SIEGE Engine Explained. A Castles & Crusades video.

I attempt to explain the SIEGE Engine to help those curious about the system or needing a more thorough explanation of the genius resolution mechanic that is the SIEGE Engine from Troll Lord Games and their flagship game : Castles & Crusades.
If you have any questions, please post in the comments below.
Thanks for watching!!

[@magehammersgametable]

Something I left out of the video is that when making saving throws against spells, the casters level is the Challenge Level. If a character needs to save against a monster’s ability the Challenge Level is the monster’s Hit Die. I may make another video showcasing that aspect of the SIEGE Engine.

[@cmleibenguth]

You should pin this comment

[@magehammersgametable]

@@cmleibenguth Done. Thanks!

[@stillmattwest]

That's the main criticism I see of Castles and Crusades: Siege Engine saves vs. High level spells. No one wants to get their 18th level character disintegrated with an 85% chance of failing their save.

[@magehammersgametable]

@@stillmattwest I haven’t gotten to that high a level yet. But I see what you are saying!

[@qsviewsrpgs4571]

Great illustration on how the flow of the game can work so smoothly. Good stuff!

[@magehammersgametable]

Thank you! And welcome to my game table!

[@qsviewsrpgs4571]

My playsure!@@magehammersgametable

[@MrSteveK1138]

Thanks for the C&C love! Going to start a campaign with my wife in a mystical alternative history of the Roman Empire.

[@magehammersgametable]

That sounds amazing! Gaming with loved ones is one of the greatest parts of our hobby. Have fun! And thanks for watching!!

[@Pantherrrr]

That sounds like a really cool campaign setting

[@JamesAbides]

This was the sixth video I watched trying to understand the system and I wish I had started here. Excellent tutorial, thank you.

[@magehammersgametable]

Glad to be of service!

[@ChuckBarchuk]

Dude, fantastic job! There isn't a video like this on youtube that really explains it. Going to pass this right along. Thanks bro.

[@magehammersgametable]

De Nada. Glad I made my roll!!

[@ChuckBarchuk]

@@magehammersgametable Yea dude. So good. I just watched it again. Nat. 20.

[@magehammersgametable]

@@ChuckBarchuk Thanks , man!

[@andysimmons2648]

Thank you for this explanation, it’s clear and concise. I’ve really been enjoying your solo C&C games and often wondered what you mean when referencing primary attributes. The Siege Engine looks like a very good tool for running Castles and Crusades and I can see what you choose it.

[@magehammersgametable]

Thank you! Glad to be of service!

[@freddaniel5099]

Thank you for this explanation. The SIEGE Engine is the most confusing thing about C&C for me. I honestly think the explanation in the books could be better. This video certainly helps me understand the concept better!

[@magehammersgametable]

Glad to be of service! And be sure to read my pinned topic in the comments for this video.

[@darrenlongshanks5102]

This was a useful tutorial to explain the SEIGE system! My players and I use the second method you described, where the base difficulty is always 18, and you add +6 if its a primary stat. A House Rule that we have is that for any class ability attempted where you're not that class, you can't add your level. It's a little less arbitrary that way. Thanks for making this video - happy gaming!

[@magehammersgametable]

@@darrenlongshanks5102 Awesome! Glad you liked it! And that's a great thing about C&C. It is flexible with house rules and doesn't break.

[@Dick_Mustang]

@darrenlongshanks5102 Greatesr DM ever 🤘😄🤘

[@arcticcirclepit2008]

I was on the fence about buying C&C but this video really helped me understand what I was buying. I think I'm gonna get it. I love how this system flows.

[@magehammersgametable]

Awesome! You should buy it! It’s a magnificent system!

[@CJsComicsandGames]

I pretty much had the gist of what you were doing with this in your games I've watched, but now I know exactly what you are doing! Great explanation, and I'm glad you highlighted Tobimus.

[@magehammersgametable]

Thanks, Chris! Tobimus is flattered!

[@galinor7]

C&C is simply the best D&D-esque game on the market. Excellent. I generally play BRP /d00lite games. However I play C&C a lot. It is my go to OSR.

[@magehammersgametable]

We C&C fans are legion!!! I have played a bit of Call of Cthulhu in my time. Always a fun time.

[@stillmattwest]

You can really make that argument. It's the third edition we deserved.

[@avaliantendeavor6817]

Thanks for making this video. It helped me solidify my choice to use C&C for my videos.

[@magehammersgametable]

De Nada!

[@johnfielder2064]

just bought castle and crusades, as wanted something old school, but modern, (want to run Al-Qadim and Darksun again) so thanks, this is a great overview of how the system works, thanks again

[@magehammersgametable]

Thanks! Welcome to the Crusade! And I am glad to help!

[@BillAllanWorld]

Thank you!! This was very informative. I have subscribed.

[@magehammersgametable]

Welcome to my game table!

[@Shamustodd1]

Finally, a thief that don't suck! *typo

[@magehammersgametable]

Indeed!!!

[@Rhino10e]

Was thinking a great house rule could be a plus 1 bonus for fellow character assisting if feasible to the situation. Ordered my players handbook it should be arriving today! 😀

[@magehammersgametable]

Awesome! I believe I give a +2 for another aiding a friend. In fact, I think I did in one of my C&C Delve videos.

[@magehammersgametable]

And welcome to the Crusade!!

[@zelbarnap]

thank you! that was very helpful!

[@magehammersgametable]

@@zelbarnap De Nada

[@Rhino10e]

Awesome thank you!

[@magehammersgametable]

De Nada!

[@txmetalhead82xk]

Love that board! Thanks for explaining this game system.

[@magehammersgametable]

Thank you!

[@ryannilsson7955]

That was a great explanation. Thanks!

[@magehammersgametable]

Thank you!

[@Tysto]

I really like this system except for the fact that it doesn’t have much of anything for fighters. You get weapon specialization, multiple attack, &… another kind of multiple attack. I cooked up some modern features for them (some combat, some not).

[@magehammersgametable]

Yes! The game lends itself so well to home brew rules! Even the Troll Lord’s boss’s mantra is your game, your rules!

[@Grognard-Solo-Gaming]

Hey! Found your channel through The Dungeon Dive, and I’m really enjoying your content! One question about this system (which seems neat): Can a player change what’s part of their training? I think everyone agrees rogues aren’t trained in breaking down doors. But if a player insists on doing that again and again, as part of the game, would it at some/any point count as something they’re trained in? Just curious.

[@magehammersgametable]

Entirely up to the Castle Keeper, but I don’t see why not!

[@magehammersgametable]

Thanks for watching!!

[@pauls3585]

I have always wanted to play this and after a quick search, there are a lot of available products.

[@magehammersgametable]

All you need to play is the Player’s Handbook. There is a free PDF version of the 7th printing on the Troll Lord Games website.

[@magehammersgametable]

It’s a great version of D&D. I love it.

[@pauls3585]

@@magehammersgametable Okay, I'll check it out.

[@magehammersgametable]

@@pauls3585 Awesome!

[@JamesAbides]

Where did you get that character sheet? I would love to use something simple like that. Thanks!

[@magehammersgametable]

Here is a link to it on Google Drive. Make a copy and have fun! docs.google.com/document/d/1yR4c5dLTanKb4ft0Yg4z4_rna3S2qr2_s1avyb5SDBw/edit

[@JamesAbides]

@@magehammersgametable I requested access, thank you!

[@magehammersgametable]

@@JamesAbides Access granted!!

[@JamesAbides]

​@@magehammersgametable I am playing with my ten and twelve year old to teach myself and them the system and these simplified sheets are really great. Thanks again.

[@magehammersgametable]

@@JamesAbides Man! I love to hear I am helping a dad help his kids play RPGs! I started my kids young as well, and both have run campaigns for their friends. No greater joy than gaming with your kids. I am humbled to have been a part of your gaming experience. Please give me some of the highlights of the games as you go! Game on!

[@stillmattwest]

Ive been kicking around this idea for bringing 5e players into the C&C fold: DC is always 15 + CL. If its a prime attribute, roll with advantage. Simpler, a little easier... I dunno.

[@magehammersgametable]

I mean. Sometimes you just have to play it that way to see if it works for you and your group. If it doesn’t, you stop playing that way.

[@rpgchronicler]

Even though im not replacing 5e with Castles & Crusades, I appreciate the explanation of the siege engine. For me C&C isnt a replacement for 5e but a replacement for adnd 1e/2e! Its a good thing as afaik most of the OSRs were aiming at B/X and there's much more retroclones of B/X in comparison to Adnd 1e/2e. I wanna play C&C solo but I wanna try playing it not by two characters but one character. For this im opting for a gestalt type of character where its two classes from the get go (yes ik gestalts are 3.x ed, but im not keen on the class and a half option since this is one character solo). If im playing gestalt would it simply be picking two primary attributes for the character then?

[@magehammersgametable]

I’m say go ahead and choose two primary attributes. I think that will work for you!

[@stillmattwest]

I like 4D6 drop lowest down the line, but I allow swapping any two stats. Makes the group less samey. I just got tired of seeing the same high Str, high Con, low Charisma Fighters.

[@magehammersgametable]

Yes. That’s a good idea!

[@tanglefoot9674]

Which attribute do folks use for Perception? Wisdom?

[@magehammersgametable]

Yes. Wisdom. But since 5E came out, some people also allow Intelligence as it is tied to Investigation. So, it could be with C&C

[@edjcaldera]

Cool gaming mat. where did you get that?

[@magehammersgametable]

Redbubble. Dyson Logos (the cartographer/artist) has it and other items with his maps on them for sale !

[@magehammersgametable]

Just go to red bubble and search Dyson Logos. Should get you there.

[@deanlol]

How did you make those character sheets?

[@magehammersgametable]

I designed them using Google Docs. Here’s a link. You can make a copy in Google Drive and modify as you like. docs.google.com/document/d/1zQ0Wqrlg75Ed371I4i0OgTjyRrkI7GtSEDcUUeKYwIU/edit

[@MichaelSmith-ze3iv]

Thanks for the video! Where did you get the map in the video?

[@magehammersgametable]

The map maker Dyson Logos has a store on Redbubble where he sells mousepads of his work.

[@magehammersgametable]

Thanks for watching!

[@Wynteriii]

I can't remember if this was asked, where did you get that battle map from? I thought it was Barrowmaze for a minute.

[@magehammersgametable]

It is from Dyson Logos’ Redbubble store

[@Wynteriii]

@@magehammersgametable Which poster and what size?

[@magehammersgametable]

@@Wynteriii www.redbubble.com/i/mouse-pad/Vault-of-the-Shadow-Lich-by-DysonLogos/94858263.GAP22

[@Wynteriii]

@@magehammersgametable thank you!

[@magehammersgametable]

@@Wynteriii Enjoy!

[@Marcus-p5i5s]

Using the 12 and 18 base is really, mathematically a stupid way to lay out the Siege Engine. But, Trolls aren't known for their math ability. Skip the 12 and 18 base rules. They SIMPLE way to work the system is the rule that you only use 18 as the base number for difficulty. E.g. when you as the GM place a poison for the PCs and you have to give it a saving throw number you simply start with a base of 18 and add whatever from there. If a 5th level monster created it you add 5 to 18 for 23. THAT is the final number needed by the PC. Con is the attribute used to save vs. poison so you simple tell the player to save with Con as the attribute. The PLAYER adds a 6 to the roll if his Con is Prime or doesn't if not. There is no need to figure anything using 12 as the base.

[@magehammersgametable]

Yes! Thank you.

[@Motavian]

Does C&C use standardized Stat modifiers across all attributes like BASIC or is it like AD&D and dependent on the stats?

[@magehammersgametable]

More like AD&D, but there are a plethora of modifier options in the Castle Keepers Guide. You can use whatever modifier system you like.

[@KorbinDallas]

It's like Basic (13-15 +1, 16-17 +2, 18-19 +3) for all Stats. Hope that helps.

[@NemoOhd20]

I love the idea of C&C, love the art, love to support the Trolls, but..... the seige engine isnt something I need in my life. It is just clunky and needlessly complicated. It is too bad, really.

[@magehammersgametable]

I completely understand. Thank goodness we are spoiled for choices at this point in RPG history. I hope you find a system that speaks to you on all levels. Thank you for watching!

[@proven22x52]

Why? Why do we roll attributes first? We know what class and race we want to be, why not have each class have a seperate roll generation that exemplafies thier needed stat for the class, this method could even have a master class who has max attribites but no level bonuses 😂, a player should pick thier race first, this sets thier max skill level, then you choose a class and the class modifies thier max. Fighter example str:max-1d4, chr:max-1d10, int:max-4d4, wis:max-1d8, dex:max-2d4, con:max-1d6

[@magehammersgametable]

The short answer: tradition. But your method sounds intriguing! There is nothing in any game stopping you from doing things your way! I say go for it. One of the mighty strengths of tabletop games is they are easily modified and tinkered with to make them the ultimate customizable entertainment!

[@proven22x52]

@@magehammersgametable yup

[@sunsin1592]

One reason is that encourages stat min/maxing and limits creativity. Why does your fighter have to be strong? The Siege Engine can actually help you think outside the box a bit. Maybe you want a quick-witted nimble fighter. So you make Str, Dex, and Int your primes, but maybe only the Dex is a 16 or whatever. With the C&C method you could actually make lower attributes (by score) your primary ones because you're already essentially getting a +6 bonus on checks pertaining to that attribute. Making your higher scores your secondary attributes helps balance things out mechanically, if that's what you want to do. And here, there's the difference in number of primaries for demi-humans. Of course you can go in wanting a halfling, but you'll need to keep in mind that one of your two primes is already decided by class selection.

[@proven22x52]

@@sunsin1592 oh yes i always enjoy playing a weak fighter, lol thats the reason

[@magehammersgametable]

@@sunsin1592 Exactly! Well said!