City Creation Help

[Bob the Reaver]

Im looking for a list of medievil/fantasy city occupations. Im tring to "fleshout" Stormreach in Eberron and I need some help. I swear I have seen a download or perhaps a book somewhere listing medievil occupations but for the life of me I cant find any referance. Mostly looking for something free right now. Any thing to help with city building would be super helpfull.

While im on the subject... Does anyone have a list of npc traits, like the one in the DMG?

Any files that help me create quick memnorable npcs would be awsome.

Thanks.

 

[Crothian]

here's a small start

Acrobat, Apothecarist, Architect
Armorer, Artist, Astrologer
Baker, Barrister, Bookbinder
Bowyer, Brewer, Bricklayer
Candlemaker, Carpenter, Cartographer
Clothier, Cook, Diplomat
Dyer, Engineer, Engraver
Farmer, Fisherman, Forester
Fortune-Teller, Furrier, Gardener
Glassblower, Grain Merchant, Gravedigger
Herald, Herbalist, Hunter
Innkeeper, Interpreter, Jester
Jeweler, Leatherworker, Locksmith
Messenger, Miner, Minstrel
Moneylender, Navigator, Painter
Peddler, Physician, Playwright
Politician, Potter, Rat Catcher
Sailor, Scribe, Servant
Shipwright, Shoemaker, Spy
Stonecarver, Storyteller, Weaver

 

[Buttercup]

The best free source I know of for figuring out the distribution of various occupations is Medieval Demographics Made Easy. There are some cool generators based on this website's algorithms here and here.

For NPC stats, you could try the book Everyone Else by EN Publishing. It has mini statblocks for everyone from the stable boy to the fishmonger.

 

[DaveStebbins]

The following was quoted from the book specified and it shows a roll call of how many of each type of vendor/service/shop were in Paris in 1292.

Life in a Medieval City
by Joseph and Frances Gies, copyright 1969
published by Harper & Row, first published by Harper 1981
ISBN: 0-06-090880-7

Here is the appropriate note on the Paris guilds:

Preserved in thee taille (tax list) of Paris for the year 1292
are the numbers of practitioners of the regulated crafts, by then
totaling 130. The principal ones are:

366 shoemakers
214 furriers
199 maidservants
197 tailors
151 barbers
131 jewelers
130 restauranteurs
121 old-clothes dealers
106 pastrycooks
104 masons
95 carpenters
86 weavers
71 chandlers
70 mercers (textile merchants)
70 coopers
62 bakers
58 water carriers
58 scabbard makers
56 wine sellers
54 hatmakers
51 saddlers
51 chicken butchers
45 purse makers
43 laundresses
43 oil merchants
42 porters
42 meat butchers
41 fish merchants
37 beer sellers
36 buckle makers
36 plasterers
35 spice merchants
34 blacksmiths
33 painters
29 doctors
28 roofers
27 locksmiths
26 bathers
26 ropemakers
24 innkeepers
24 tanners
24 copyists
24 sculptors
24 rugmakers
24 harness makers
23 bleachers
22 hay merchants
22 cutlers
21 glove makers
21 wood sellers
21 woodcarvers

I've always found it a fascinating resource and hope it appeals to others as well.

-Dave

 

[Laman Stahros]

I think WotC may have used that book as a reference during the writing of the DMG II. There is a section that breaks down the population of a city of 10,000 people into very similar occupations. Hmmmmmmm.

 

[Bob the Reaver]

Wow, guys and gals, thanks. This gives me plenty to chew on.

Whats up with all the shoemakers? I guess shoes just didn't last that long in the 1200's.

 

[philreed]

The following was quoted from the book specified and it shows a roll call of how many of each type of vendor/service/shop were in Paris in 1292.

Life in a Medieval City
by Joseph and Frances Gies, copyright 1969
published by Harper & Row, first published by Harper 1981
ISBN: 0-06-090880-7

A fantastic resource. I keep my copy close to my desk.

 

[Turanil]

By the way, follow the link in my signature to get the d100-city-buildings download, which is free and will provide description of city mundane buildings.