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After studying and analyzing available layouts of Roman forts, I’ve attempted to recreate one as accurately as possible in Rimworld. My main inspirations were the layouts of the forts at Housesteads and Saalburg. I’ve also tried to replicate life inside the fort with training routines and guards. It’s amazing how much information is available about these communities, making it relatively easy to implement in Rimworld, especially since most of the buildings in Roman fort layouts were single-story structures. The only feature I invented for this playthrough is the training grounds, which weren’t typically part of the actual fort. The rest of the buildings, however, were commonly found in most Roman forts, such as:
Principia (Headquarters Building): This was the administrative heart of the fort, where commanders conducted their duties. It included offices, a shrine for the standards (flags and symbols of the unit), and often a secure room for valuables and payroll.
Praetorium (Commander's Residence): The praetorium was the residence of the fort’s commanding officer and his family. It was larger and more luxurious than other quarters, often including private baths and gardens.
Barracks (Contubernium): These were the soldiers' living quarters, typically organized in blocks. Each block housed multiple squads (usually eight soldiers), with separate rooms for sleeping and storage.
Granaries (Horreum): Essential for food storage, the granaries were well-ventilated to keep grain dry and protected from pests. They were built above ground level to prevent moisture and rot.
Workshops: These areas were for craftsmen, blacksmiths, and other skilled laborers who maintained equipment, weapons, and armor.
Hospital (Valetudinarium): Larger forts often included a dedicated hospital to treat injured soldiers, with rooms for patients, a pharmacy, and spaces for medical treatments.
Walls and Gates: High walls with defensive towers and four gates (oriented in the cardinal directions) surrounded the fort. The gates served as both entry points and defensive positions.
The fort is supplied by external farms, lumberyards, cities, and hunters to be as self-sufficient as possible, similar to how forts were in the Roman frontiers. The legionaries are recruited from the strongest or most capable slaves and prisoners we encounter, with a few willingly joining the ranks.
My next project will be a medieval monastery. Its self-contained and self-sufficient nature, along with the wealth of information available, makes it an ideal objective for my next recreation.
