I found this book at my local library book sale and couldn't help think of it as a possible early RPG supplement. This book outlines historical castles using the fictional Aberwyvern. Possibly a good setup for adventure? I also noticed the release date was 1977 making this a possible addition to my discos & dragons games :D
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/847018.Castle
Oh yeah, that’s an oldie but goodie!
ReplyDeleteThere was an animated PBS show about this book way back when.
ReplyDeleteTodd McGowan Thanks for letting me know! I found it on Youtube.
ReplyDeleteyoutube.com - PBS - Castle - David Macaulay
WOAH! I remember watching this as a kid! HA.
ReplyDeleteAll of MacCaulay's stuff is terrific. I'm particularly fond of "The Motel of the Mysteries" which is a post-apocalyptic archaeological dig into an "ancient burial vault" (actually a cheap roadside motel). It's hilarious.
ReplyDeleteThe Egyptian pyramid one is great too. Hit up Amazon for copies if you can’t find them locally.
ReplyDeleteCarl Heyl Fantastic! That brings back memories!
ReplyDeleteThe City book is invaluable, even if you are not using Rome as a basis for you campaign.
ReplyDeleteThere was an article on castles in an early DRAGON. Can't recall if this was referenced.
ReplyDeleteLoved those books as a kid!
ReplyDeleteI still have this book. It is more for children, but it is so useful for designing castles for D&D games.
ReplyDeleteGood source for a Barons of Braunstein chronicle, Olde House Rules!
ReplyDeleteI have the book and DVD. Good choice!
ReplyDeleteOur highschool library had this book. It helped me so much with my adventures.
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my favorite books as a kid. My copy got ruined in a flood so I replaced it. Also have Cathedral but never picked up City or Pyramid... maybe I should. Macaulay's "The Way Things Work" is also fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI think I have that exact book. It's gorgeous. I found it and a book that has just pictures of small towns with little buildings and streets, and I pull it down sometimes to gander at it. I keyed a map like that for The People of Pembrooktonshire once (LotFP) and it worked out really well.
ReplyDeleteMy set design teacher used the castle book in class. I believe my dad had a copy of Motel of the Mysteries.
ReplyDeleteI read this and watched the show as well as a kid. I recal using it to help make a cardboard castle in 3rd grade as well. Excellent introduction to the design, constuction, and lifecycle of castles.
ReplyDeleteI think there were three books in this series. One on castles, another on pyramids, and I forget that the third one was. Captured my imagination as much as the cover of D&D red box did back in the day. Great book, good find.
ReplyDelete