Large Castle (3.5e Equipment)

Large Castle
While small castles dot the land and provide defense and leadership to their areas, large castles are often one of a kind to a nation and act as the capital unto itself. They are nearly cities unto themselves and many are built into the city so tightly it is hard to say where the castle ends and the city begins. They are massive castles, which multiple onion layers of walls where section after section of city lay, the final walls holding in a royal palace and all of its guards. While it is conceivable that one may purchase a small castle, large castles are rarely "for sale" and are often acquired through other means.

Large castles have all the traits of small castles, but more. They have between 1 to 12 layers of walls, many towers and moats, and sometimes several small castles built into one large castle. In addition, the city often comes with it. The prices below disregard the cost of buying the city itself, which may match the cost of the castle as well. Due to the immense price and manpower to maintain, they are usually kept running through taxes, for it would be madness for one person to pay the cost alone.

The default generic castle consists of 4 layers of walls, a moat, a drawbridge with portcullis and barbican, and 8 watchtowers (as defined in the small castle entry). There is usually a throne room for diplomacy and decrees, a panic room, and the royal chambers. These chambers are equivalent to a mansion in and of themselves, with only the finest luxuries at hand. Many are designed with fancy arches and other flairs, and a church or temple built in.

A typical large castle is maintained by a crew of 100 or more hirelings as maids and maintenance, and 600 or more soldiers, not including incidental roles. Large castles can hold up to a crew of 1000 other people without crowding, and up to 10,000 extra people in times of need before it becomes too cramped, not including the owner's living quarters.

Large castles cover a roughly 500x500 foot area with two to four floors with basement, not including walls and any courtyard between the castle and walls, and with external and internal superior stone masonry (2 feet thick, hardness 8, 180 hp, break DC 35), and/or reinforced stone masonry (2 feet thick, hardness 8, 360 hp, break DC 45).

Craft Stonework DC 35; Price Cost::90,000 gp.