Castles & Keeps
Castles & Keeps is a software download product from Darkfuries available at RPGnow (www.rpgnow.com). Similar to Inns & Taverns in concept and scope, Castles & Keeps provides floor plans for use in fantasy games. The download is available for $5.00 US.
The product comes packaged as a zip file. When unpacked, the product consists of a number of html files that the user may navigate with a standard browser, and a subdirectory with the gif file maps.
When opened, the content.html file has two frames. The left side frame provides navigation between the different galleries and to each floor of each structure. The right hand frame is where the content appears when selected. Of course, you can use your own graphics viewer to browse the images directory.
In addition to the title page and introductory information, there is a thumbnail gallery page for each castle or keep. There are a total of five such structures presented: Grimbarith Keep, Halestrom Gallery, Lurfell Tower, Pelgurn Tower, and Roshefain Keep.
Unlike Inns & Taverns, in addition to the floorplans for each level, Castles & Keeps has text descriptions of each location. The descriptions correspond to number keys on the map. The description only pertains to the contents and appearance of each room; no NPCs or other game specific information is provided.
The floor plans themselves are laid out with a dotted-line square grid, with each square 5 feet on a side (perfect for d20 System players). The icons are generally clear and the layout logical; the floor plans should fit nicely into a standard fantasy campaign.
Due to the size of some of the keeps, unlike the Inns & Taverns floor plans, the Castles & Keeps floor plans do not conform nicely to accommodate 25mm miniatures when printed on a standard 8 ½ x 11 sheet. If you want to print the maps out and use them with miniatures, you will have to subdivide the map and print them separately.
Conclusion
As with Inns & Taverns, Castles & Keeps provides a nice selection of floor plans that you will be eager to use in your fantasy campaign. The 5-foot square grid is very convenient for d20 System players. While there are no convenient game statistics for castle guards, staff, and other inhabitants, the descriptions should give you some decent and essential descriptions for games in the keep.
-Alan D. Kohler
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