What Is a Castle Settlement?

A castle settlement is a special type of node that exists only around a castle. It represents the area of influence controlled by the guild that owns the castle.

In general, castle settlements:

  • Are controlled by a single occupying guild

  • Do not function like normal village, town, or city nodes

  • Exist mainly to support castle ownership and defense

Most players won’t “live” in a castle settlement the way they live in a normal town. Instead, these nodes are more about power, territory control, and preparation for sieges.

Who Can Be a Citizen of a Castle Settlement?

Only members of the occupying guild are citizens of castle settlements.

This is very different from normal settlements, where individual players can choose citizenship. In a castle settlement, citizenship is automatic and tied directly to guild membership.

If you are not in the guild that owns the castle:

  • You cannot become a citizen of the castle settlement

  • You cannot influence its development directly

  • You interact with it mostly as an ally, defender, or enemy

In practice, this means castle settlements are tightly controlled environments with very limited access.

How Do Castle Settlements Level Up?

Castle settlements are leveled through questing, but only by:

  • The owning guild

  • Alliance guilds that are officially allied

Unlike regular nodes that grow passively through general player activity, castle settlements require intentional effort from organized groups.

Most players should understand this clearly: if the owning guild doesn’t actively work on these quests, the castle settlement will not progress on its own.

Is Leveling Faster Than Normal Settlements?

Yes. Leveling castle settlements is a hastened process compared to regular settlements.

In general, this means:

  • Fewer total steps to level

  • Faster progression when quests are completed

  • A shorter window to prepare before siege events

However, faster leveling does not mean easier. The challenge comes from the time pressure and the risk of interference from enemy players.

Why Are Weekly Caravan Events Important?

Each week leading up to a castle siege, there is a specific period during the weekend when NPC-generated caravans begin moving toward the castle node.

These caravans carry castle taxes collected from all nodes under the castle’s influence.

Most players will notice this phase because:

  • Caravans are visible targets

  • PvP activity increases sharply

  • Guild coordination becomes critical

This is one of the main ways a castle’s strength is tested before an actual siege.

Who Escorts These Caravans?

Escorting the caravans is the responsibility of:

  • The owning guild

  • Allied guilds

  • Citizens of nodes under the castle’s control

In practice, most successful castles organize escort groups in advance. Random or uncoordinated defense usually fails, especially on competitive servers.

Citizens of these nodes are automatically registered as defenders. They cannot attack the caravans even if they wanted to. This prevents abuse and keeps the system focused on offense versus defense.

Why Do Enemies Attack Castle Caravans?

Enemy guilds have strong incentives to attack these caravans.

When a caravan is destroyed:

  • The attackers can gain rewards from the caravan

  • Castle tax collection is reduced

  • The defensive strength of the castle settlement drops

Most players underestimate how important this is. Sabotaging caravans weakens the castle before the siege even begins. In general, strong PvP-focused guilds prioritize caravan attacks as part of their siege strategy.

How Do These Quests Affect Castle Defense?

Completing castle settlement quests unlocks:

  • Services useful to the occupying guild

  • Functions that benefit allied guilds

  • Increased defensive strength for the castle

If these quests are not completed during the three weeks before the declaration week, the castle enters the siege phase at a disadvantage.

In practice, this means fewer defenses, weaker structures, or limited functionality during the siege itself. Most experienced guilds treat these weeks as mandatory preparation time, not optional content.

What Happens If the Guild Fails to Prepare?

If the owning guild fails to:

  • Level castle settlements

  • Complete required quests

  • Successfully escort tax caravans

Then the castle will be weaker during the siege.

This isn’t a small penalty. In general, poorly prepared castles fall quickly, even if the guild is strong in raw numbers. Preparation matters more than individual player skill at this level.

Some players try to compensate by gearing faster or stockpiling resources. Others look for shortcuts, such as trying to buy Ashes of Creation gold from U4N, but that never replaces proper organization and preparation for castle mechanics.

What Is a Garrison in Castle Settlements?

If you are a member of the occupying guild, you are automatically part of the castle garrison.

This applies to:

  • The castle itself

  • All associated castle settlements

Being part of the garrison usually means:

  • You are expected to help defend caravans

  • You may be called to defend during sieges

  • You benefit from unlocked services and defenses

Most players in castle-owning guilds understand that membership comes with responsibilities, not just perks.

How Are Castle Settlements Different From Normal Settlements?

Castle settlements do not operate like normal settlements in several key ways:

  • No open citizenship system

  • No organic leveling through general activity

  • No player-driven housing or mayor systems

  • Progress tied directly to guild performance

In general, castle settlements exist to support large-scale PvP and political conflict, not everyday crafting or social gameplay.

What Should Regular Players Take Away From This?

If you are not in a castle-owning guild, castle settlements still matter to you.

They affect:

  • Regional control

  • Tax flow

  • PvP activity levels

  • Server politics

Most players interact with castle settlements indirectly, through caravan battles or siege participation. Understanding how they work helps you decide when to defend, when to attack, and when to avoid the area entirely.

Castle settlements in Ashes of Creation are not casual content. They reward planning, coordination, and long-term commitment. Most players who succeed in castle ownership do so because they treat preparation as part of the gameplay, not an afterthought.

If you understand how leveling, caravans, and citizenship work, you’ll be much better prepared to participate in castle conflicts, whether you’re defending one or trying to take it down.