Spotlight on Design 4 – Ships
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters,
These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.
Psalms (ch. CVII, v. 23-24)
Ships: many different kinds, many different uses in Stronghold maps. They can be staging grounds for troops or pure eye candy. Without further ado, behold these castles on the sea!
The ship at dock near this beautiful village is from WarLord_Designs’ Scourge of Darkness Ch I. The ships, docks, and harbors in this map are all integrated with the excellent use of wooden crenellations.
You can read more about how to make crenellations here.
A small leak can sink a great ship ~ Benjamin Franklin
In the sequel,
Scourge of Darkness Ch II WarLord_Designs uses ships as the staging ground for arriving troops, coming to your aid.
She comes majestic with her swelling sails,
The gallant Ship: along her watery way,
Homeward she drives before the favouring gales;
Now flirting at their length the streamers play,
And now they ripple with the ruffling breeze.
~ Robert Southey
Xetas, one of the newer designers, has found a creative use for his large ship in Preparations For Crusade. The goal in this mission is to outfit the ship before it sets sail for the Crusades. This is made all the more realistic by having the granaries and armories built onto the deck.
Ha, ha, my ship! thou mightiest well be taken now for the sea-chariot of the sun.
Ho, ho! all ye nations before my prow, I bring the sun to ye!
Yoke on the further billows . . . I drive the sea!
~ Herman Melville
nogold57 puts an entire fleet of stone ships with troops at your disposal in Great Ships of Gluteus.
A ship in port is safe, but that’s not what ships are built for
~ Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper
A full sea battle is underway in ice_dragon’s
Fiendish Games Ch II: Board Their Ship! In this map you can attack from a distance via the siege weapons, or send your troops along the walkways for a more up-close and personal skirmish.
I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast for I intend to go in harm’s way
~ John Paul Jones
Zoom in on this detail from
Fiendish Games Ch II: Board Their Ship!, and you can see the creative placement of the siege weapons.
Don’t give up the ship! ~ Captain James Lawrence
Another full-scale battle is underway in The Interlude – Battle Of The Solomon Sea by UnikUnok. Strategy for play differs from that of ice_dragon’s, however, as in this skirmish the ships are entirely separated by the sea.
Sail Forth- Steer for the deep waters only.
Reckless O soul, exploring. I with thee and thou with me.
For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared go.
And we will risk the ship, ourselves, and all.
~ Walt Whitman
~Kester