Guard Tower

The Early Medieval guard tower is a product of the castle-building revolution that swept Europe between the eighth and eleventh centuries — a strongpoint integrated into the curtain wall of a fortress, providing flanking fire along the wall face and a covered platform from which bowmen could engage attackers at the wall's base. Carolingian burhs, Byzantine frontier forts, and Norman motte-and-bailey castles all incorporated such towers at regular intervals — each a miniature fortress within the larger defense. Arrow loops at oblique angles covered the ground below; crenellations sheltered defenders in the brief moment of exposure needed to loose a shot. In the game the guard tower provides an enhanced vision radius, ranged attack capability against nearby enemies, and a significant defensive bonus to any garrisoned unit. It is the backbone of a medieval fortified perimeter and a genuine force multiplier that makes small garrisons viable against superior attackers.