A close analysis of Skyrim's defenses: MARKARTH

One of the great features of Bethesda's game, the Elder Scrolls 5, Skyrim, is it's attention to detail, but how attentive is the game in regards to how realistic it's medieval and castle style defenses are. In this video we look at the fantasy city, Markarth.
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Special Thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the background music, used under the creative commons license

[@gratuitouslurking8610]

Welcome to Markarth, safest city in the reach. If you don't count the backstabbing conspiracies, or the shrine to Molag Bal, or the dwemer ruins in the basement, or the thalmor waltzing around, or the silver mine monopoly, or...

[@villehammar7858]

Well, it's still the safest city in the Reach. Also the only city in the Reach.

[@herbseinburg449]

Gratuitous Lurking or the trenchterous werewolf who killed all the citizens.

[@gratuitouslurking8610]

Welp, not aware of that storyline/sidequest'/we SCRIBE! ADD IT TO THE LIST!

[@herbseinburg449]

Gratuitous Lurking Well I was the werewolf.

[@mikkelholmsgaard1307]

Or the cannibal selling meat at the market.

[@samoht199191]

Unassailable mountains? Not if they are riding Skyrim horses.

[@flaurosdagon6799]

I came to the comment section to say that... :(

[@LilacMage]

Light cavalery with archers would devastate skyrim. "We have the high ground!"

[@MrDibara]

@@LilacMage So Mongols for the win, basically.

[@thatTemplar9934]

😂😂😂

[@xvariable7711]

Or jumping backwards

[@insylem]

A calviry division could easily scale the mountains behind Markarth, due to the horses amazing climbing ability in Skyrim

[@dodieoinst4598]

THIS ^

[@cas3724]

Do you mean Cavalry?

[@jessefisher1809]

@@cas3724 that is obviously what is meant.

[@cas3724]

@@jessefisher1809 Excuse me for trying to correct a spelling mistake. Uncorrected, a mistake will become normal. I know that its obvious, otherwise I would have asked ‘what do you mean?’ Instead of offering my spelling.

[@aazelion5189]

@@cas3724 Fuck off

[@spartancraig6000]

The “palace” actually for the dwemer/dwarves was just an entrance to their actual city, Markarth was just the entrance to the main city. So I wonder how the defenses on the inside are

[@torsades831]

>Urban warfare but in a claustrophobic underground city Very defensible just on principle

[@LordFokas]

Standard Dwemer defenses: a whole lot of unstoppable brass monsters.

[@BraddahSpliff]

Was thinking the same thing. Markarth is just the surface city for the Dwemer to trade with other races. The builders never meant for it to be a castle or capital city. It was basically a trade outpost made out of stone.

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

and remember, no race was stupid enough to fight the dwemer. they didn't need walls or defenses. they were basically a modern city with modern weapons in the medieval era.

[@siegfried2k4]

@@theghostofthomasjenkins9643 Now I imagine dwemers wielding dwarven AK-47s shooting at nord invaders

[@ganjiblobflankis6581]

Markarth is the surface part of an underground Dwarven city. Its location was likely chosen to serve as a trading point with surface-dwellers. It is not an ideal castle, but it's loss would not be catastrophic to the original inhabitants. The current residents presumably utilise it for its superior engineering. This is a special case and relates to the fantasy setting. For example the Jarl remarks that his city is practically immune to dragons (but what about).

[@masterofmundus1304]

I was not expecting to see this comment but I'm glad it's here. The Dwemer lived almost exclusively underground, and of course they didn't guard their own settlements, their automatons did. No real need to put a stone crenalation up to protect a defender made from a material stronger than steel. And most of their static defenses were in the form of traps powered by steam and magic. As you can see throughout most Dwemer ruins.

[@darken2417]

Though this is the backstory of Markarth; it looks much more like a structure that has been partially covered up through the ages. Much like the little stubby towers outside the gates look like they have much more beneath them or how the gatehouse has stairs into the defensive area. Would make more sense if those parts of the structure weren't built to be at ground level.

[@seanrea550]

yes that gives it a pass on the dwarven elements of the structure, their main defenses are built into the mountain. this does not explain the Nordic occupation of the city not further improving the defenses and available space on the surface to better service themselves. an aspect that would provide an interesting visual history to the city rather than just a written one.

[@minerva9104]

Ganjiblob Flankis Yeah, some of the best defences in Markarth are in the keep/palace itself. The place has multiple layers of thick METAL doors that you were going to have a hard time breaking down, it also has a long thing corridor leading to a very open area with steep stairs and plenty of storage space. Sitting in the depths of the keep letting the attackers funnel in one or two at a time getting devastated by arrow fire form as little as like 15-20 guys and eating and drinking the large amount food and water you can store in there for such a small quantity of defenders, and that's only if they get through those impregnable doors, and you've got an insanely defensible position that can only be taken with a prolonged siege.

[@mr.j7444]

i dotn get how they arent hiring adventurers to clear out the ruins and expanding downward.

[@YourWaywardDestiny]

In Marcarth's defense of defense, the Nords didn't actually build this particular city. They sort of moved in and didn't really update... Actually, that's part of Whiterun's problem too.... And Windhelm... And the College of Winterhold... Seems like the Nords aren't very good at upkeep and defense, really.

[@mr.j7444]

yea markarth is built for defense by people with robots for fighting.

[@the_dropbear4392]

MR. J and the city is underground, to get to it you have to fight down narrow sloping walkways with no cover from ballista or archer fire against machines that are stronger than the steel we use today

[@proudpapaprick]

Back to the OP's point though, the proud Nords of Skyrim are really less great warlords and kings, and more the ignorant grandkids of Kings like those, playing with the toys and battlements of their elders and the enemies of their elders. ...The latter of which tend to pop open with a burst of steam and try to stab them when they find a new hallway or corridor. Bunch of barbaric racists whose technology is actively getting worse over time(all the best Nord gear is literally called Ancient). Damn, y'all motherfuckers need the Empire.

[@YourWaywardDestiny]

The Nords we find in ES Skyrim are in a lot of trouble. They are, as it is, resting on the laurels of their ancestors. They excel in producing valued goods (alcohol, steel goods, bards and story tellers) but haven't had big contributions in war or wartime advancements like their legacy preceding them had. Instead of embracing their current value as a great, *rich* entertainment industry, they're clinging to something they can't keep up with. They can be a big financial (and therefor political) influence if they'd just accept that their traditional values are a great asset, but they have fallen behind in the war game. Everyone has advanced in ideas and tactics. Hell, even Necromancy is now legal and dubiously acceptable, and they're still flailing about iron swords and thumping their chests, hoping that scares people off. If anything, they should take a leaf out of their cousins' book (I mean the Imperials) and cool down that hotness and use some diplomatic thu'um instead of trying to summon thunder. They can't even muster the fucks to repair their ancient bastions and keeps, though, so it doesn't seem promising, even if you side with the Stormcloaks, they really aren't going to last long before they are absorbed again by some other culture. The Dragonborn can only hold so much up. They're only one person.

[@alicebrown6215]

Your Wayward Destiny They use the Russian defence of: It's ok, we have like maybe 5 farms in the province and it's so cold your balls freeze off, so this works fine.

[@klutzbunny7180]

Wait a minute. I recognize this town. I was arrested and shoved into the mines for something that I did not do. The population when I left was 3.

[@a_channel2545]

I’m sorry, YOU LET SOME OF THEM LIVE?!?

[@klutzbunny7180]

@@a_channel2545 You can't kill immortals in the PS3 with out modding the PS3. I'm not that smart. I just know how to Mod PC games.

[@a_channel2545]

@@klutzbunny7180 Gotcha, fair enough. So long as the rest of them were properly chastised (see: executed) for their discretions

[@Pulpo_Pol]

@@a_channel2545 Gotta leave some witnesses so that they know what you did there

[@LockheedC-130HerculesOfficial]

there were still loads of NPCs left when I did that quest

[@LnPPersonified]

"Markith" **eyetwitch**

[@simonswanepoel2050]

I don't know how people keep mispronouncing it if they've played the damn game Personal theory: they know they're doing it incorrectly to see our reactions

[@kaelanirevyruun1676]

@@simonswanepoel2050 lol it doesn’t help that it’s spelled as MARK ARTH xD

[@jeepersmcgee3466]

@@simonswanepoel2050 or it's his accent, just maybe?

[@simonswanepoel2050]

@@jeepersmcgee3466 Pretty sure accents don't make you skip a consonant completely

[@jeepersmcgee3466]

@@simonswanepoel2050 they absolutely can. Omission of a sound component of a word is called deletion in linguistics. It's one of the most common ways in which spoken words are altered. American dialects are full of deletions as well

[@Torthrodhel]

Well that solves it, then! Skyrim never got the crenellation licence. High King: "But how can you deny an entire nation the licence to crenellate? Skyrim shall not be denied!" Licencing Official: "Yeah... dude, you have 'cities' with like 20 people in them. Not prestigious enough."

[@The_SmorgMan]

Jane Ross yeah... the town I live in has only 60 people in it. 20 isn’t enough

[@John2r1]

You do realize that the games are a visual representation of the Elder Scrolls series.

[@iamdream2562]

JLight2r1 I'm not gonna say woosh because that is painful to read. But, I think he was aware of that, he was just making a bit of a joke.

[@smolpp585]

@@John2r1 a very poor representation? why yes.

[@MrsInAbox]

"...And look at these..." *Pauses video. Removes headphones in expectation*

[@totallynotanofficer7746]

Puts on headphones in expectation

[@kgga3]

I didn't understand... and then I did. O.O

[@RevantheBlack]

*yells it along with Shad, receives a noise complaint the next day*

[@loremasterdasmodeus8285]

MACHICOLATIOOOOOOONNNZAAA!!!

[@kelleren4840]

That was very wise indeed, my friend.

[@hazeltree7738]

"Markth" *Inner Skyrim Nerd:It's pronounced Mar Karth*

[@Momlovebabycharline]

He pronounced it marekerth

[@kieferwalsh8666]

True. Go skyrim nerds!!

[@heartbust4624]

Kiefer Walsh do you mean Elder Scrolls or just specifically Skyrim

[@kieferwalsh8666]

@@heartbust4624 I only have experience with skyrim as I haven't played the others so I would say tldr just Skyrim

[@mitchellblake1475]

I just think "Markith Fenikth" when I hear him say it

[@DrelvanianGuardOffic]

I know this is an old video.. but I didn't see anyone comment it.. Markarth was built by Dwemer.. 1. Miners, so they would want to live in a mountain.. 2. They had advanced machinery.. so any lack of defensive capability of the city is automatically fixed by offensive capabilities of such machinations like the larger steam centurions; which are capable of slaughtering large groups, and Spheres; which are agile and usually equipped with self-loading crossbows.. Okay, in done ranting about disregard for lore.

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

yeah, the dwemer didn't need any defenses because no one was stupid enough to attack them because they would get absolutely wrecked.

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

@Bored Again nah, yssgramor didn't mess with the dwemer. that's why the snow elves ran to the dwemer for protection. i did have this discussion on another thread, so i'll try to make it short. the nords didn't stand a chance against the dwemer until after the aetherium wars when the dwemer nearly destroyed their own civilization in civil war. that happened to coincide with the nords receiving the power of the voice and banishing the dragons.

[@klidthelid8361]

@@theghostofthomasjenkins9643 Okay, so I'm going to say something that may seem surprising. I don't think the Dwemer had a massive technological advantage. Oh sure, they built magic automatons, their tonal architecture is astounding, they had perhaps the greatest understanding of the nature of the dream, and I cannot deny that they eventually created the most powerful weapon to ever exist, but Dwemeri "science" is just the way they approached and thought about magic. And the Dwemer were very very good at magic, but that doesn't mean the Chimer weren't. You might be thinking "ok, but I've seen magic. A bunch of wizards are still going to struggle against an army of magic robots" and you would be right... if they were late third era/ fourth era wizards. The meta-narrative of mundus has always been that of decay, of magic growing weaker and leaving the world. Of old, the Altmer were flying around in sunbirds and dreamsleeve based memospore communication was basically the internet. Dwemer tech seems astonishingly advanced only because it is a surviving relic from a more advanced age, not more advanced culture. -copied from someone else

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

​@@klidthelid8361 nope and there is lore that says they were advanced, even compared to the chimer. sotha sil was the smartest chimer that ever lived. even he was baffled by dwemer tech. it took him hundreds of years and becoming a god to understand it. the dragons that ruled northern tamriel and dominated the nords didn't mess with the dwemer as they saw them as equals. that's how powerful and advanced the dwemer were. the downfall of the dwemer takes place over the course of 200 years after the aetherium wars. the aetherium wars destroyed dwemer culture and left them scattered and few in number. that's when the nords, with their thu'um, were finally able to wage war on them. during this time, the dwemer were also fighting the falmer in the war of the crag and that lasted until the battle of red mountain. it's also important to note that the nords, who had a god-like ability in the voice, couldn't step foot on vardenfell because of dwemer resistance. the morrowind dwemer didn't take part in the aetherium wars nor did they have to fight falmer because they didn't have any. they were at full strength. even then chimer could make no headway against them. it took nerevar sneaking into red mountain and causing kagranac to panic to defeat the dwemer. even then, it was kagranac's screw up that doomed the dwemer, not the chimer.

[@Cotcan]

While that may have been true for when the Dwemer lived there, it certainly isn't true for those who live there now. They are unable to control even the most basic of Dwemer machines and had to remove most of them to even set up shop. Sure maybe they get a centurion set on a rampage to attack those assaulting the city, but since they have no ability to control them, that centurion would likely do just as much damage to those attacking the city as those defending the city. With all of this in mind, when those who setup shop after the Dwemer disappeared, the first thing they should have done would be to upgrade the defenses to deal with attackers. Since they don't have the same advantages that the Dwemer had when they were living there. But they didn't, and so a lot of Shad's points still stand.

[@kjaldir1089]

"If you liked that castle, then you should have put a gate on it." Shad - Single Castles

[@JaelaOrdo]

😂

[@brettpalmer1770]

Skyrim doesn't like to defend their archers, do to the number of people who have been shot in the knee.

[@proudpapaprick]

Brett Palmer In their defense, if they didn't allow those knee wounds to happen, who would they put on guard duty?

[@Simtar123]

Brett Palmer wait, this explainins so much, one guard even complains that he would rather be out fighting dragons than have guard duty only proving how dangerous guard duty really was. Mind blown XD

[@devincombs4509]

yeah, it' a legacy of shattered kneecaps. Passed down from father to son.

[@alexdiamond3987]

Brett Palmer this comment made my day

[@aperson1938]

Brett Palmer No they wish to defend them to shot enemys in the knee

[@AlecMercer-135]

U know... The front part past the gatehouse is buried from a landslide that happened long ago and those little towers u see are actually taller and the small walls next to them are too.

[@ColtonWalker073]

Kind of proves his point about not building at the base of a mountain then.

[@thebelgianlemon6815]

@SH Games He is comparing Markarth to real castles to see how realistic it’s defenses are. Also, Markarth is not an underground city, Nchouand-Zel is, Markarth is just the human city.

[@themightyaut2759]

Shad: "this is where the *king* lives, you wanna protect the *king* don't you?!" Me:... Jarl.

[@ballsligmer5572]

jarls are just scandinavian dukes

[@user-et8vm9cc3t]

The "Despot of Markarth" would like to have a word with you.

[@orsettomorbido]

Fucking Machicolations jumpscare, lmao

[@Trithis2077]

I really hope that once you've covered all of the cities/castles in Skyrim someone makes a mod to "Shadify" all of them.

[@TheManInRoom5]

That would be fucking amazing lol.

[@CloudyNight2156]

They have a lot of work cut out for them with Morthal.

[@kingnothing8570]

this needs to happen.

[@Cx10110100]

@@CloudyNight2156 Winterhold - a city with an inn, longhouse, one shop/house and just a house...

[@CloudyNight2156]

@@Cx10110100 true but at least it holds the city overhaul they made it look like it was actually what's a great City that it's suffered from a great disaster

[@finvodahmindovahkiin1875]

Shad: The city- Me: MARKARTH! Shad: MARKITH! Me: o_o

[@stergiosbarakas5687]

Medieval officer: Oi mate! You got a license for that crenellation?

[@thehelldoicallthis9241]

"No? In that case..." *Grabs a sledgehammer* "IN THE NAME OF THE QUEEN!"

[@LockheedC-130HerculesOfficial]

you have committed crimes against Skyrim and her people, what say you in your defense

[@darken2417]

Professional translator: Markith = Markarth you're welcome

[@shadiversity]

We Australians are subconsciously removing the letter R from our language, water=wotah, proper=propah, and now Markarth= markith Yes we leave an R in here and there like the mar part of Markith and the R in Australia to Straya ^_^

[@audientvoid7059]

Professional Translator: "Your" = "You're" You are welcome.

[@selenagamya1612]

You also seem to add Rs to odd places. Case in point: No = Nar

[@erickjacobsen1012]

But what about dragons?

[@eruyommo]

Shadiversity what I can't manage of Australians is that it's not consistent. In British English, you should drop all r's at the end of syllables (so it would be pronounced Maaketh), but you aussies mix it.

[@Skydog6301]

In the In-game lore, the race that built Markarth actually put the ‘city’ part underground. However inconvenient that might be IRL, it would certainly make up for the lack of above ground space and force attackers to penetrate multiple lines of defense before entering the city proper.

[@mr.j7444]

less inconveninet when you consider connecting structures to the equivalent of second country underground.

[@LordAziki]

And when you actually get into the city, it has tall pillars hugged by narrow, spiraling ramps which would force invaders to proceed slowly in a single-file line while trying to navigate the maze of a city. While water prevents fall damage in-game, the fall is definitely more than high enough for the surface tension to be deadly to anybody who falls from one of the walkways, in a more realistic setting. There aren't even stairs or safety rails. It is just smooth stone with ornate trim at a steep incline. The Dwemer also have a switch they would pull once the attackers got that far to wake up automatons to fight them on those narrow walkways. Since they could use the Calling to communicate across long distances, they would only need a single actual Dwemer watching for invaders and another waiting beside the lever for the first Dwemer to let them know when to pull it.

[@jungkinoid8706]

MR. J But it also means the attackers are open to counter-attack from the Dwemer.

[@the_dropbear4392]

LordAziki the dwemer wouldn't need to pull a switch, the defences were always active, we don't no why under Markath they were deactivated, probably from when the Nords first settled there. Also there is not much point having crenellations to protect the defenders from arrow fire as the were automatons and made from stiff that's stronger than the steel we use today

[@mr.j7444]

the security would always be on it doesnt attack dwemer and they probably had like a guest pass or registration thing for non dwemer.

[@Julia-mx3ki]

You have forgotten one major thing: Markarth wasn't originally desingned to be a city. The whole of Markarth was basically a gatehouse for the real city: Nchuand-Zel. In this aspect, I think it is nearly perfect, the ruins at the stables were the first line of defense, the gatehouse the second, Understone keep / Hall of the dead, the third and the door to Nchuand-Zel, the fourth the door at the big entrance to Nchuand-Zel, and the fifth and the sixth the doors inide Nchuand-Zel. In a in-game historic sense, it was amazing, but in an in-game contemporary one the defenses of the now human city are as bad as you have said.

[@deathwalker789]

Me, watching this video: Ahh, nice music, logical thought, interesting ideas, soothing voice... 5:25 JESUS CHRIST

[@cableman7452]

it made me jump

[@kaelanirevyruun1676]

MACHICOLASSSHHUUUUNNNMSSSSAAAHHHH!!!!

[@mattcarlson6047]

Shad, I’m learning to make mods (slowly but surely) and when I finish, I want to fortify Skyrim’s cities based on your critique.

[@JEilonwyn]

Hell YES... Please yes... TY in advance

[@cherrydragon3120]

And how does it go?

[@GummieI]

Yeah I really want this too

[@John2r1]

Ok the i suggested you also clear the debris from the original wall so the section blocked off can be usable.

[@unscsniperjun6417]

Matt Carlson how’s that going?

[@tyrant-den884]

The real purpose of the "crenellations" at the gate house: knee protection.

[@HisRoyalMajestyKingofWeedshire]

Tyrant-Den Gotta watch them knees in this game

[@kaelanirevyruun1676]

I used to be an adventurer like you... Then I took an arrow in the gut.

[@AmyraCarter]

What about the inner workings of the keep? Inside is a vast maze of corridors, not to mention the Dwemer ruins as a fallback... Then there's also the deep tunnels of Cidhna Mine...

[@macemurphy]

...no one escapes Cidhna Mine.

[@Wolfkey13]

The dragon born says otherwise

[@ToxicBastard]

@@macemurphy *except wizards

[@TheHorseman0fApocalypse]

@@ToxicBastard and forsworn

[@equesdeventusoccasus]

The thought occurs that the Dwemer steeped in magic and machine, designed the city that technically is mostly underground ruins. This means that defenders would likely have mages casting wards to protect the tower and wall guards versus crenellations, which does have a tendency to block view when compared to magic wards. This might also explain why the city was not built up on the mountains. Dwemer were the Deep Elves.

[@user-xg8yy7yl1d]

Also Dwemer had a shit ton of technology. They’d have big automations at the gate making short work of any attackers unless other dwemer were to attack and bring their own

[@USSEnterpriseA1701]

And of course we can't forget things like the Steam Centurions and the automated Ballistas. I don't know how well a Ballista that wasn't hobbled by the game mechanics could climb, but the arrow loops in the guard tower do have small, roughly Dwemer Ballista sized platforms on the inside. Yes, the defenses are falling quite short when examined from the point of our reality, but some things make a little more sense when you include things like magic and steampunk. Also, as many others have mentioned in past comments, I'd say the outer 'city' has suffered severe deterioration in the intervening centuries, including rock slides burying sections of the outer buildings, crumbling of some of the buildings and walls, and to my eye, the gatehouse looks to have once had some form of retractable outer gate that appears to no longer be functional.

[@trashcant69]

The dwemer didn't actually dabble too much in magic, they did tonal architecture instead. They also didn't really like the gods, which is why they tried to become gods by themselves through tapping into the heart of Lorkhan, but Kagrenac fucked up so they all just vanished

[@darkscot1338]

A lot of valid points are made here but there is one key issue. How long have the Nords have had this place and not upgraded it to suit their style of warfare? Sure somethings maybe more effort than they are worth but at the start of Skyrim it has been a lil over 25 years since the Forsworn captured the city and had it taken back from them. So making defenses better should be a priority for the Jarl especially since the Jarl who lost the city was his father.

[@propheinx2250]

Skyrim is also more like the classical age than medieval age. It kinda makes sense that they don't use medieval innovations.

[@edwardokaa]

Bethesda really need to hire you. After a month even the machicolations would have machicolations.

[@Rhae_of_Sun]

Jesus, This is my most played game I have over a a thousand hours and made hundreds of characters and thought I knew every secret, Detail and easter egg and yet I had no Idea there was a secret passage in that River beside the gate house. Even now I keep discovering new things about this game. Jesus this fucking game....

[@Alex-lf1cl]

Valar Rhaegar well shit you would be set for a lifetime if you played Witcher 3

[@FullOilBarrel]

Or if you played grand theft Fucking auto

[@SterbenCyrodill]

I discovered yesterday because of an RP group lol

[@muscularclassrepresentativ5663]

Gerfoe, One with the Cheese No, it doesn't tunnel into the inner city, just into the gate, so it should be there in vanilla

[@gavgamail94]

It's there in vanilla. It's there to evade the crooked guard

[@tunnelsnake8234]

"No gate" Yeah its removed by the mod open cites of skyrim?

[@Habilonion]

I was thinking the same thing as markarth does have a double gate in the base game, you would normally not see the murder hole, so Bethesda would have no need for other doors to the upper area, taking it with a grain of salt.

[@chipmo]

No the mod just opens the inner door. Check it out for yourself that is the only door and you absolutely can get access to the battlements in the base game

[@liquidlethe]

Yeah if you watch walkthrough of markarth without the mod sadly it still only has one door and its a loading screen. You can still walk up to the battlements without going through it.

[@sveintheberserk]

Still, there's the chains that imply a gate.

[@thehelldoicallthis9241]

5:23 I was completely relaxed and had my volume high so that scared the shit out of me. 10/10 war cry.

[@jeffreyrussell4874]

Armpit? Really Shad? I think "cleavage" would be a better fitting word.

[@JohanFaerie]

Naw, you dont see many fractures or splits that would considered cleavage in the rock shelves.

[@erickjacobsen1012]

But what about dragons?

[@Warden_Vtel]

Enforcer Kcire But what about DRAGON ARMPIT CLEAVAGE

[@erickjacobsen1012]

What a wonderful topic.

[@poilboiler]

Armpit is more accurate given what the place is like.

[@modvind]

Bethesda, when you, some day, decide to make TES VI, go ask Shad and the other historical youtubers for advise :)

[@erickjacobsen1012]

But what about dragons?

[@TheLoreSeeker]

Advice on what though... Shad and the others are historical channels. These are "fantasy" games. They need to have no place int eh realm of huamn history. Plus Markarth is a Dwarven city. Its mostly below the ground.

[@adamred5449]

Nicolai yes

[@daviddrake5991]

Advice like not putting a way around main defenders to the front door like Markarth has. It has one if you walk up the stream.

[@kyomademon453]

considering TES VI would be likely on summerset isles which is home to the high elves you can already forget about realism , their main city is described as being made out of glass or insect wings and full of high towers

[@user-ys3jq3uf4p]

“Markith” *summons a dremora*

[@TheAmbientWarrior]

You're not the only one who got lost in Markarth, Shad. I continually find myself wandering around haplessly sea of gray walkways thinking "You know if anyone ever decided to burst into the city and try to take the castle, well good luck finding it first."

[@oneofmanyparadoxfans5447]

You say impregnable, I call it incomplete. More gatehouses! More walls! More MACHICOLATIOOOOOOOOOONNNNNSSS!

[@00Trademark00]

And then the treasury says bankrupt :-)

[@oneofmanyparadoxfans5447]

Still not complete enough. I want it so Zeus himself could not penetrate my walls, not even with an army of all the old gods!

[@00Trademark00]

Well then you will need the help of Plutus (son of Demeter and the god of wealth) and possibly also Hephaestus, provided that Plutus has enough money to hire another god :-)

[@Owlettehoo]

You should get together with a modder or two and fix the cities. I'd get them. I love immersion.

[@blueroman5538]

Shad: And look at these... Me: oh crap. Shad MATICHULATIOOOOONS

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Markarth is a big long list of almosts.

[@Rogueruler]

I want to see a mod that takes this entire series into account and overhauls the defenses of every holding. I am drooling at the thought.

[@mr.j7444]

this one requiers reexamination he treated it as though the nords built it when it was the dwemer who for all we know had a way to make buldings bigger on the inside than out i mean fuck they built a god.

[@Simtar123]

Obamanator5000 i am kinda planning on doing that. (as far as its possible) im not sure yet but i would like to :)

[@tada-kun982]

Mr.J yes,exactly what i mean

[@MattbyNature]

@@Simtar123 Did you make your dream come true?

[@Simtar123]

@@MattbyNature hey, well its kinda on ice right now, because i got other mod projects, but i hope to do it one day. Its just that its such a major project that it needs to be done right or not at all 😄👍 Right now im working on the great immersion overhaul, it focuses making everything got to do with gameplay more immersive/realistic/believable. 🙂 👍

[@2MeterLP]

5:17 wait... what is that on the tower? Are those...? Oh no! *turns off headphones*

[@hideshisface1886]

Now, the thing with Markarth is... It is more of cannibalised and re-purposed structure. We also have to remember that Skyrim has everything pretty much scaled down immensely. Solitude has something like... 12 houses (some of them double as shops). That being said - modern Bethesda is also remarkably lazy, so there is that. Now, back on point. Markarth is not really a proper city even by lore - it was built on top of a Dwemer ruin of what used to be basically a surface trading post. So, given that - it is quite safe to assume that Nords made plenty of alterations and many of the original parts fell into disrepair and had to be removed or heavily modified. The stairways in the gatehouse were likely added later. Tops of the gatehouses probably housed automatons that didn't need cover to begin with. The wall near the river probably also used to have some access - maybe there even was a proper structure on top of it. As for the Great Tower - again, interior was probably stripped completely. That being said - Markarth as it stand in Skyrim is quite heavily based on Hornburg from LoTR.

[@TJOEL20]

When you're done reviewing all the castles of Skyrim, you should make a video on which Skyrim castle/city you think has the best defenses. I think that would be an interesting way to wrap the Skyrim reviews up. Love you videos, and looking forward to more of these.

[@Untitled_-ug2ci]

This video makes me want to make a mod to try to correct many of these errors! Gotta love these analysis videos.

[@wisemankugelmemicus1701]

Untitled_0110 Thank you. I’ve always wanted a Middle Ages Style overhaul of the cities and towns in Skyrim.

[@magiv4205]

That would be incredible! I know this comment is a year old but I hope you or somebody else does this some day

[@GummieI]

Yes please someone NEED to do that, don't think I would ever be able to play skyrim again after seeing these videos...

[@rossnorris2351]

If you do make it, please make it Xbox friendly.

[@Casedilla73]

Ross Norris Agreed.

[@cory6266]

FINALLY. And yeah, like I said, Markarth is the crown jewel of failing at the finish. Beautiful wall, arrow slits, real murder hole, but no outer gate. Shad when you do Fort Dawnguard don't forget the defenses of the first room once you're inside. That big round room can be closed off with portcullises to trap attackers. PS, I swear to GOD I can never manage to go to Markarth and not commit a crime of some kind. I've been in Cidhna Mine more than the general store at this point.

[@minerva9104]

cory6266 Like you said with fort dawn guard, Markarth is insanely defensible once you get inside the actual keep, which is even bigger than the rest of the bloody city.

[@mr.j7444]

id say it fits given it would be guarded by fucking magic murder bots

[@HaddaClu]

When you think about it - it was absolutely insane to attack the Dwemer at their peak. This was the race that built a god whose power was to "reject" anything including ideas out of existence. It took the tribunal and Vivec (being powered by CHIM) to take them down. For those that dont know what CHIM is - it is basically the ability to rewrite reality.

[@Thesaurus_Rex]

I think that the Dwemer probably used Steam Centurions as their outer gates. More porous than an outer gate, it's true, but most gates can't wield weapons or spray blasts of lethal steam. And it would, in all likelihood, be about as durable as an actual gate, given how hardy those things are.

[@louis-andreabel2269]

If you look closely you can actually chains holding up the door on the side or the first gate, meaning that markath does, in fact, actually have a proper front gate. Also keep in mind that all doors you see in the city are full metal

[@edstalnaker9249]

Great video Shad. Your analysis is on point and I thought the same thing about the location of the gate when playing. You've got natural walls at the narrow area, who would choose to build a longer wall when you can incorporate the mountain and save the material for more defenses.

[@ourtube1128]

"Ya one of my subscribers sent me some photos of this castle, they visited it, and take a look at these" me, "CRAP CRAP* *frantically turns volume down* "MACHICOLATIONNNNNSSSSSSSSS!" One more storm has been weathered, but at least I surviv-MACHICOLATONNSSSSSS RIP my ears 2017-2017

[@stimpymcstimp6442]

So, you were under one at the time? Or did you just got new ears?

[@jojooffaraway2675]

I have played Skyrim for hours on end and didn't know that Markarth had a sallyport... this game is amazing and the vid was too :D So much stuff I never noticed about Markarth and I noticed how you put rock music behind your machicolation scream XD It's a nice touch ^^

[@dune_strider3055]

True. I played Skyrim for almost 7 years and never knew that. But the cities in Skyrim have so many hidden things, I’m still wowing at some of the things I find. It’s an awesome game

[@tzimiscelord8483]

@@dune_strider3055 it fucking doesn't he's basically reviewing a mod considering how much time he spent on the outer wall

[@justaaron2937]

I love the enthusiasm in your narrations. You can tell it isn't forced. It's always more fun to listen to someone when they actually enjoy speaking about the subject matter.

[@David_Alvarez77]

Excellent video. Your analysis is always so interesting, and informative.

[@yulilisantimel2793]

Armies climbing mountains? JUST USE GRAVITY DEFYING HORSES HAHAHA!!!

[@proudpapaprick]

xX Yulili Xx Mount a whole army on them and have them ride clean off the mountain - the fall will only kill the horse, after all, and you get rapid troop deployment!

[@zachzimmerman2996]

And it only costs a few hundred gold per horse!

[@tada-kun982]

Just use a thousand shadowmeres

[@Gayd1]

True Nords jump up mountains

[@darkfireproject2102]

Not to mention archers raining down arrows on you from the mountain. #TrueNordForLife

[@martinwillumsen2574]

Regarding the license to build crenalations; in Denmark, you did not need a license, but from somewhere in the 13th century, it was taxated to have crenalations on the top of your farm (or "house-keep", whatever you want to call a large, sturdy house). I don't know how expensive it was to have, but there are a number of examples of nobles, who tore down their crenalations in peacefull times, and rebuild them in more turbulent times (being the only alteration to their homes to change the laws definition). Just thought anyone would find that interesting here :p

[@landryblake7846]

I like how shad is talking about all the practical places to put a city in the beginning but the darker that built this city primarily had their cities underground

[@andrewstan9072]

There is a lever in the gatehouse that can bring down a gate in the front of the gate house

[@njnjco]

"I'm sorry for blasting out your headphones." I wouldn't have it any other way.

[@Warden_Vtel]

MACHICOLATIONNNNNSSSSSSS

[@AlabasterJazz]

I just got new headphones, and that was the perfect way to break them in :)

[@erickjacobsen1012]

How to get a like from Shadiversity.

[@erickjacobsen1012]

But what about dragons?

[@Warden_Vtel]

Enforcer Kcire Ye 👍

[@gratuitouslurking8610]

Rip your headphones

[@marin5792]

I really appriciate the names of thr castles beneath the pocture... An icing on top of the cake of the great content, keep up the good work

[@irontemplar6222]

Shack I would love to see you use the Skyrim creation kit to make these proper castles

[@thehackingburger3002]

Haha, that Doctor Who part surprised me! "Bigger on the inside" is so true of Skyrim's buildings. The nords: the original Time Lords! Great vid as always, Shad!

[@VelociraptorsOfSkyrim]

*Dwarves Markarth was built by the Dwarves and the Nords moved in after they disappeared.

[@neurotoksyn]

I really want video game designers to watch these videos, especially bethesda.

[@bikeconscious3608]

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if shadiversity starts nutting while recording some of these videos from the way he gets about his castles.

[@CardinalDXMP]

I haven't even played Skyrim (DF and MW only, here, thus far), and I've watched three of your videos so far of realistic Skyrim castle analyses, and I have to say I love these videos. Having designed some multiplayer levels/arenas for a few games, I especially appreciate the architectural knowledge -- as you said in one of your other videos, realism is important, even if only (for some) at a subconscious level. If an area is less believable, there's a greater chance they may be pulled out of the experience. I had to pause at 17:25 to write this comment because of that detailed explanation (and images) of the archer spots. Great videos.

[@jacksonc8955]

do the dawn guard fort

[@MCNshot2shot]

or castle volkihar

[@shadiversity]

Absolutely, all things in time ^_^

[@LeopardInTheMist]

My prediction: Fort Dawnguard is great with a really crummy position. Castle Volkihar is a Chateau and not a castle with a great position.

[@enoughothis]

Castle Volkihar is on an Island, easily supplied by water. It even has a dock in the back. Location is fantastic.

[@NMahon]

AJ Jones not really, they'd kinda struggle in a siege

[@kcrash7150]

ogres are like castles, they have layers

[@imdone8243]

Like my trust issues （╯ ͡° ▽ ͡°）╯︵ ┻━┻

[@ccarroll4339]

The thing is, though, the actual castle is INSIDE the mountain. And under it. So the city and fortifications are outside of it.

[@roachdoggxv8920]

Your videos explaining proper fortifications inspires me to design my own castle that's as defensible as possible

[@DaBezzzz]

*Join the iconic Medieval spy* *Brooke* *Shad Brooke* *In yet another thrilling adventure* *"License to Crenellate"* *Coming this winter*

[@TheExmes]

Your general assertion that the cities should be based on top of mountains, not beneath them, is true for if you are fortifying for some sort of human type attackers. However, in the fantasy world of Skyrim you are ignoring the idea that mountains are easy pickings for dragons/flying attackers. I propose that the reason "cities" in Skyrim are in lower locations is based on compromise to protect from dragon fire (being next to water is essential) and armies. Markarth limits the number of directions from which it can be attacked. You are also making massive assumptions about the nature of the rock above the city and the quantities of snow which would fall on them. Certainly if explosives were available you can start an avalanche anywhere, yet given the fact that even a sturdy table can withstand power magical explosions, I would suggest the shock wave/power of explosions based in the magic of the elder scrolls universe moves considerably slower than the explosives we know. As such, the threat of artificially cause avalanches would be lessened. Markarth is also a mining town and likely knows the nature of stone quite well. If regular surveys were done to monitor the surrounding mountains it could suggest the bedrock is quite firm and difficult to dislodge. As others have pointed out as well, the vast majority of Markarth is underground. I will admit that the ventilation of such a structure baffles me given the incredible number of fires that exist within it.... Love the video. Thumbs up and subscribed.

[@fyrirraan482]

Justin Eames you could fus ro dah an avalanche if you really wanted I'd imagine

[@jimmygee3219]

Fyrir Raan very limited amount of people can shout. A large quantity of which don’t leave a shitty stone building near the top of the top of the tallest mountain in the region

[@MrWeedy-hh4mg]

Dragons can

[@fungisrock8955]

Markarth was built before dragons came back to Skyrim

[@death299]

@@fyrirraan482 unless the dwemer enchanted the very mountain to prevent an avalanche locking them into their city I mean they built a golem/god that at every activation causes time itself to break..forcing a rewrite of the story To create a system whereby the exterior of their cities are safe from disaster coming from the local setting (namely the exterior that could potentially lock them in their home) It's something they seem quite capable of doing

[@ThibsyCube]

I love listening to your analysis about different Elder scrolls ”castles” while walking my dog! You sir got a new sub!

[@insylem]

I want to see you do Cloud Ruler Temple!

[@rinflame44]

If Shad ever decides to start a band I've got a fairly good guess what the name is going to be.

[@robertdunhamjr.7712]

rinflame44 Proper Machicolations. The band would play the tunes of medieval folk songs

[@setlerking]

Murderholes if he makes an emo band

[@magiv4205]

MACHICOLATIONS MACHINATIONS

[@massaweed420]

Best series on any channel ever.

[@daltonevans3412]

massaweed420 hate to disagree but there is one thats better. There is this really entertaining and accurate series by one of my favorite internet personalities. Its on pornhub.

[@coralove5852]

tho i appreciate your vids, i think one important thing to remember about markarth lore is the current residents are occupying the ruins of a dwemer city, and haven't done much to imporve it, condition wise nor defense wise. going by the lore. which mind you is completely different style of construction to the Nordic/imperial style of building. it would be like comparing roman ruins to medieval building.

[@RhetoricWalrus]

Great video! One major point that needs to be considered with Markarth specifically is that it is a reclaimed Dwarven City, adapted for use by the Nords. As such, many features could have had potentially different significance for the original Dwemer inhabitants. For example, the lack of crenelations on the gatehouse or outer towers could have been to provide a wider range of fire for ballistae, which the Dwemer were known to utilise. It is also possible that some features were not intended with a military application; the Guard Tower may well have been the observatory for a Dwemer astronomer, and its internal workings removed or scavenged over the millennia.

[@zacharymahnke1065]

19:59 -- I had well over 3000 hours of play time on Skyrim. Never knew that secret exit/entrance was there.

[@ronanvankessel6329]

Zachary Mahnke same. But in my defense i dislike going to markarth

[@thomaslevy7249]

Bro, do you even machicolations?

[@DiZzYxB12x]

Thomas Levy make it a shirt I want one

[@erickjacobsen1012]

But what about dragons?

[@13aceofspades13]

I wasn't even wearing headphones and that machicolations part startled me, lol!

[@vacantsix1586]

Even though this was made a year ago I must say thanks shad for giving me some things to think about with my skyrim role play group we just got to markarth thanks man

[@GeekyDragonGames]

I have learned when watching your videos to put my headphones away from me and I can still hear you perfectly without going deaf

[@Vazurik]

"Markath" The second "r" in Markarth is evidently very important to pronounce, as it sounds like nails on a chalkboard without it.

[@EpicTurtle4423]

Devon North its more about having the hard first R and then the dropped second one, they're supposed to be the same syllables, so have both or drop both, marrkarrth or mahkahth, not some weird Frankenstein word.

[@PrypeciowyHovnozer]

Hey Shadi, what do you think about defences of Sun Temple/Ark from Enderal - full conversion mod of Skyrim?

[@laurenceperkins7468]

I can see putting the city where it is since that's the highest velocity point in the river and the best place to put their water mill. It does need another outer wall and some better outworks, and possibly some blockhouses up on the hillsides for even better defense just in case someone does find a way over the top, although some of the random bits of stonework sort of give an impression that those things may have been there at some point in the past. The whole thing looks to me like the fortifications are not being maintained. The gatehouse doors got broken down and were never replaced, the ladder or wooden stairs to the extra bit of wall rotted away and were removed, etc. There are lots of places with cracked or broken masonry that really should be repaired but hasn't been. It's possible that the top level of the gatehouse and the outworks originally had wooden barricades for the defenders to hide behind but that these have been discarded since nobody actually expects an attack. The thinner walls likely reflect the preference in this universe for using magic in place of artillery, and would give better ventilation to reduce the effects of poison gas and maybe prevent a fireball from generating enough pressure to knock the walls down if such a thing were possible. So yeah, all in all not bad. If you think of it as an ancient fortress that's now a city for people who don't need a fortress it even kind of fits.

[@charleslathrop9743]

Doest thou even crenelate thine abode?

[@YusefYandron]

Charles Lathrop hahahahahha nice

[@cherrydragon3120]

No they don't :)

[@HawkTheRed]

I might actually learn how to mod Skyrim to I can fix every City/Town/CAstle!

[@justiciar1964]

I'd download that!

[@dracohalo117]

I would pay money to see that.

[@dracohalo117]

And somebody needs to turn Falkreath, Morthal, Dawnstar, and Winterhold into proper Holds.

[@justiciar1964]

LOL Dawnstar was actually the setting of a spinoff game. When I saw it in Skyrim I was like....WTF there's hardly anything here! Also on my Requiem+DID runs I lost a lot of characters there because of how dangerous it is, because the supposed major city has no defenses... -_- "Major city." No walls, no item shop, and only a handfull of inept guards. Can't even handle a troll. The ole Jarl, who starts outside, had to jump in. At least Tigger knows how to get shit done.

[@timvanrijn8239]

just add a elve explaining how these humans have fucked up the whole castle

[@Gay_Priest]

Something to keep in mind regarding rockslides on the castle, the mountain itself IS the castle, it’s carved out on the inside and the entire housing for the jarl as well as the garrison is inside the mountain

[@dasstackenblochen9250]

I think the two towers in front of it are probably meant as observation/watch towers, not for defense. I'm not sure if it was added by a mod (Civil War Overhaul perhaps) but when I besieged Markarth there was a portcullis before the staircases allowing backstabbing the defenders.

[@biscuittactician]

if anyone in the comments knows how to edit terrain, maybe they could make a properly fortified places mod? it'd be cool to see shad's thoughts on these given form (and nice to see walking around in the game)

[@Simtar123]

Biscuit Tactician i do (the basics) and certain things are more doable than others. You see cities exists of so many custom pieces that are especially designed for that city. This comes in additon to a ungodly ammount of invisible markers that affect quests and dialogue and Npcs and events. (i was kinda shocked at how much there was) so alot of it cannot really be changed without major difficulties. However minor edits here and there are still very possible as well as adding new structures outside the cities. :) but very skilled people could probably do more than me :)

[@12202brandon]

each city is a puzzle all the stuff you see are customized small pieces. take markarth for example when you enter the city that market place consists of various custom meshes, the mountain peices are seperated into small puzzle peices,the floor is all one piece in that section, the door frames fit into the slots and even the water is made to perfectly fit into that space. the point is it is impossible to rebuild the cities the only thing that is possible is to add small things to make it feel more full than it is

[@ackbarreserve]

Next time, a Machicolations Warning would be appreciated. But still, the quality of the video is more than enough to forgive you

[@MoodyWeatherASD]

There is an outer gate at that gatehouse. They slide sideways, and are already retracted to allow entry. Can see them kinda poking out in the door frame when you go through, and see the divots in the floor and ceiling.

[@rynogouws9968]

Watching this at work and he just screamed. Thanks Shad :)

[@Florian-pc4kj]

Its not bigger on the inside, you just get smaller!

[@cebenify]

The floor is practical castles Video games: Oh hell no! Rule of cool is better than practicality! Shadiversity (With sword in hand): Machiculations!!!!! Now!!!!

[@mr.j7444]

2 words battle robots.

[@NaRandall]

I’ve fought my way OUT of this keep and can confirm the confusingness of the pathways did lead to me dying repeatedly, but I did escape eventually (and then I died repeatedly outside of it as well)

[@epicsheepgamer7002]

Well, for me, the battlements don't really need access on that wall next to the gatehouse. Just build temporary stairs out of wood or something. Long before a siege of course, but still.

[@Rhae_of_Sun]

I lost it when you showed the Dr. Who clip xD

[@Warden_Vtel]

OHH YEEEAAAAAAHHHHHHH

[@erickjacobsen1012]

But what about dragons?

[@deadmeme8973]

Donsmacker1 boii

[@DeathPVPVip]

As a person who has been to the Five Sons of Carcassonne. Location is amazing for castles if you are not intending on walking up. Besides walking up you gotta hike for MILES around the mountains before getting there.

[@dominiqueminor8039]

"I used to be an adventurer like you but then a fallen rock shattered my knee"