didn't reach the top of the walls, and the ladders broke due to the stresses caused by the angles.
- Drop rocks over the wall, which will break against the talus, causing a shower of rocks down the talus, and strike the attackers near the base of the wall
Watchtower
From these tall structures, people can spot attackers that are headed toward them. They have arrow loops and stairs, depending on how the person wants to attack the invader.
From these tall structures, people can spot attackers that are headed toward them. They have arrow loops and stairs, depending on how the person wants to attack the invader.
- Shoot arrows from the arrow loop, and damage the attacker
- If you let invaders into the watchtower, they can attack you while you're using the arrow loop
- You can run down the stairs, with a sword in your hand, and start attacking the attackers
- This method will help with invaders, but if attackers see you they can attack you
Bartizan
Similar to watchtowers, people can look out for any attackers from the bartizan. They are located around the highest points of the castle. Bartizans are basically turrets projected from the castle walls.
Similar to watchtowers, people can look out for any attackers from the bartizan. They are located around the highest points of the castle. Bartizans are basically turrets projected from the castle walls.
- Warn the people of the castle when attackers are spotted
- Shoot attackers from the bartizan
Barbican
The barbican is the outside defense that defended the entrance of the castle. The barbican varies in different kind of forms, such as mazes or towers.
The barbican is the outside defense that defended the entrance of the castle. The barbican varies in different kind of forms, such as mazes or towers.
- They often tricked attackers into entering a seemingly endless maze, and slowing down the attackers.
- They were often walled passages that extended from the front of the gatehouse, looking like gateways/hallways
- Some had watchtowers that contained defenders that would attack the attackers, or warn the others when attackers are spotted
WEAPONS & TACTICS
What weapons should you use to help defend your castle? The weapons listed below each serve different purposes, and should be sufficient when defending your castle.
Cannons
Cannons are weapons used to fire large and heavy projectiles.
Cannons are weapons used to fire large and heavy projectiles.
- Fire them when attackers are spotted near the castle
- Beware of the gunpowder exploding too early (malfunction)
- Reload time may be slower
Bow and Arrows
Bow and arrows are classic weapons for archers, mostly used as a long-range weapon.
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Trebuchets
Trebuchets are used to lob projectiles at the enemies. Trebuchets are basically catapults, but instead used a sling shot to fire at the attacker.
Trebuchets are used to lob projectiles at the enemies. Trebuchets are basically catapults, but instead used a sling shot to fire at the attacker.
- One end of sling is permanently fixed to the beam, while the other end should be tied in a loop and be put on the release pin on the same end of the beam
- Place an object in the sling shot, and pull it to the end where the counterweight is located
- Push it along the guide chute, and then the sling will exit the chute
- The counterweight will pull down, and the beam will rise
- The loop on the release pin should still be held
- The sling will swing in an arc and then the loop will fall off the release pin and fling the object
Mangonels
Mangonels are catapults that fling projectiles toward the enemies. They rely on the tension in ropes to propel an object through the air. The arm with a bucket is loaded with a projectile that will be lobbed toward the enemy, and the tension is stored like a spring.
Mangonels are catapults that fling projectiles toward the enemies. They rely on the tension in ropes to propel an object through the air. The arm with a bucket is loaded with a projectile that will be lobbed toward the enemy, and the tension is stored like a spring.
- Once the enemy is spotted, place a projectile into the bucket to lob at them
- Pull back the arm, and when you let go the object will leave the bucket
Swords
Swords are weapons that are shaped like blades that can be used for fighting and defending. Swords are more often used as a physical face-to-face combat weapon, and are rarely thrown to inflict some sort of damage.
Swords are weapons that are shaped like blades that can be used for fighting and defending. Swords are more often used as a physical face-to-face combat weapon, and are rarely thrown to inflict some sort of damage.
- Knights may carry swords to fight off the attackers by just swinging their swords and hitting the enemy as hard as possible to inflict as much damage as possible
Crossbows
Crossbows are weapons that were based on the original bow, meaning it was also used for long range. They shot projectiles called bolts and quarrels. These bolts and quarrels were made from wood, and had steel points.
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Ladders
Attackers may use ladders to attempt to break through your castle's defense (by break through, I mean getting to the inside of your castle, not throwing ladders or smashing ladders to destroy walls). They may place the ladder on a wall, and climb into your castle, sometimes completely unnoticed.
Attackers may use ladders to attempt to break through your castle's defense (by break through, I mean getting to the inside of your castle, not throwing ladders or smashing ladders to destroy walls). They may place the ladder on a wall, and climb into your castle, sometimes completely unnoticed.
- When an enemy is spotted climbing a ladder, immediately shoot an arrow, pour boiling water, or move the ladder away from the wall
Mining
Some attackers would mine to attack a castle from underground, which was very effective but time-consuming. They would dig a tunnel that ended under the walls, but under the gatehouse was one of the most effective places to attack. Attackers would set a charge that makes an explosion that will weaken the walls, and eventually cause them to collapse.
Some attackers would mine to attack a castle from underground, which was very effective but time-consuming. They would dig a tunnel that ended under the walls, but under the gatehouse was one of the most effective places to attack. Attackers would set a charge that makes an explosion that will weaken the walls, and eventually cause them to collapse.
- If you don't see the miners, either you're not being attacked by miners or they've already dug under your castle, ready to explode you
- If you are aware of the miners, you can attack them if they haven't gotten far into the ground
- If the miners are already underground, you would also have to mine under your castle to meet with them and engage in a sword battle (most of the time)
- Mining under a moat would take longer
Fire
Fire is a flame that is created from the substances that chemically combine with oxygen. Fire gives off heat, light, and smoke.
Fire is a flame that is created from the substances that chemically combine with oxygen. Fire gives off heat, light, and smoke.
- Attackers may use fire to destroy your walls if they are made of wood, but stone walls are more durable and resists the fire
- Keep water in hand to put the fire out to prevent it from spreading to cause damage