Construction

When PCs wish to construct strongholds or any other type of building, the following procedure should be used:

1. Permission: If the land to be built on falls within the dominion of an existing ruler, permission must usually be sought. When building in uncharted wilderness, this is not required.
2. Clear land: If the construction site is in the wilderness, all monsters in a 6-mile area must be killed or driven off. On a typical wilderness hex map with a scale of 6 miles per hex, this means all monster lairs in a single hex.
3. Design: The player creates a plan for the stronghold and calculates the construction cost (see prices in Structures).
4. Review: The referee should review and approve the player’s plans.
5. Hire engineers: For every 100,000gp cost of the stronghold, the PC must hire one engineer (see Specialists).
6. Construction: Once the land has been cleared and construction materials delivered, construction may commence. The stronghold’s total cost determines the time required to build it: one day of game time per 500gp.
7. Prepare for settlers: If the PC wishes to found a dominion and attract settlers, a wider area around the stronghold should be cleared of dangers (see Domain Management)

Building in Towns

Permission: While local rulers may allow PCs to build in a town, it is unlikely that they will grant permission for the construction of castles or fortifications.

Costs: When building in an existing town or city, the proximity of materials and labor greatly reduce the costs.

• Stone buildings: Reduced by 60%.

• Wooden buildings: Reduced by 80%.

Domain Management

Maintaining Cleared Lands

To prevent monsters from returning to cleared lands, mercenaries may be hired to conduct patrols. Regular patrols can prevent monsters from re-inhabiting the area up to 18 miles around the stronghold. In difficult terrain (e.g. jungle, swamp, mountains), a garrison must be stationed every 6 miles.

Settlers

If the PC spends additional funds on improving a cleared area, settlers may be attracted to move in. For example, the character might commission the construction of inns, docks, mills, and so on. Advertising may also be necessary. The referee will determine the costs involved and how many settlers are attracted.

Taxation

If settlers move into the PC’s domain, the character will receive an income of 10gp of taxes per year from each settler.

Structures

Structure Prices

Descriptions

Barbican: Heavily fortified entry/exit point in a castle wall: two small towers, a gatehouse, and a drawbridge.

Bastion: Semi-circular tower built against a castle wall. 30’ base, 30’ high, walls 5’ thick.

Civilian building, stone: Two levels; wooden stairs, doors, floors, and roof; attic. Outer wall 120’ long (e.g. 30’×30’), walls 1–2’ thick.

Civilian building, wood: Two levels; wooden stairs, doors, floors, and roof; attic. Outer wall 120’ long (e.g. 30’×30’).

Drawbridge: Raiseable wooden bridge crossing a moat. May be attached to a gatehouse. 10’ long.

Gatehouse: Fortified entry/exit point in a castle wall. Includes a portcullis. 30’×30’ base, 20’ high, walls 5’ thick.

Keep: Fortified, central building of a castle. 60’ square, 80’ high, walls 10’ thick.

Moat: Defensive ditch, often filled with water. 100’ long, 20’ wide, 10’ deep.

Subterranean passage: Typical 10’×10’×10’ dungeon passageway.

Tower, large: Round tower, either freestanding or built into a castle wall. 30’ base, 40’ high, walls 5’ thick.

Tower, small: Round tower, either freestanding or built into a castle wall. 20’ base, 30’ high, walls 5’ thick.

Wall, castle: Stone wall with battlements. 100’ long, 20’ high, 10’ thick.

Non-Standard Dimensions

Bastions

Bastions of dimensions other than those listed may be constructed. Use the guidelines for towers, below, and divide by two.

Castle Walls

Higher castle walls may be constructed at increased cost. A 100’ length of 30’ high wall costs 7,500gp. Every additional 10’ of height beyond this (up to a maximum of 60’ high) costs 5,000gp.

Towers

Towers of dimensions other than those listed may be constructed. The cost is determined by the height of the tower and the diameter of its base (in feet).

• Maximum height: Twice the base diameter.
• Up to the base diameter: Each 10’ of height costs 200gp × the base diameter.
• Above the base diameter: Each 10’ of height costs 400gp × the base diameter.

Example Tower Cost Calculation

A 60’ high tower with a 40’ diameter base is to be constructed.

The cost will be 8,000gp (40 × 200gp) per 10’ for the first 40’ of height and 16,000gp (40 × 400gp) per 10’ for the remainder of the height.

The total cost is thus (8,000gp × 4) + (16,000gp × 2) = 64,000gp.

Interior Features

The common interior features of a stronghold are listed in the table below.

Simple Approach

For simplicity, the cost of a stronghold may be increased by 25% to account for interior details, including: reinforced doors, stone stairs, flagstone flooring, tile roofing, windows or arrow slits, bars and shutters on windows, and standard furnishings.

Detailed Approach

If the group wishes to perform more detailed calculations or if additional features are desired, the table below may be consulted.

Structure Interior Features