Principles of castle design, Honorguard epic tour and analysis

An epic tour and analysis of Honorguard, an extremely detailed and historically authentic 3D castle design.
Honorguard featurette: • HONORGUARD huge 3D cas...
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Background music 'Castle' by Kevin Macleod

[@truslew8089]

One does not simply walk into Honorguard.

[@shadiversity]

Lol, oh man this was the best, well done sir, well done.

[@CalebRichardsChannel]

Mount Doom needed some drawbridges and portcullises.

[@Alpha.Phenix]

The one castle to rule them all...

[@peasant8246]

Well memed good sir!

[@aramere3650]

Shadiversity if you don’t write this into the book, I will be sorely dissatisfied.

[@Nitram4392]

If I run a dnd game again I'm going to include a architect named Shad, who's dream is to design a castle someday.

[@SongbirdGaming]

In my fantasy work in progress most castle design and building is done by dwarves. Im going to name the most famous dwarven architect of all time Shad or a variation of that name, in honor of this video.

[@fratguide9835]

I’ve got Honourgard the Keep of Viscount Shad the Shatterer in the far north of my world and it kinda looks like this

[@colboy1fish]

No, make Shad, the talented swordman.

[@willemiam1387]

Who always wears gambeson

[@navidryanrouf441]

Do you have a map of this castle made?

[@andyknightwarden9746]

Shad's Winterfell: You need 10,000 men to man it. Honorguard: You best be prepared to sacrifice 10,000 men for every section you take.

[@ultralight9625]

A keep is nothing more than a massive force multiplier from a statical analysis.

[@harrymu148]

Now I'm just curious as to what would happen if they were two border fortresses that has decades of skirmishes between them.

[@hiimjeremie8403]

​@@harrymu148 Just look at the history between the Italian cities of Bologna and Modena.

[@abhishankpaul]

Okay lads, we cannot breach the gate houses like that or the zwingers will get us. George, get those cannons in place, they need tons of stones for their graves. Move your asses everyone

[@King.Leonidas]

@@abhishankpaul this castle would be hard to siege even with cannons

[@topperman6]

37:15 Keep-Builder:"There is no access inside the keep itself, from these battlements." Rogue: **Shatters window**

[@Hello-og]

Easily solved by 'pushing' those battlements out 30ft or so and planting a garden in the newly created space (just don't plant trees).

[@TheAtkey]

Yeah I noticed that weakness, an oversight by Shad or an intentional flaw?

[@BulletsNBrass]

@@TheAtkey I assumed those internal dividers in the windows are metal and tough enough to be impractical for the average fighting man to get through in armor without taking so long and being so likely to get stuck that a child with a kitchen knife could defend it. But yeah, same thought in terms of a potential weakness. I'd probably set it up so you can seal doors to those areas from outside the room so someone who gets in then has to get through another door. Hopefully by then you've gotten some defenders in place.

[@mesiagamer5217]

Guard: **shoots Rogue as they get stuck.**

[@shok24199]

Or, you know, you could just not have giant windows there. Maybe a few murder slits for archers to fire out onto the battlements.

[@NexusAkayuki]

Dude, I just sat through 45 minutes of a guy lecturing me about the layout of a fictional castle, and by the end of it I was legit mad there wasn't MORE.............. I loved this so much hhhhhh

[@majorpayne9508]

Yea kinda felt the same way but now I'm just trying to make a castle in any game now, thanks shad for your enthusiasm about castles and medevil stuff.

[@MrTaktic121]

🤔 Might try making this in conan

[@Sire.English]

Its that you said the time of the video was 45m. I was just watching and thought it was a 15m Video and went through the commente out of random. Talk about a documentary :P

[@seanhaney8748]

He does all sorts of castle analysis. Check out his other videos. I love castles as well.

[@diamonddog257]

i'm a canadian engineer in mexico ; building a castle, in mountains, with a fairy-tale style..... [ cinder blocks, and mex are a bargain ] - seeing if dum-dum here, knows anything i do not.........

[@JarateHunter]

14:15 - "Headphone Warning" Oh of course, thank you. *puts headphones on*

[@cruzivanperales7405]

dude... didnt the jaws theme give you an idea?

[@Strellok100]

If I ever become a billionaire I'm hiring Shad to construct md a castle.

[@g1jetfireandrainbowdash798]

I too would want this, only addition being a bunker under said castle.

[@VincentGonzalezVeg]

@@g1jetfireandrainbowdash798 winter is coming 10 years dungeon Honestly for a survival shelter it would need to be pretty big, like big enough to feel like outside, like how basketball gyms can feel like that

[@quakxy_dukx]

Take a castle design like this and modify it a bit to be more efficient with modern building materials like concrete and steel

[@Cyph3rHaxPalm]

you don't need billion of dollars, you just need to use your own head & design your own castle as the way you like it! Because billion dollars won't be enough for you to make all the changes you originally come up with! Changes cost more money than the original design :(

[@marcelm.2848]

Same

[@connerreid3579]

As an architect who has used SketchUp professionally, I shudder to think of what the Components window for this model must look like, not to mention trying to use the Follow Me tool to get those walls in the right spots. This would take a 2-3 person team something like two weeks, working full-time, to get modeled at this level of detail. Hats off to you for the dedication and labor. Really impressive work!

[@BlackEpyon]

This is what happens when somebody runs a channel that features reviews and critiques on the pros and cons of various castle designs. Internet moron: "Oh yeah? If you're so smart, why don't you make a better one?" Shad: "Alright then, I will!"

[@Hello-og]

I read that in his voice!

[@BlackEpyon]

@@Hello-og I was actually thinking Buzz Lightyear, but Shad works too.

[@LoneWolf20213]

now we need him to make his own medieval town surrounding this with all his castle, who else wants to see that

[@Fallout_New_Vegas]

Me

[@ReformedSauron]

Definitely.

[@coyotedreaming]

Yes, please!

[@g1jetfireandrainbowdash798]

Indeed

[@amehak1922]

Omg yes!

[@bladewolfvii6383]

"Zwinger" roughly translates to enforcer or cage, in case you'd prefer an english wording for it. The word Zwinger has also been used for attack dog cages.

[@Palocles]

It’s also used to refer to people who put their car keys into a bowl when they go to parties.

[@ElggNamba]

Zwinger = a kennel (roughly translated). a cage where you keep your dog e.g.

[@MegaOotje]

Zwinger in terms of fortress building is the German word for bastion, the extruding part of a polygonal (star) fortress. In Shad castle this part of the wall sticks out but does not function as a bastion: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4KqaJyMlquGfdU

[@kargaroc386]

If this word survived in english it might be something like "twinger"

[@kargaroc386]

or maybe "thwinger" (th-wing-er /θwɪŋɚ/) but idk I'm not a linguist the proto-west-germanic word was þwingan + er (or, thwinger, I guess) apparently the old frisian word was thwinga (thwinger), and old frisian was probably mutually intelligible with old english. someone who knows the sound changes from PWG to english would need to figure it out. but that person's not me, and we'll probably never know.

[@Adam_okaay]

I'm doing rewatch of old shadiversity episodes and I just gotta say in love all the sheer number of kite shields in the castle.

[@panzerlamb9196]

In this keep, every day is leg day.

[@mansoorhameed7075]

lmao

[@Squirrelanditsnutz]

I’m a simple man. I see leg day meme, I upvote leg day meme.

[@Amy_the_Lizard]

I feel like that applies to most heavily fortified keeps honestly

[@BetImRight]

-Dying Laughing-

[@MrBlack0950]

Never skip leg day

[@tyrant-den884]

We need to get this guy working on a Castle Tycoon game.

[@KingBobXVI]

Stronghold (the original) is one of the best medieval RTS games! Definitely the best for actually designing castles and fortresses!

[@somerton4383]

Then there's age of empires 2...*facepalm*

[@TheWampam]

Stronghold is shit when it comes to designing castles or giving you the feeling of having one...

[@peeblekitty5780]

ohmygodyes someone get Shad up with a game developer, this needs to happen it would be such a cool game

[@Oxxyjoe]

Medieval Engineers is a game which allows you to build a trebuchet and a castle. grinding for resources is a bother, but it's one to look at

[@ryanm9566]

This is... mind-blowing. The amount of engineering and architectural consideration that went into this is insane. Downright impressive mate.

[@jonnya6107]

The word "Epic" is lost on this design. I love it! Double Ultra Legendary! Awesome work Shad!

[@iansullivan9738]

He would be the best and worst person to play Minecraft with.

[@arowan8170]

or medieval engineers...

[@mxri2019]

Reminds me of me tbh. All I do is make fantasy stuff and 70% castles

[@paddlesaddlelad1881]

my recommendations thought this is a minecraft video

[@alexmorrison3442]

Watching this video specifically for minecraft architecture.

[@SininStyle]

@@alexmorrison3442 Was just thinking I wish I had more free time, I would love to build this in minecraft. Havent touched minecraft in so long, this is so tempting.

[@DanteYewToob]

"We have an ARMY!" ... "We have a Shad."

[@aramere3650]

danteelite we have MACHICOLATIONS!!!!

[@jamesgarlick4573]

But what about Dragons?

[@tamurkhawaja7279]

@Jeremy G. Rainthong We have Ser Twenty of House Goodmen stationed at Bolton HQ

[@qwuiet8420]

yeah .... shadman...

[@XDKvlogs]

The Value of a good Shad can change the tide of any war

[@PadraicSmith]

The sheer amount of thought and detail you've put into this castle is utterly staggering. I can barely keep up with the nuances and particulars of your design it's incredible.

[@terezak860]

I was working as a guide in the museum placed in former castle, one of my responsibilities was open and close tower. When you are closing tower, you need to go all the way up (to look for visitors) and let me tell you, stairs at the medieval towers are uneven, narrow nightmares. I admire our ancestors to function in these structures on baily basis.

[@georgiishmakov9588]

That's on purpose. One errant twitch and the whole enemy assault party is rolling down Family Guy style.

[@luisaymerich9675]

This is the third time I come across uneven stairs used as a defensive feature. There was a KZbin short describing this feature. Many of the people in the comment section disputed the creator's argument that uneven stairs were done deliberately. I commented that the original fortification of the governor's mansion in the city of San Juan in Puerto Rico included uneven stairs in the oldest towers. To take a tour of the mansion one has to sign a release from liability in case someone trips during the tour.

[@kargaroc386]

While they may have thought of it as a defense feature after it was built, it likely wasn't intentional. Things were just built weird and wonky back then. Those who lived there would've gotten used to it and it would've been second nature to them.

[@SRFriso94]

I can see one benefit of living there: just by virtue of being there, you get no chance to skip leg day.

[@justacommentercommenting]

leg day everyday

[@donflamingo795]

Even the princess get legs day everyday.

[@ThisWasWhatIThought]

If this is just a lords castle; I can’t wait to see the kings castle.

[@kasperjocker]

That would be Shads take on Winterfell.

[@Throku]

Lord is a catch all title, from the honourary courtesy of adressing someone "my lord", all the way to the Lord, as in God. As such it's not a descriptive term either and King or not any owner is lord of their castle(s). What I'm saying is that if thay are the lord of a castle, then they have some other title as well which no doubt will give you some better hint to what kind of castle you'd expect them to have.

[@Throku]

@@titus7158 Good grief. There really is no hope for humanity is there?

[@trentonios6024]

@@Throku I will say lord is an actual title in a monarchy, however it is true that most nobility are referred to by lowborn as "my lord", unless you were a knight which you were referred to as sir. But if you were a Baron to King a peasant or servant would refer to you as my lord, or sometimes "my liege".

[@Throku]

@@trentonios6024 No Lord is not a title in any monachy, it's something anyone get's to label themselves as that has any other title, A Lord is anyone with an award, grant or patent of arms, and that means pretty much anyone that¨'s born in a nobel family. Be they mere knight, or Marquee, or Duke, or just the cousin¨'s nephew of either of the latter.

[@Aiken47]

I like a lot of Japanese castles, they have a lot of overlapping bottle necks, Osaka has a staging area that can be hidden from attackers and used to route breaches of the frontal attack. If we’ll orchestrated the defending squads could filter through the attackers then press them from behind through the staging area and into the deep water filled moat. Major Japanese castles often utilise zwingers I really like you’re design, I don’t know much about design principles so this has been a great video. I’d love to see you examine castle designs around the world not just European designs, (I’m a new subscriber from FNT, GDay from Adelaide)

[@glorialiedtke8931]

The biggest tower looks almost exactly like the one in my hometown. The tower was so large because the lord didn't want the church's tower to be bigger.

[@elizataylor1726]

Old school dick measuring contest

[@Grain_of_wheat]

Nice

[@nickverbree]

As a former soldier, I was entirely unsurprised when you said that the soldier's mess was right on top of the stable. Some general would have insisted on putting the troops where it stinks.

[@bjornarmar2462]

At least it wasn't above the shit pit ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@1Mutton1]

stables dont actually stink. Being close to work is more handy I think.

[@clymdodds1020]

But isn’t it also right next to the pub?

[@AllNiin]

The reason is simple: dont let it stink or every single other soldier will asks who the fuck is the one that was responsible for cleaning the stables Do a poor job at it and well you just have to deal with the garrison

[@shok24199]

What Mutton said. Also, if it doubles as the Inn, visitors can stable their horses then go to their rooms without going outside in winter.

[@roninanbu.]

nobody: Shad: 3 drawbridges, 8 portcullises, a zwinger, and a warwolf equivalent, just to be safe.

[@bjornarmar2462]

Bruh I don't even have a home-defense shotgun yet. Need Shad in my life.

[@MaxenceBerrier]

@@bjornarmar2462 do u americans really need a home defense shotgun that bad ?

[@bjornarmar2462]

Maxence yes. Minimum.

[@thethirdsicily4802]

@@MaxenceBerrier at minimum your average american needs at least 2 home defense shotguns

[@MilitaryHistory1]

oh and we will make the final gate out of steel

[@bickson9872]

This has to be the best video on Shad’s channel. It’s so informative and unique

[@foadrightnow5725]

That was simply THE quickest 45-minute long video I've ever viewed! I'm not kidding or exaggerating! I was like...NO! It's over already?! That was absolutely fascinating, interesting, informative, and entertaining! If I were a billionaire, you would most definitely be a consultant on my castle/fortress/palace/evil lair/fortified compound design team, for damn sure! Well Done! And thanks for creating and sharing!

[@slightlytwistedagain]

As a plumber I'm well impressed with the effort to have proper water storage and sanitation, it's such a simple thing that many game developers simply ignore to install.

[@johnchalinder6682]

Game designers have a delicate balancing act... On one hand, there is the desire for extreme detail... On the other hand, there is gameplay; keeping the game fast and exciting. Too many details can slow down a game. Where you draw the line between detail and gameplay is, of course, up to the sensibilities of those playing the game; and can vary widely.

[@rollingthunder1043]

Also the desire to not have the player's gaming device of choice burst into flame when you load into a detailed cell.

[@jakobschoning7355]

There is no well there, though. Or did I miss something?

[@TheRojo387]

Pressure is key here. Without it, the plumbing system simply can't deliver its water supply between its ducts. And it turns out, many medieval (and ancient) aqueduct systems lacked proper sanitation, as we know from archaeological info from the Roman republic.

[@mennograafmans1595]

Just look at skyrim. The only places with 'toilets' are Solitude and some banditcamps where they put a bucket somewhere secluded and laid the 'Lusty Argonian Maid' next to it for reasons.

[@pahlavi5312]

When I got into this video, I thought: 45 minutes? That's a long one. 45 minutes later: It's over?? Time flies when you're having fun :)

[@MarkChilcote]

It was the same for me!!!

[@justanothervoice2538]

The most of the additions and tweaks to the castle made since the last video seem to be things that really could have been done to it if it was real, so the original could have been what it looked like before receiving those upgrades in the story. Awesome job, this will serve as reference for me in thinking about fantasy castles in the future! Thank you for your service to the internet!

[@RobertsMind]

It could be fun to work together and create this castle in Unreal Engine so you can actually walk through it and even make cinematics with it. Great job so far.

[@CT034]

I appreciate where you located your granaries. While people would have a point about locating them against your inner bailey wall if they were smaller, the central location has another couple points of merit. Acts of war aside, pests and moisture are problems for any food store. Having your granaries located exposed, across an open area and elevated makes them less accessible to pests such as rodents. The exposed location also keeps the structure from getting too humid from being next to a wall which would block air circulation around the building. Granaries are also one of the first places you would think to sabotage the strength of any enemy's fortified holdout. Your granaries are easily monitored by any of a large number of sentry locations and there are no particularly advantageous approaches to them for a saboteur to use.

[@jonomoth2581]

Large quantities of dry grain and grain/flour dust is also very flammable. There are several accounts of real castles surrendering after someone on the inside was bribed to set a match to the granary

[@solarsailer4166]

I would imagine that several cats were very useful in keeping rodents at bay. 24 hour vermin patrol. If rats become a problem, dogs are quite handy, I speak from personal experience on a farm.

[@Foxglove963]

@@solarsailer4166 You are correct. There is written evidence the Princes of Wales held cats to be prized possessions in protecting their granary from rodents.

[@maxdecphoenix]

@@solarsailer4166 chickens as well. Chickens themselves are omnivores and have a broader diet than cats. Eating all manner of fibrous plant, insect, rodent, reptile or amphibian. A particularly large rat may give them trouble, but i've seen them team up to take one down. But things like roaches, flies, weevils, frogs, etc would be free game. The one drawback of using chickens as pest prevention is that they are diurnal, making them almost entirely inactive and passive at night.

[@akaviral5476]

"Shad's First Word.. A Story" "Shad: Muh..mmm.. Shad's Mother: Oh my God, he's gonna say ma! He loves me! Shad, though more determined: Ma..maaa..maachhicolations! Shad's Mother: ???? Shad: DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND, MOTHER. MACHICOLATIONS. THEY ARE CREATION ITSELF." To be continued...

[@mayalackman7581]

Aidan Piwnicki 😄😄😄😄😄

[@mattaffenit9898]

Aidan Piwnicki 😆

[@mattaffenit9898]

Aidan Piwnicki It turns out MACHICOLATIONS are the source of all life.

[@darkrite9000]

Simply glorious (makes me wonder if a child's first word, or one of them, is that then how angry would the mother be at the father, haha).

[@sambeaty4210]

@@mattaffenit9898 Machicolations are the powerhouse of the castle

[@angertissues3370]

This is genuinely one of the most fascinating videos I've ever seen, truly wonderful work!

[@exposingpowerfullieslivest5082]

this was really fun to watch, its awesome to see this guy so passionate about his designs and about castles. wholesome.

[@ZendikarMage42750]

I could honestly watch a full series about this castle alone; can't wait to hear more about it!

[@davidhawkes6456]

Next episode: the moat of Honorguard and the Honorcarp therin

[@casimiriii5941]

David Cox don't forget the killing fields. 😆😆😆

[@terapode]

Yeah... me too!!

[@jamesbernadette6216]

You do mean; can't wait to *read* more about it? ;)

[@ZacksRockingLifestyle]

Me too!

[@rossgirven5163]

Wow. To break into this castle you are really put through the zwinger

[@JoeDonleyWrittenWord]

I scrolled down specifically to look for this comment.

[@faytbouleouve9811]

I see a major weakness to Shad's impregnable castle. Plug up the toiletries drainage system.

[@noahtackett6264]

@Backstage Bum you never know what secret passageways would be in there

[@JonatasAdoM]

@@noahtackett6264 Any passage out also works in. Even secret aqueducts were found and blocked/poisoned.

[@dr.spaghetti1973]

Backstage Bum Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the burning birds thing was from some Kievan Queen, who’s also known for locking some dignitaries in a burning building. Still, the use of disease is a good idea, and knocking down the Don-Jon (if that’s how you spell it) with trebuchets and/or catapults could cause extensive damage to the keep and it’s food stores.

[@neofd3223]

Awesome job Shad! This castle is awesome!

[@carso1500]

Coming from the vídeo of shad presenting his terrain where he plans to build this castle

[@thebelgianlemon6815]

I don't think the castle he'll build will be a big as this one.

[@carso1500]

@@thebelgianlemon6815 are you... are you understimating the power of our lord chadiversity

[@thebelgianlemon6815]

@@carso1500 Listen, first of Shad is not a chad. Second of this much stone for a castle this size would already cost millions, let alone the costs of building it.

[@carso1500]

@@thebelgianlemon6815 heresy, Shad is the chadest of chads, and money is of little concern, it will arrive, eventually

[@JacobGrim]

@@thebelgianlemon6815 false

[@laugesolvang8849]

Tower highest rooms 25:05 - tower and feature window 27:25 - Ballroom - 30:24 - Bedrooms 32:43 - Donjon rooms 32:53 - Living rooms 33:33 - Public space 35:08 - Donjon room 36:46 - Servants rooms 37:52 - Basement 39:19 - Undercroft 41:30

[@goodgirlvhagar]

You sir are a hero. Your tale will be told through the annals of history

[@LarryGarfieldCrell]

This was the nerdiest 45 minutes I've spent this year, and that's saying something! Nice work, Shad. I'd love to see it rendered in an FPS engine so we could walk through it.

[@Conserpov]

Just 45 minutes? I had to pause and rewind back and forth to examine it for ~2 hours

[@glynnporrino5634]

That actually could be the most defenceable castle design I've ever seen and I've designed many!! Bravo Sir Shad!!

[@tfunkman]

I appreciate the work and thought that went into your castle design. It is absolutely amazing

[@CommandLineVulpine]

I'd hate to be a servant there, I'd get lost in the Keep for sure "What do you mean there's no access from here to there?!"

[@GaborSzabo747]

I'm wondering how many keys this castle needs to operate :)

[@lvd8122]

Lance Elliott id love it, but only because I really enjoy climbing:D

[@Amokra]

Lance Elliott you should see aircraft carriers the bulkhead makes you have to go up and down to get to different sections 😃

[@The214thRabidFangirl]

Amokra Aircraft carriers is exactly where my brain went when I read the first comment.

[@elvinadhludhlu5380]

Gabor Szabo - Mannny

[@onatgz]

i love how the shields in the guard rooms have your coat of arms lol.

[@donnieg.6976]

One of the most detail walkthroughs of a castle (real or imagined). I've ever seen. Excellent video.

[@adamariscolon4764]

when i first saw honorguard in your winterfell video, my jaw dropped because honorguard looks EXACTLY like the castle i built in my mind for a book that i am writing. this is such a beautiful castle. thank you for your time and research going into this!

[@justrobin8155]

The fact that you have some background in construction explains a lot. Thanks for this! I'll be saving it to check my work when I design castles for RPGs.

[@fahdimtiaz7523]

If there isn't at least one instance of a character screaming "MACHICULATIONS!!!!!" in the book I'll be very disappointed.

[@meinkaiser4023]

I started watching your vids only a few months ago, and said to my brother that I'd love to see you design one. Did not disappoint. I'm in awe at the detail and functionality of the entire thing, and imagine that to build it - despite your wealth of knowledge on the subject already - required an insane amount of extra research. I would now love to see you design your dream castle. I'll probably stumble upon that one soon 😂

[@colinrasmussen9365]

This is beautiful. I would love to read a book with Honorguard in it.

[@keiyakins]

I like the sort of 'hard fantasy' stylings here. It's a functional, practical castle, with a couple embellishments to look awesome. That's honestly what we probably would have built had we gotten a bit more architecture practice under our belt before artillery obsoleted most medieval fortifications

[@flowenfan9678]

In the end of the day, our ability to build will always be matched by our ability to knock shit down.

[@kargaroc386]

I mean, nowadays something the size of a fridge can turn anything within a mile of it into high energy plasma, its so lopsided in favor of the attackers its not funny. The attackers generally have entropy on their side.

[@techwizpc4484]

Export this castle to Unity and do a first person walkthrough.

[@koat1877]

Was going to say the same, or one of the elder scroll games.

[@lonestarwolfentertainment7184]

Koa T Honorguard would fit in quite well in High Rock

[@demoulius1529]

@@shalvaquthelia8414 you got my vote. How many do you need? D:

[@ulrichleukam1068]

@@shalvaquthelia8414 did you make it? please DM me

[@Niloc_]

@@shalvaquthelia8414 did you? :)

[@AaronSKZ]

I watch this like once a month. I miss your castle content. Would love to see another build/tour like this.

[@chemicalmix]

Absolutely extraordinary. What a fantastic build, and a really informative video.

[@torjones1701]

Can you please make a video on your design process? Did you start on the inside and work your way out, or with the outer walls and work your way in? How did you decide what rooms you wanted and which ones you didn't need in your castle?

[@TheWampam]

From my experience working inside to outside is the easier one since you can first design the rooms you need and than build the castle around it. While doing it the other way I got many problems with using all the room I got or having not enough room in other places. (i.e for staircases)

[@lukasschrage8935]

As a German and fan of medieval history as well as your content, I am glad you added the Zwinger. Also: False floors? Man and I thought this castle couldn't get any more awesome!

[@xdragonhaterx4579]

I'd love to see another video like this. It's really informative and fun.

[@geekgeekrickson260]

This is one of the nicest castles I've ever seen! With some modern amenities, I'd love to live there!

[@somerton4383]

Meanwhilst in Castle Honorguard, master builder doubting his life's work. _"If dragons attack we cannot hold. We have to prepare for the worst. Thine enemy force is strong, my liege, machicolations 'tis required"_

[@selenagamya1612]

Somebody needs to recreate this in a videogame-like environment so it can be properly explored. I would love to just wander around in there for hours and get lost.

[@PrimordialNightmare]

Castle walking simulator. That'd be so great!

[@Obstinate28]

If I had the time, I would love to make this in the Unity Game Engine and make a simple POV agent so you could walk around it and fly around it.

[@snesguy9176]

Quick, some one mod it in to skyrim

[@fangirl801lost]

Oh man, I was just thinking the exact thing. This would make for an awesome map for a Thief fan mission. I hope someone gets around to making one

[@Morphimus]

There's a game called medieval engineers that might be able to do a half-decent recreation.

[@hellbrickthewack145]

Thanks for the tips. The placement of the rooms makes a lot of sense, and the privy situation is more sensible than most. Again, thank you for doing this.

[@paddock.corbin]

In your story telling, make sure that you include in honor guard’s history these little changes you made (aside from the oversights). There should be a telling of its history that while it was under construction it was attacked (maybe once or twice). That earthen mound to get past the first gate house is one important part. An attack that used this will have made it necessary to build those other walls. Same for the wooden floor in the keep being changed to stone. These little changes can be included in historical notes of changes to the castle.

[@AsserKortteenniemi]

I can't help but admire the level of love, dedication, thought and detail you've put into this design. Absolutely brilliant. If i were to build myself a castle, I would definetly hire you to be one of the designers.

[@greatmightypanda]

It feels good to be vindicated that even if not for exactly the reasons I argued, you didn't move the granary. Even with a trebuchet twice the size of Warwolf they would struggle to get anywhere near damaging that granary, and it makes so much more sense for the sake of practicality to put supplies central. Love the design.

[@shadiversity]

Thanks mate, I love seeing you guys thinking about all the different pros and cons.

[@Xalerdane]

I like the idea of isolating the Military, Public, Administrative, Private, Servant, and Utility sections from each other beyond the bare minimum of access points.

[@ed2635]

Thought I might revisit this video and add a few improvements ideas (not sure if there really necessary but I'm bored so here goes). 1. In Carcassonne in France, the entrance ramp to one of the external gatehouses isn't straight but takes about a 90 degree turn so as to hamper the approach of attackers/battering rams etc. 2. Also in Carcassone, the gate houses were opened from to different controls from people in two different areas to increase the difficulty of espionage attempts. 3. in Krak des Chevaliers in Syria, the approach through the gatehouses after the external gate house was disguised with a decoy approach. In Honourguards case this could be achieved by making a door/arch in the wall next to the second gatehouse. By fortifying the section after said archway and maybe disguising the correct gateway you might literally lead some people down the wrong path. 4. This one probably might not be necessary but In Krak des Chevaliers, they reinforced the hill/mound of earth it was built on by covering it with stone (called a Tanis, I believe). In reality this was done mostly because of the threat of earthquakes but it has the added benefit of making the castle a bit more imposing.

[@Waffles935]

I would have added a small separate guard house at the base of the road entrance

[@MNfishes]

I can't wait to read your book.

[@tylerwash2586]

The most dazzling castle this side of Minas Tirith, for sure. Amazing aesthetics and relentless attention to practicality. I'd love to live there as much as I'd dread trying to attack it.

[@krillanr]

I wish I could leave another like. I watched this video when it was new and I've watched it multiple times since. Love it good sir.

[@jimmy6535]

Loved every second of it, learned a thing or two. Well done!

[@adamblakeslee5301]

If there's one flaw in the neigh perfect defense of Honorguard it's the first and third gatehouses. Note, that's one flaw because it's only a weakpoint when taken in tandem. The first gatehouse is low enough that you could use siege engines to get on top of it. Not easily, mind, since you're going to need something like a 5 story siege tower with a 20 foot gangplank. After that you could batter down the door to the 3rd gatehouse or use siege ladders to get on top of it. Granted, you're still piling up the corpses of your comrades to use for cover against two flanking towers but it brings the difficulty from "Haha, no." to "You want to spend HOW MANY men?"

[@jakestone7854]

just had to say a thumbs up to having all the stairs go the correct direction. People don't realize the direction of the stairs was also a defensive measure. the only time the direction was reversed was if the defensive direction was down, which was rare. Makes it so when you are attacking vs. defending it would be difficult to strike the opponent seeing as most people are right handed. I think this is one reason why they demonized left handed people.

[@NickGreyden]

It was what bothered me about the zwinger. It turns the wrong way lol

[@DavidPokora]

@@NickGreyden it does not matter there, it is so wide that you can swing a sword none the less

[@goldflame3390]

I really do not think the common perception of right and left handed people is caused by the direction of the staircase. The right hand/left hand superstition is responsible for the assumption that all soldiers are right handed.

[@christaspirit]

This was super useful, one of my stories has a character living in an old castle. And I love the design of Honorguard!

[@daniell1483]

I really loved this, but I noticed that something was missing: decoration! The first video on the channel I watched was one describing how castles would have things like carpets, tapestries, etc. At least for the private quarters or something. Also, I'd love to know, how many troops do you think could be stationed in Honorguard?

[@Waffles935]

Yes I would have also added a couple trees there too

[@justrnfr]

King of Honorguard: HAH i'd like to see anyone get through these amazing defences, we're finally safe from any enemy King of Honorguard *get's killed by poison*

[@AtaMarKat]

“Tell Cersei. I want her to know it was me.”

[@demetriblackheart4497]

Coward. Smart but still.

[@odd-ysseusdoesstuff6347]

But what if we apply a tall siege tower and use it as a platform to launch Da VInci Gliders? And go OVER the walls?

[@shootymcshootfacekoff7972]

Cough cough Soviet time travelers cough cough

[@Zenden1ST]

gets killed by stinky assassins that climbed through the gravity latrines

[@jinenjuce]

As a civil engineer, I think the design of the bathrooms and waste management was most impressive, given the time period this would have been built lol

[@DoomRater]

Bathrooms on every floor like that is a serious luxury.

[@j.j._]

Awesome caslte you thought of everything. The extent of my castle design skills capped with the pc game "stronghold". The ballroom being at the top is such a cool design feature. I can imagine all kinds of opportunities for writing great stories involving this castles design. So interesting and informative. Thanks for the content.

[@duckrivermama66]

Dude! I absolutely adore this castle you have designed‼️

[@danieltaylor5542]

Those exposed beams also make a great place to hang the banners of your vanquished foes.

[@ZGuy0fSci]

Or ya know, _your vanquished foes._ ^~^

[@manybuckets969]

Or the bodies

[@AD-hr8sg]

For the servant's entrance room with the false floor, you need to make the interior door flush to the inside walls of the false floor room. With the current design as seen in 38:45, if a considerably large army somehow managed to breach the bailey and siege the keep (and more than likely they'd bust down the servant's quarter's door first), then the first few sorry sods would certainly fall to their demise, but it wouldn't be too difficult for an army with siege equipment and siege engineers to take planks and build a makeshift bridge to the stone lip of the 2nd interior door. At which point, the servant's quarters once again becomes an area of defensive compromise. This potential problem could be absolved by simply making the interior doors flush against the wall, thus eliminating that lip.

[@TheDrewker]

Could be *solved. Not sure why you added the "ab"

[@goobins_jr]

Drew Kosonen does it matter that much?

[@manuelkong10]

I've watched this more than once and love it each time. the donjon and tower roof DO look fantasy.....maybe a bit distracting. VERY dramatic! nice. So well thought out. I'd love to visit this castle if you ever get around to building it lol

[@Fl1xnd]

i went through the entire video and didn't get fed up at all its interesting nad i love seeing smart designs be one and truly shad

[@neurotoksyn]

fantastic design, everything seems well thought out and it may be one of the most impregnable castles I have ever seen, sometimes I think hollywood and game companies should just ask you for consulting on their designs because my god man, I am in awe.

[@carbon1255]

He forgot one thing though, this castle is extremely easy to climb. Render is not just for decoration!

[@neurotoksyn]

I'm curious to know how you find it easy to climb? you can't easily march ladders up the hill, nor can towers be rolled up with any measure of effectiveness, I suppose he could have put a moat or a series of ditches around it to make it harder to assail but even if the assailants got ladders on the first wall the second interior wall would have archers stationed to pick them off as they climb over. Then assuming they actually got a foothold on a section of the outer wall they'd have to carry ladders up the ladders to try and climb the second wall all while being shot at or having rocks tossed down on them, burning oil, etc. The more I think on it though there should probably be ditches, bitches love ditches. This castle would have to be sieged by a massive force capable of overwhelming the defenders or the only other feasible option is to starve them out, assailing the walls half-heartedly will only result in utter defeat. (which was usually the case with sieges anyways)

[@johnfrancisdoe1563]

Holland He is clearly referring to directly climbing the walls themselves, no ladders or siege engines. Because a bare stone wall is supposedly a lot less slippery than a plastered white wall.

[@RambunctiousHamster]

I'm so sad there aren't secret passages. :( But seriously, great job! Not sure if you have a video on secret passages, but im sure everyone would love to see that!

[@nick_steele9790]

Oh there probably are secret passages but that’s what they are, secret ;)

[@anniejuan1817]

I believe the secret passages have to do with the way the feature tower's walls don't exactly align with the castle walls.

[@ripmomcovid4678]

Indeed, good sir, there are, which is why he did not tell us in the vid. :)

[@crimmy838]

The secret passages were rarely more than decently disguised servants tunnels, out of sight, out of mind, also allows them to quickly traverse the castle without happening across the general public

[@kargaroc386]

While a *stairway* in a secret tunnel does sound quite romantic, I think it's a pretty big extravagance for a tunnel explicitly for getting out of dodge. An escape tunnel would more likely use ladders, or footholds inside the shaft wall. """""Servant""""" tunnels on the other hand *might* use stairs.

[@Sporek]

That is some magnificent piece of work! Wow, just wow! I want to see this castle in some high budget video game now!

[@Nephelangelo]

Someone needs to make a supercut of every time Shad has ever said “castle”.

[@martijnvanweele6204]

A character I'm playing in D&D has an old family castle that he's trying to retake as his personal quest. Your videos have helped me greatly in designing that castle.

[@rikwelgraaf601]

So your castle is impenetrable?....BUT WHAT ABOUT DRAGONS?!!!!

[@drspartan048]

"Curiosities on the far side of the world are no threat to us."

[@eldrago19]

Yeah. That was my response after hearing his comments on catapults.

[@thejohnhopkinscompany9599]

Ask Black Harren.

[@rikwelgraaf601]

@Backstage Bum so true

[@francreeps4509]

And witches flying on brooms, fairies, harpies, and basically anything that can fly

[@DesignerBerg]

This is so incredibly epic. I just rewatched it AGAIN.

[@ryanaegis3544]

Your top-floor ballroom reminded me of the ballroom/throne room at Kroneborg, Denmark. Top floor, 20 foot ceiling with massive exposed beams, floor to ceiling windows, 20 yards wide and probably 60 yards long. Just massive.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

You have to be the architect for those castles. It ain't so grand if not made by Shad.

[@maximus2874]

kirby march Barcena yeah because in modern german to force someone to dl sth. means jmd. zwingen etwas zu tun

[@johnmosser6695]

It would be amazing to see a movie portraying a siege of this castle!

[@brossetthomas8177]

It would probably be a long blocade until surrender, nothing that amazing.

[@baronprocrastination1722]

Or they would just- "CHAAAAAAAAAARGE!" Hollywood and tactics don't mesh well.

[@Spite555]

John Mosser best way would to be starve them out

[@kyusango3311]

A simulation of an attack would be cool. Not a starvation siege but full on take the castle attack.

[@bleedingmasque.6193]

ON IT!

[@Taig32]

Would absolutely love you to do a video about a hypothetical enemy possibly could take this castle. Massive fan of the channel - keep it up.

[@zaratustra4218]

Congratulations, sir. It was a really great job, i love it.

[@AuleileiMMA]

Taking this castle would be damn near impossible. Honorguard is unassailable. I think the only way to defeat Honorguard is to let it become obsolete over time. Imagine over the centuries Honorguard is a symbol of power over the land, unquestionable in its defenses. Outlasting siege after siege, then one day a cannon is rolled up and dismantled centuries of power in minutes. (Weeks probably, depending on the cannon size)

[@SonsOfLorgar]

Samuelu Johnston I wouldn't use cannon, I'd use a massive ammount of incendiary fireworks-style rockets... Or in preceding eras, attack it through undermining the main keep directly close to the drain exhaust.

[@algirdassalomskas9050]

Four words: rain and wind erosion. This castle will fall, it is only a matter of time....

[@AeronPrince]

Sounds like the fall of Constantinople.

[@undertakernumberone1]

I'd use a cannon... it's called "Schwerer Gustav" Otherwise, since it's a fantasy world, I'll just draw upon another Fantasy World and ask Nurgle for Help. Have fun with plagues

[@thearisen7301]

What about undermining the walls? Basically dig a tunnel under the walls to collapse them.

[@TheArrieman]

I love this! Yet it makes you wonder how much firewood the castle residence need during winter with all those fireplaces xD

[@SuperFunkmachine]

5 to 10 cords per fire place for the winter, less in summer but you still need some wood to cook on.

[@einarandreasseiness2000]

Thanks for a great video! Really made my castle-vibes go into high gear. I guess someone else already have mentioned it, but I would love to see a small escape-passage/tunnel leading out of the castle for the lords inner circle. You know, just in case the unthinkable happens.

[@MrAwawe]

32:25 "long wooden paddle-like thing" a shovel, Shad, that's called a shovel.