D&D 5E Does this exist? List of interesting, random towns.

[bjj8383]

You can't swing a dead cat without running into a "101 Adventure Hooks" or "101 Plot Ideas" list. But what I would personally like is a list of interesting towns. NOT plot hooks which take place IN towns, or weird mysterious things that are happening in towns, just, "What makes Town A interesting and unique is: blah blah. Now, Town B..." Something to flesh out a world area with, you know? It really feels like this SHOULD exist out there somewhere, surely, right? But I can't find one. Help? Thanks.

 

[Eltab]

1. Town exists because 10-foot-high waterfall blocks river traffic. Portage of goods is simple, and several hotels / taverns / flophouses sprang up there. Teamsters Guild runs the place behind the scenes. River is navigable in both directions.
2. Hot spring in hills outside of town attracts rich and nobility to take a cure for their aches and pains.
3. "Singapore": highly-defensible harbor (on island?) between two rich nations / cultures. Local trade center and international merchant nexus.
4. Capital city of prosperous nation, with resulting political plot hooks.
5. Local weather / landforms / whatever just happen to be right for growing mulberry trees and silkworms - or something else rare and valuable - so the concentration of wealth draws adventurers and foppish rich people looking to show off.
6. Dwarven city in Lonely Mountain surrounded by Human and Elven lands. Cosmopolitan multi-racial culture very unlike the provincial locals all around.
7. Town was built on / into / under a floating earthmote. Prominent piece of public architecture: the Staircase Bridge.
8. Tourist attraction, anything from natural phenomena (Old Faithful) to holy relics of a saint (St. Patrick) to famous building (Leaning Tower of Pisa).
9. Town was burned down by an accidental fire that got out of control, a few years back. The place is rebuilding - with a much more effective Fire Department and Fire Chief in charge now.
10. Local graveyard is said to be haunted, AND necromancers from far and wide keep showing up to "investigate" the place. "Obviously, they are up to no good," say the locals.

 

[Satyrn]

1. Town exists because 10-foot-high waterfall blocks river traffic. Portage of goods is simple, and several hotels / taverns / flophouses sprang up there. Teamsters Guild runs the place behind the scenes. River is navigable in both directions.

Call it Naga Falls and you have an ironic reference to the real world and a not-at-all-subtle clue to which monsters are in the area.

 

[Satyrn]

11. The town is stuck in the past - like a Roman city in Medieval France - with its classical architecture maintained and new buildings built in the old style. The people of the town dress in the old style, too, though they are fully engaged with the modern world.

 

[rgoodbb]

12. A bypass to #1. Town links the great river low down to the grand canal up high and its main income is a toll to use the magically powered boat/ship elevators.

 

[Ed Laprade]

1. Town exists because 10-foot-high waterfall blocks river traffic. Portage of goods is simple, and several hotels / taverns / flophouses sprang up there. Teamsters Guild runs the place behind the scenes. River is navigable in both directions.
2. Hot spring in hills outside of town attracts rich and nobility to take a cure for their aches and pains.
3. "Singapore": highly-defensible harbor (on island?) between two rich nations / cultures. Local trade center and international merchant nexus.
4. Capital city of prosperous nation, with resulting political plot hooks.
5. Local weather / landforms / whatever just happen to be right for growing mulberry trees and silkworms - or something else rare and valuable - so the concentration of wealth draws adventurers and foppish rich people looking to show off.
6. Dwarven city in Lonely Mountain surrounded by Human and Elven lands. Cosmopolitan multi-racial culture very unlike the provincial locals all around.
7. Town was built on / into / under a floating earthmote. Prominent piece of public architecture: the Staircase Bridge.
8. Tourist attraction, anything from natural phenomena (Old Faithful) to holy relics of a saint (St. Patrick) to famous building (Leaning Tower of Pisa).
9. Town was burned down by an accidental fire that got out of control, a few years back. The place is rebuilding - with a much more effective Fire Department and Fire Chief in charge now.
10. Local graveyard is said to be haunted, AND necromancers from far and wide keep showing up to "investigate" the place. "Obviously, they are up to no good," say the locals.

#1 actually exists. Can't remember the name of the place at the moment though. It was well done, but sadly way out of print these days. (Edit: Its by Midkemia Press, either Carse or Tulan of the Isles. But it is available in PDF from them.)
#10. I've never understood why cities/towns in a world full of undead even have graveyards. Cremation is the only way to go!

 

[BoldItalic]

If it's any help, http://www.springhole.net/writing_roleplaying_randomators/towngen.htm generates random short descriptions like these, although they seem to be rather formulaic and repetitive:

This large town is located in the mountains and has a futuristic look. It is best-known for its beautiful park, a tumultuous history, and for being the home of a famous singer. Also, there are all sorts of old artifacts still lying around the area.

This large town is located in a valley and has a futuristic look. It is best-known for its autumn festival. Also, rumor has it that the inhabitants are hiding something.

This small town is located in the mountains and looks very modern. It is best-known for its haunted house, its spring festival, and for being the home of a famous inventor. Also, rumor has it that the inhabitants may not be entirely human.

(edit - added) Just glancing at the JavaScript of the web page, there are only a handful of options for each factor so it probably isn't very useful for generating a large number of towns to populate a campaign world, but okay for a one-off.

 

[KahlessNestor]

#1 actually exists. Can't remember the name of the place at the moment though. It was well done, but sadly way out of print these days. (Edit: Its by Midkemia Press, either Carse or Tulan of the Isles. But it is available in PDF from them.)
#10. I've never understood why cities/towns in a world full of undead even have graveyards. Cremation is the only way to go!

Fallcrest, the starting town in the 4e DMG is like #1 wuth the waterfall. So is Baldur's Gate a little in FR.

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[Ancalagon]

Two sort of answers:

First Dyson Logos publishes books of maps, some of which are cities/towns

https://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/

Second, the Yoon Suin book has a community building engine that works quite well...

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[rgoodbb]

And I wanted to get to #101. Darn!

(we're on #13 if anyone's up for the challenge...............no takers?...........really?)