Looking for castle book

Fat Dragon Games · Post by **Fat Dragon Games** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:22 pm

Can anyone suggest a good book (not necessarily written for RPGs) that shows designs and floorplans for castles?
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Breakdaddy · Post by **Breakdaddy** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:31 pm

I recall this one being pretty good:
http://www.profantasy.com/products/smc.asp

Not a book of course, but maybe what youre looking for?

Aneoth of Ironwood · Post by **Aneoth of Ironwood** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:18 pm

There were a few Books published by Judges Guild that might prove to be helpful.

Book of Ruins:
http://www.acaeum.com/jg/Item0460.html

Castle Book I:
http://www.acaeum.com/jg/Item0060.html

Castle Book II:
http://www.acaeum.com/jg/Item0140.html

All of them are still readily available on places like E-Bay for only a small amount of money.

Another book I really like was published by Palladium, but it is mostly about Arms and Armor, though it does include a nice chapter about Castles with several floor plans; some of which are based on real castles that are still standing today.
http://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... 663#116663

Also not much cost as used books go (normally) but the Palladium books are often harder to find.

Secret Skeleton · Post by **Secret Skeleton** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:20 pm

The 3.0 Stronghold Builder's Guide is a really good places to go for building a castle, keep, etc. It is not too big on floor plans, though.

clavis123 · Post by **clavis123** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:22 pm

I heartily recommend David Macaulay's "Castle". Although intended for children, it is a thorough, well-research and beautifully illustrated treatment of the design and construction of a medieval castle from planning to completion.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:49 pm

clavis123 wrote:
I heartily recommend David Macaulay's "Castle". Although intended for children, it is a thorough, well-research and beautifully illustrated treatment of the design and construction of a medieval castle from planning to completion.

I have this book on my shelf, and can't recommend it enough. It is intended for children, but it's still a quality book that doesn't bore (in other words, lots of nice pictures!).

I hate soundling like that guy, but I found a lot of neat result in Google Images, searching for "castle floorplans."

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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:01 pm

clavis123 wrote:
I heartily recommend David Macaulay's "Castle". Although intended for children, it is a thorough, well-research and beautifully illustrated treatment of the design and construction of a medieval castle from planning to completion.

I like, and have, it as well.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:15 pm

The big blue book from Palladium (The Compendium of Weapons, Armour, and Castles) has several castle floor plans as well. One that I think is pretty fun but not a RPG book is Castles and Tower Houses of the Scottish Clans 1450-1650.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:30 pm

serleran wrote:
One that I think is pretty fun but not a RPG book is Castles and Tower Houses of the Scottish Clans 1450-1650.

I've looked at that one on and off again as well, but haven't broke down and bought it, yet.
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dunbruha · Post by **dunbruha** » Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:15 pm

Fantastic Fortresses: Castles & Keeps
http://www.darkfuries.com/books/pi7001.shtml

A little pricy, but great detail.

Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:43 am

Quote:
The big blue book from Palladium (The Compendium of Weapons, Armour, and Castles) has several castle floor plans as well

+1

Also, I have waisted a lot of time at work searching for things like this and have a few good links saved on my work computer. I also downloaded some of the floor plans and even artist renditions of some of the better castle plans. Unfortunately the links and pics are all on my work computer, and the AF has a firewall up so I can't hit this site from my work computer. That being said, tomorrow after work I might be able to post the links here, but it'll be after I get home from work.
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Aneoth of Ironwood · Post by **Aneoth of Ironwood** » Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:34 pm

A portion of the review I linked to above (See quote below for link)

Quote:
The Compendium of Weapons, Armour & Castles.

Palladium Books.

By Mathew Balent; 1989.

Over 700 weapons, 40 types of Armour, 40 Castles with floor plans

Siege weapons, laying siege tactics and plan layout.

Soft cover, 224 pages.

Original Price $19.95

The book has hundreds of sketches and even more descriptions of almost every type of ancient weapon one might think of.

Five pages are dedicated to the knife alone and for some folks here who love to talk CLUBS; Clubs take up two pages as a type of weapon and even more clubs are sprinkled about in the weapons library as well.

Many types of amour are listed with sketches, including several for horses and one type for elephants.

For Japanese Samurai Armour (c. 1500-1700 A.D.) the book shows step by step donning instructions, with Japanese names for each piece of Armour.

(Pg. 138, see scan below)
Castles and fortifications, with plan view pencil sketches and overhead ground floor plans, some also include every floor and dungeon level plans.

Many examples of actual European Castles, both ancient and still standing.

At the end of the book, there are a few pages dedicated to gunpowder weapons, Cannon and handguns (Powder).

Aneoth of Ironwood wrote:
......Another book I really like was published by Palladium, but it is mostly about Arms and Armor, though it does include a nice chapter about Castles with several floor plans; some of which are based on real castles that are still standing today.
http://www.acaeum.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... 663#116663

Also not much cost as used books go (normally) but the Palladium books are often harder to find.

So, might 40 Castle floor plans be enough to get you started?

Lurker · Post by **Lurker** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:33 am

I know I had more than one site ...

Try this for a start & I'll keep looking
http://www.caithness.org/caithness/cast ... sindex.htm
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Sundog · Post by **Sundog** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:38 pm

In my opinion, possibly the best castle book I've read is "The English Castle" by Francois Matarasso. It's got drawings, plans, and the developmental history of the castle both as structure and its social and military role. It has an honoured place on my bookshelf.
http://www.amazon.com/English-Castle-Fr ... 526&sr=1-1

LordSeurek · Post by **LordSeurek** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 8:01 pm

Secret Skeleton wrote:
The 3.0 Stronghold Builder's Guide is a really good places to go for building a castle, keep, etc. It is not too big on floor plans, though.

Agree with Mickey. This is the resource I have used quite frequently.
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 8:04 pm

LordSeurek wrote:
Agree with Mickey. This is the resource I have used quite frequently.

He is SS? I thought they were different people? Dang! I'm so slow in my old age!
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Kayolan · Post by **Kayolan** » Sun Apr 04, 2010 8:20 pm

Treebore wrote:
He is SS? I thought they were different people? Dang! I'm so slow in my old age!

Mick is Eastern Front Studios. I think he is connected to SS somehow.

?

Mick Leach · Post by **Mick Leach** » Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:44 am

yep Secret Skellie is Wes.We both are into minis