D&D General What do you expect in a starter village?

[Steampunkette]

I expect:

A decent amount of farming in the area, a river or other stable freshwater source like a lake or an aqueduct, a series of different craftsfolk (Blacksmith, Leatherworker, Etc), a church or other central spiritual structure, a town hall, a tavern (could also function as the town hall and the inn), and at least one but probably several seedier spots in town like a gambling hall or a brothel (Could also be the town hall, inn, and tavern). I also expect some sort of General Store or General Market opened at least once a week for people from the countryside to bring in various foodstuffs, game, or woodworking they've done with the intent to sell it at market.

Things like that.

 

[LordEntrails]

on that note, a job board at the back of the tavern.

Ugh, I hope not. So not right anyplace but the most metropolis of places that have dozens of things happening at once and hundreds of folks capable of solving Old Lady Mary's rat in the cellar problem!

 

[John R Davis]

People to talk to, an early / easy hook to almost immediately give the PCs something to do, a safe place to retreat too

 

[bedir than]

A few problems that need solving

 

[Tonguez]

A tavern,
a stables,
a general store/market,
a mayor/chieftain,
a sheriff/constable/warden,
a wise-one/priest/shaman/druid,
an eager kid/fan,
a stream/river
often a well,
a graveyard,
fields with scarecrow,
a forest area,
bandits
goblins
pixies
wolves
problems

 

[Zardnaar]

4e DMG has Fallcreast which is a good basic town. Phandalin from the 5e box set is good as well. The Essential box has the town, but it is not as good as LMoP.

You just need something small enough to control the PCs in the amount of places they can go and what to do. It also needs to be large enough to have some stuff going on. You can have a tiny hamlet with 6 buildings centered around a pair of farms. They may be 30 people total and nothing going on or buildings and NPC to visit. Waterdeep is huge and anything is available which leaves things open to everyone to do everything.

Hommlet
Threshold
Shadowdale
Fallcrest
Phandelver

Same concept.

 

[Aldarc]

Hooks and local PC connections.

 

[Imaculata]

Likeable npc's that are both a useful source of information, and create a strong bond with the town.

 

[Maxperson]

In a town.

Tavern/Inn
General store
Farrier
Blacksmith
Sheriff
Mayor
A few guards/Militia
Possibly a shrine to a god
Stables
A tanner

 

[rgoodbb]

A curfew...
A strange mist...
Missing villagers...
A plague of wabbits...
Three more dots...