Hi folks

I’m running the GPC and we have just entered the anarchy phase. I want this new era to this to be a change of pace and really focus on the player knights’ ambitions. To do this I’m trying to map out the political climate of Salisbury. But I keep encountering stuff I don’t understand. I started by trying to figure out just how many knights there are in Salisbury and went to the table on page 61 of the 5th ed. But now I’m not quite sure how to understand the table.

First question: Is the number of knights listed to be understood as the number of _household_ knights found on the various locations? Or does it show the total number of knights in the county - households, vassals and bannereths? If it is the first option, then how many knights are there really in Salisbury? (oh, and I’m trying to keep it simple here so I’m not going to introduce too many Salisbury barons. To preserve my sanity I’m mainly going to run Salisbury = vassals of the Earl of Salisbury.) If it is the second option, should I understand the locations listed in the table as just ‘rallying points’ for the knights from the nearby manors?

Second question: The core book states that there are five castles within the county. Sarum castle and four other motte-and-baily castles. Now my player knights have been busy fortifying their manors with ditches, ramparts and palisades. Now if they cash out for a fortified manor hall (perhaps on a mound for extra DV), do they get a de facto motte and baily castle? The DVs seem to indicate this. The reason I’m asking this, it that it will have consequences for what standing they’ll have within the county. Being the owner of the sixth castle seems like a bigger deal than just having a well fortified manor.

I’m running the GPC and we have just entered the anarchy phase. I want this new era to this to be a change of pace and really focus on the player knights’ ambitions. To do this I’m trying to map out the political climate of Salisbury. But I keep encountering stuff I don’t understand. I started by trying to figure out just how many knights there are in Salisbury and went to the table on page 61 of the 5th ed. But now I’m not quite sure how to understand the table.


I will do my best



First question: Is the number of knights listed to be understood as the number of _household_ knights found on the various locations?


Table 3-1 shows where the knights of the barony are required to defend, if invaded.
The footmen are partially hired as garrisons, and others hired as field soldiery.



Or does it show the total number of knights in the county - households, vassals and bannerets?




If it is the first option, then how many knights are there really in Salisbury? (oh, and I’m trying to keep it simple here so I’m not going to introduce too many Salisbury barons. To preserve my sanity I’m mainly going to run Salisbury = vassals of the Earl of Salisbury.) If it is the second option, should I understand the locations listed in the table as just ‘rallying points’ for the knights from the nearby manors?


I'm not quite sure what you mean here, but to answer, I think...
...the sites listed there are all within the rule of the Count of Salisbury.
All those men listed are his men
he rules over that block of territory

Some of the manors are not his, but every manor named in Character Generation is.



Second question: The core book states that there are five castles within the county. Sarum castle and four other motte-and-baily castles. Now my player knights have been busy fortifying their manors with ditches, ramparts and palisades. Now if they cash out for a fortified manor hall (perhaps on a mound for extra DV), do they get a de facto motte and baily castle? The DVs seem to indicate this. The reason I’m asking this, it that it will have consequences for what standing they’ll have within the county. Being the owner of the sixth castle seems like a bigger deal than just having a well fortified manor.


The precise term "castle" is used in several ways in the Early Period (Uther, Anarchy, early Boy King)
old bronze-age earth rings, reinforced, are castles (even abandoned ones are called that)
motte and bailey is the most efficient, modern method. They are made of timber because the resources for building in stone are not yet gathered into one place.
Fortified manors, especially strong ones or even weak ones of strong lords are called castles, quite properly
manor halls with tiny and silly walls are sometimes called castles, out of unworthy desire for prestige and pomp, but in such a case I would always call it a "castle."

The real issue at hand is how big is it? A fortified manor has walls large enough to hold its people and livestock. A motte and bailey is big enough to protect six times that many people and animals for longer.

especially during the Anarchy phase castle-building is a sign of warrior success and prestige. It will attract refugees, and if people nearby do not respect it then the lord should go to them and prove why he is a great warlord and protector. Certainly they will agree!
Yea! They will... right?

I mean, as long as they do not go running to whatever warlord they have already pledged their food and lives to...
and that guy is a weakling who doesn't care for warrior success and prestige...

Table 3-1 shows where the knights of the barony are required to defend, if invaded.


Thank you, this answer my question. I’m sorry about the clumsy phrasing, but this was what I meant by “rallying points”.


The real issue at hand is how big is it? A fortified manor has walls large enough to hold its people and livestock. A motte and bailey is big enough to protect six times that many people and animals for longer.

Gotcha. When it comes to fortifications, size does matter. :)