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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nightcloak" data-source="post: 2111028" data-attributes="member: 23862">GM Notebook Essentials #2: Names of LocationsAnother issue that crops up in games is when PCs go to visit the local merchant. It may be a sage, an armory, a general store, an alchemical shop, or even the local tavern. You can count on a PC to want to visit a tavern in the wrong part of town or to decide that they really want to find a library for the first time evah…It’s the GMs Notebook to the rescue! Just like you did with NPC names, with this addition to your notebook you create lists of names for the various businesses your players will visit. Add a few names for the places they never visit. Why? They will. Eventually.A useful list of appropriate shops to consider is:InnTavernFarm/Food MarketMerchant ShopsLibraries, Scholars, and Mage/Cleric Supply Stores (Scroll Depot?)AlchemistsSagesSpellcastersSmithsArmoriesMoneychangerJewelerTailorWeaponsmithStableCartwrightLeatherworkerBrewer, Baker, Butcher, Cheese-maker, WinemakerNaturally, names should be appropriate to the business. The Silver Rose makes a great name for a tavern or jeweler shop in a well to-do part of town, but would really stand out as the name of a tavern in a seedy area or the name of a leather worker.Again, be creative. Go through all those books on the shelves for inspiration. There are tons of name generators running around and sites on the Internet. Write down all those names onto a list. Popular places like taverns and weaponsmiths may need a whole page. Places like the Winemaker may only need one or two names and you can place half a dozen on a single page. If you can find sites on the Internet, all the better! Just print them out, punch 3 holes into the pages, and plop it right into your notebook.If all else fails, you can always take the easy way out. Look back at your list of NPCs, take a name for the owner of the place, and just add to the name what the shop is. The PCs need to buy a suit of chainmail while visiting a non-descript town that was flavor text before they arrived and decided to “rest a day or two”. No problem, checking your NPC list you spot the name: Radagar.  Bam: Radagar’s SmithyThey want to stay the night. Check your list and bam: The Old Mill Inn.They flirt with the waitress. Check your NPC list and bam: Serina This option is like the NPC list above. Just do it. You really won’t regret it.Great Sources for Names:Dragon Annual #5 (Annual 2000): This has many great random generators for many kinds of businesses including a separate article just for taverns.Great Links for Names:<a href="http://www.wizards.com/dnd/tavern/Welcome.asp" target="_blank">Tavern Generator</a>: Complete with rumors, menu of the day, and the costs are based on the quality of tavern you want! Print tons of places within seconds and add directly to the notebook.</blockquote>

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