Ergm, ehum, I have this mod named Tundra defense which make you literally build an outpost (but literally build it, like placing buildings and objects) and I build it at Forelhost. Here's a screenshot or 3. This is still a construction site to me since lots of thing need to be added.
The actuall centre.
The outpost from a distance.
This is the entrance from the backside, above the smithy and mine.
Winterhold would be easy to defend. With the College, plains of frost, and sheets of ice in the water as barriers, few things would be getting through. A force of fifty (College Mages included) could hold this place for a long while. If need be, the route is short and sweet to Saarthal, which can have many traps set up after teams are sent to clear the Draugr.
I don't see the use. Construct another bridge with telepathy after siege is over. Bridge only leaves an access point. Runes/Traps shouldn't be used in plain sight, unless guarding doors. In which case, a plethora of ruins should exist on that door. Turn intruders into confetti.
Not if the commander is a retard. A retard in command is more dangerous than a horse in command. A better psychological effect would be launching people across the gap, enchanted with ridiculous things to make them hero-worthy. Having waves of enchanted soldiers come at you and you can't get the factory? It's a gigantic "Fuck you".
I disagree. While the mages are enchanting soldiers kit to take and to dish out a beating, civilian archers could be raining hell. A mage is easily killed by two men, one distracting, the other running in with a battleaxe screaming bloody murder and singing of mage skulls.
To Argonian, I would imagine a siege comes at a surprise. There are only two alchemy labs to my knowledge in the College. Frenzy spells would work, but poisons would be far harder for a surprise attack.
To Jo'Daro, you don't really have to understand. You just have to think: How would this survive an attack? That's what we're pondering, in depth. I'm a tactician first, a player second, and to me, discussing this is fun. I really can't explain it. Sorry.