How to storm each stronghold

[Royce da Bronze Yohn]

Sup. First post here.

There have been quite a few threads concerning the comparative strengths of each stronghold but most of these discussions revolve around siege warfare. I'm not as interested in which castle has the largest granary or which has the most fertile land. I want to know what would happen if a commander with a decent-sized host, some siege engines, and strong motivation would do if he had to take a castle ASAP. What would be his plan of attack? Assume that treachery from within the castle is out of the question and that the attacking force isn't too mindful of casualties.

How would you approach each stronghold of the Great Houses or other minor strongholds that we have information about?

Which strongholds would hold up the best to a short (think a few days max) full out assault?

The walls of Storm's End would be too thick (40-80 ft) for trebuchets to have much effect and too tall (100ft) for ladders. I would need to build earthen ramps up to the walls to make the parapets reachable by ladder. However, even in Ancient Greece there were siege towers up to 130ft tall so I would still be able to reach those heights anyway. But, if the walls are sloped at the bottom as might be the case for walls so tall, then siege towers wouldn't be able to get close enough to be effective. The other option would be to battering ram the main gate. While I have both of these things going I would be hurling boulders, dead cows, and flaming debris into the bailey (every castle has a godswoods, which means plenty of tinder), hoping to provoke a surrender. If I had knowledge of the smuggler's cave I would try to exploit that too for sure, and it is likely that I would find greater success through that route than by conventional storming the walls. Storm's End would be definitely be a challenge.

We saw how easy it was to take Winterfell under cover of darkness while it was undermanned, but if the castle was fully garrisoned and expecting an assault it would be a different story. The outer wall-moat-inner wall combination is very effective as a defense and leaves attackers vulnerable for quite some time. Though Theon showed us that grappling hooks are enough to scale the 80 and 100ft walls (a little farfetched IMO) but with enough manpower all around the perimeter I think the outer wall could be surmounted. However, once my forces are there it will still be incredibly difficult to take the second wall. My tactic would be to try to smash the first and/or second wall in with trebuchets in multiple spots to make entry easier. The other thing with Winterfell is that there is a postern entrance--the Hunter's Gate, that is likely to be a weak spot. I would get to battering rams working. Winterfell I think would be slightly easier than Storm's End, but there would still be horrific casualties and it would likely take a few days.

I have other opinions but what do you guys think about the other strongholds of Westeros?

[Stormland's Fury]

The Vale = you only need 10 good men, Bronn and climbing spikes and they will impregnate the bitch.

Storm's End, there's not much you can do except lay siege, that's about it. That thing was built to defy the gods.

[Drake Heath]

Greywater Watch would probably be the hardest to siege.

Because it'd be near impossible to find and you'd have to deal with those bog devils hiding everywhere.

And if you take it it would be practically useless anyways as it's just a floating hut/castle thing.

[Boarsbane]

From what we hear about Casterly Rock it sounds like it would be impossible to storm, Storm's End and the Eyrie might be possible but it would take an ungodly amount of men and if the Tyrells couldn't produce enough to storm Storm's End I doubt anyone can.

[Stormland's Fury]

From what we hear about Casterly Rock it sounds like it would be impossible to storm, Storm's End and the Eyrie might be possible but it would take an ungodly amount of men and if the Tyrells couldn't produce enough to storm Storm's End I doubt anyone can.

The Eyrie might be possible but you have to take several castles before even getting there, I doubt it's even worth the effort.

[A Bastard Snow]

The hardest stronghold IMO is going to be Winterfell.

First is that its highly likely that there is a hidden sallyport inside the catacombs

Second that Winterfell is so far in the north that your supply line would be extremely long and very very easy to harass (Bogmen and other forces could attack your reinforcements/supplies along the way)

And lastly that winterfell had its own supply of food and is built to outlast anything set against it (Its a heated castle with its own green gardens)

[Stormland's Fury]

The hardest stronghold IMO is going to be Winterfell.

First is that its highly likely that there is a hidden sallyport inside the catacombs

Second that Winterfell is so far in the north that your supply line would be extremely long and very very easy to harass (Bogmen and other forces could attack your reinforcements/supplies along the way)

And lastly that winterfell had its own supply of food and is built to outlast anything set against it (Its a heated castle with its own green gardens)

Most castles have green gardens. Winter isn't only coming to the North.

Also Winterfell lies on a relatively open surface with no natural defenses, like many other strongholds. If I had to choose WF is one of the easier ones, when bringing enough men. Even when it can be held by a few men, it never had the reputation that it's impossible to take like other castles.

[TheNinjaDC]

Most castles have green gardens. Winter isn't only coming to the North.

Also Winterfell lies on a relatively open surface with no natural defenses, like many other strongholds. If I had to choose WF is one of the easier ones, when bringing enough men. Even when it can be held by a few men, it never had the reputation that it's impossible to take like other castles.

Winterfell is (was) the only castle in Westeros to have green houses to provide food even in the harshest blizzards.

Those blizzards (Winter in general) also forms it's core natural defense. While your enemy freezes to death, you bath i natural hot springs.

The walls are also tall, and atleast the original one enchanted (Bran the **** Builder).

[Stormland's Fury]

Winterfell is (was) the only castle in Westeros to have green houses to provide food even in the harshest blizzards.

Those blizzards (Winter in general) also forms it's core natural defense. While your enemy freezes to death, you bath i natural hot springs.

The walls are also tall, and atleast the original one enchanted (Bran the **** Builder).

Is it always winter though? The Boltons seem also be quite nervous that Southrons (with help of other Northerners) are coming for them. And it's in the middle of winter.

Theon could also climb and seize the castle something that couldn't happen with Casterly Rock, the Eyrie or Storm's End, so the Walls or the moat aren't the biggest problems.

[Drake Heath]

I thought Highgarden had gardens inside the walls.

And it was tiered with each wall having groves and what not inside it.

It would probably be the best castle to hold off a siege with.

[Stormland's Fury]

I thought Highgarden had gardens inside the walls.

And it was tiered with each wall having groves and what not inside it.

It would probably be the best castle to hold off a siege with.

I knew some other castle had gardens, and yes that's the case. So yes, I agree it might be the best castle to endure a siege.

[Royce da Bronze Yohn]

I agree with Stormland's Fury that Casterly Rock and the Eyrie would likely be the hardest to take by conventional means, simply because they're just too goddamned high. The one weakness I foresee with CR is that I bet it can be infiltrated from underground, although we don't know enough about it yet to say.

[Drake Heath]

Could wildfire be used as an explosive?

Because you could collapse some of the castles on the mountains if you dug under them and planted explosives.

Or just dug under them enough that they'd loose support.

[Stormland's Fury]

I agree with Stormland's Fury that Casterly Rock and the Eyrie would likely be the hardest to take by conventional means, simply because they're just too goddamned high. The one weakness I foresee with CR is that I bet it can be infiltrated from underground, although we don't know enough about it yet to say.

I thought so too and yes we don't know enough, but maybe it's like you said it can be taken through the sewers but still you couldn't move a huge force to assault.

[Frey Pentos]

It's easy if you have 3 Dragons. :cool4:

Otherwise The Eyrie and Storms End would be nearly impossible to take. Have to starve them out.

[Stormland's Fury]

Could wildfire be used as an explosive?

Because you could collapse some of the castles on the mountains if you dug under them and planted explosives.

Or just dug under them enough that they'd loose support.

If yes Casterly Rock would be the most vulnerable. One couldn't even reach the Eyrie with all it's way castles. Also how many of the bigger castles are actually on a hill?

[TheNinjaDC]

Is it always winter though? The Boltons seem also be quite nervous that Southrons (with help of other Northerners) are coming for them. And it's in the middle of winter.

Theon could also climb and seize the castle something that couldn't happen with Casterly Rock, the Eyrie or Storm's End, so the Walls or the moat aren't the biggest problems.

Any Castle can be taken when all it's defenders are away. As TV Bronn once said, "give me a few good men and grappling hooks and I'll impregnate that ****."

He's nervous because most of the people in Winterfell want him dead. Dead bodies are pilling up. All it takes is one stark loyal lord to open the gates at night and he is ******.

Not to mention, thanks to his bastard Winterfells food stores, living quarters, and glass gardens are in shambles.

[The Sea Snake]

First of all, and I'd like to quote Ned Stark here. "A castle's walls are as strong as the men who defends them".

And I agree. Without defense, any castle no matter the fortification becomes just an obstacle to be climbed. So to answer the initial question of "which castle would a desperate army storm if it needed one" i'd say: The least defended one.

Then.. Storm's end being impregnable. I'd like to remember you that Aegon had just taken it. (even thou I reckon that its defenses do seem to be pretty impossing).

The hardest to take would obviously be Moat Caillin, countless times said to be impossible to conquer from the South. So, just setting up a good garrison would kill an army completely (or the marsh will in the event of a long siege).

The Eyre would also be a tough nut to cruck unless you could fly, given that its sole entrance is narrow and guarded by many forts and gates. A great use of natural defenses.

I don't see why you claim Highgarden to be defensible since it has never been described so far.

[Drake Heath]

If yes Casterly Rock would be the most vulnerable. One couldn't even reach the Eyrie with all it's way castles. Also how many of the bigger castles are actually on a hill?

You'd have to take every way castle before you can even be poised for an assault.

But the Eyrie does have one major weakness, all a besieger has to do is wait until winter and the castle freezes up causing everyone inside to freeze to death.

[Stormland's Fury]

Any Castle can be taken when all it's defenders are away. As TV Bronn once said, "give me a few good men and grappling hooks and I'll impregnate that ****."

He's nervous because most of the people in Winterfell want him dead. Dead bodies are pilling up. All it takes is one stark loyal lord to open the gates at night and he is ******.

Not to mention, thanks to his bastard Winterfells food stores, living quarters, and glass gardens are in shambles.

TV Bronn said that, TV Eyrie didn't have any way castles either.

Well no, the Eyrie and Storm's End can't be taken when most of the defenders are away, WF clearly did.

Yes, but he's still aware it can be taken.