By Alan "Psion" Kohler (repost from ENWorld.org), February 16, 2002.
Castles & Keeps is a software download product from Darkfuries
available at RPGnow (www.rpgnow.com.) Similar to Inns & Taverns
in concept and scope, Castles & Keeps provides floorplans for use
in fantasy games. The download is available for $5.00 US.
The product comes packaged as a zip file. When unpacked, the product consists
of a number of html files that the user may navigate with a standard browser,
and a subdirectory with the gif file maps.
When opened, the content.html file has two frames. The left side frame
provides navigation between the different galleries and to each floor of
each structure. The right hand frame is where the content appears when
selected. Of course, you can use your own graphics viewer to browse the
images directory.
In addition to the title page and introductory information, there is a
thumbnail gallery page for each castle or keep. There are a total of five
such structures presented: Grimbarith keep, Halestrom Gallery, Lurfell
Tower, Pelgurn Tower, and Roshefain Keep.
Unlike Inns & Taverns, in addition to the floorplans for each
level, Castles & Keeps has text descriptions of each location.
The descriptions correspond to number keys on the map. The description only
pertains to content and appearance of each room; no NPCs or other game
specific information is provided.
The floorplans themselves are laid out with a dotted-line square grid,
with each square 5' on a side (perfect for d20 system players). The icons
are generally clear and the layout logical; the floorplans should fit
nicely into a standard fantasy campaign.
Due to the size of some of the keeps, unlike the Inns & Taverns
floorplans, the Castles & Keeps floorplans do not conform nicely
accomodate 25mm miniatures when printed on a standard 8 ½ x 11 sheet. If you
want to print the maps out and use them with miniatures, you will have to
subdivide the map and print them seperately.
Conclusion
As with Inns & Taverns, Castles & Keeps provides a nice
selection of floorplans that you will be eager to use in your fantasy campaign.
The 5' square grid is very convenient for d20 system players. Albeit there are
no convenient game statistics for castle guards, staff, and other inhabitants,
the descriptions should give you some decent and essential descriptions for
games in the keep.
-Alan D. Kohler
The original post can be found
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