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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Crass" data-source="post: 1090995" data-attributes="member: 13211">Re: Re: Re: Re: Tell me about medieval border fortresses, please!As Conaill mentioned previously, a castle should be able to withstand about 10-to-1 odds. You mention 400-600 plus support personnel. We have a cleric 9th, a paladin 11th as the "major" defenders. I'd assume you'd have a handful or two of "lesser" spellcasters, probably 3-5 divine, possibly a couple of arcane, casters of levels 3-5 assisting with the defence. Further, that the largest enemy force of recent times was in the order of 5,000. Your defenders should be able to hold off virtually anything except a "death-or-glory" charge by the entire elf force.Remember, unless the entire force assulting a castle is composed of fanatics, they're going to be falling apart, failing Will saves (or some other game mechanic that compensates for morale) - at least once they start being hit by the defenders. If they are a levied force, unless they are under the guns(?!?) of their officers many will be reluctant to put themselves in danger - and if you take Elder-Basilisk's suggestion, many will be UNABLE to attack successfully due to the presence of defensive spells such as Forbiddance and Hallow.I know, this is D&D and not "real life" - but your force should be composed largely of support personnel and missile troops who have a secondary weapon should the walls be breached. Unless the attack is entirely unexpected, I'd suggest a garrison force in the order of 150-200 front-line soldiers (with a preponderance of crossbowmen or archers), their supporting spellcasters with the rest of the garrison being experts like siege miners, healers, tanners, metalsmiths, craftsmen etc. And, of course, non-combatants such as family members...If the attack IS expected, double or even triple the number of defenders and get rid of as many non-combatants (like family members) as possible. The defenders will fight better knowing their "loved ones" are safe. Ensure the defenders have enough supplies, particularly water and medicines. A favourite siege tactic of the middle ages was to catapult a diseased corpse into a beseiged city and wait for disease to whittle away the defenders. The main army would sit and wait, while the miners would dig tunnels (and the defenders would counter-tunnel), hoping to collapse the walls. Actions would tend to be small-scale, with a small action when tunnels intersected.Every person who remains must have at least rudimentary training in one weapon, whether it be a scythe or a spear, a sword or a crossbow. Better to keep it simple in this regard.Any cavalry should likely be a small force of light cavalry, whose prime function would be as a messenger corps. Leave scouting to foot soldiers - maybe have a few rangers of levels 2-4, who can scout for and harass any enemies they see.Sorry if this sounds a bit like a long rant!</blockquote>

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