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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MarauderX" data-source="post: 1148623" data-attributes="member: 9990">I usually start with a 'feel' to the kingdom/empire/state the PCs are in, then add personalities to each major city and any noteworthy towns.  It's easy to fill in the surrounding terrain with woods, hills, plains, etc. once you start getting a feel for how civilized you want to make the different nations, and once that's set a dialogue starts to develop with each town in relation to the wilds, hostile countries, internal resentment of the empire, whatever.  Throwing in the PCs as citizens becomes an afterthought almost, as they will meld to fit the places you have created and will interact with most anyone within the places you have only developed with a passing thought.  Using the tables in the DMG is ok, but doesn't lend itself to making a lot of sense when the PCs venture from town to town unless you have spent time on how they trade and relate in advance - too much time for me to work it all out, so I just go by what feels right and add variety and adventure as necessary if the players ask for it.</blockquote>