Stronghold Builder's Guidebook, Living Shield

The Stronghold Builder's Guidebook was written for the 3e of Dungeons & Dragons but is one that can be used by a DM for almost any game system with a little bit of effort. I have not had a chance to compare it to the 2e DMGR2: The Castle Book but I am sure it is similar in nature.

The material presented in the Stronghold Builder's will give the players and the DM enough information so that they can build any size stronghold that they might want. The information is presented in a modular nature so that rooms and complex features can be done a la cart. The DM is also presented with five completed strongholds that can be used as examples. I would find myself using them as adventures eventually.

This book is one that transcends the edition it was written for in my opinion. If you want a resources for building castles, keeps or even manor houses and the like this will serve you will.

Published: 2002
Pages: 128

From the back of the book:

Stronghold Builder's Guidebook Accessory

Defenses wrought of mortar and magic

Heroes need impregnable fortresses to assault, wondrous towers to explore, and majestic castles to protect. This book is stocked with everything needed to design any fortified structure imaginable, including:

    * Over 150 new magic items.
    * More than two dozen magical augmentations for stronghold walls.
    * Rules for magic portals, mobile strongholds, and trap creation.
    * Five complete strongholds, including maps, ready for immediate use.

Players and Dungeon Masters who want to create customized strongholds will find all the construction materials they need within these pages. 



Spell:

Living Shield

Level: Fourth
Range: Touch
Duration: 1 Round/Level
Area of Effect: One Creature
Components: V,S
Casting Time: 4 Segments
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast the magic user calls for a swarm of  insects from the surrounding area. The swarm will then cover the  target creatures body serving as a suit of living armor.

The swarm of insects will serve to improve the armor class of the  target by a factor of two. It will also mitigate dame that the  target might receive when they are struck. Any damage done to the  recipient of the spell from combat blows will be halved.

In addition to helping the armor class and prevent damage the  shield will also aid in offense as well. Whenever the recipient  of the spell is struck in melee combat a number of insects will  jump onto or crawl along the weapon of the attacker. These  insects will then crawl under the armor of the attacker biting  and stinging them. This will serve to do 1d4 points of damage and  cause them to attack at a -2 for the duration of the spell.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the  write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the  80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other  than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be  slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of  spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :)  Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on  me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please  let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.