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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hitokiri" data-source="post: 1979626" data-attributes="member: 26469">Well, if we are looking at a standard castle straight out of the dark ages, then I doubt that the defenders could win if they were being opposed by a force with a mid to high level spellcaster.  HOWEVER, I think it would be foolish to assume that castles would be designed exactly the same in a world where magic was prevelent.  Castles would be designed to deal with magical assaults.  The arcitechture, building, and running of a castle would have to take all of this into account.  Castles would be designed to prevent ay single spell from overwhelming them.  The outer wall, for example, could actually be a series of 2 or 3 walls, with only a small gap in between.  A single disintigrate spell may put a hole large enough to walk an elephant through the first wall, but as it only affects a single target would leave the remaining walls standing firm.  Stoneshape could be thwarted by placing a thin shhet of metal down the center of a wall.  The ramparts and parapet could include a stone roof, perfect for protecting the troops against call lightning.  Arrow slit may have shutters covered in soaked leather that can be tightly shut to prevent an incoming fireball, lightning, or other attack spells, as well as providing a barrier to intruders in gaseous form.  Perhaps the building material itself could be enchanted to give the walls some sort of anti-magic qualities or better saving throws.  Structures would be reinforced to prevent collapse from earthquakes.  And let us not forget the castles own defenders should have some sort of magic.  The attackers will have to worry about those same attack spells raining down on them as they approach.  HOw long will an army last if the defenders get a few volunteers to sneak into the enemy camp using invisibility and assassinate the leaders.  Even a spell like bless would have a huge impact on a battle (hey, those +1s are nothing to sneeze at when you are talking about a single spell effecting the whole castle garrison when they gather around their priest).  Entangle and other low level spells could easily break up an assault before the footmen ever reach the castle walls.  As I see it, the attacking spell casters will have to worry about defense just as much as the defenders, and they dont have big walls to hide behind!Now in a world where magic rare, then a single mage could AND SHOULD have a major impact on such a scenario.  But then again, such a conflict would be the stuff of legends, not a common occurance.</blockquote>

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