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<blockquote data-quote="Nyeshet" data-source="post: 4412801" data-attributes="member: 18363"><p><strong>One quick question ...</strong></p><p></p><p>(Okay, I admit it has grown into quite a bit more than just one question ....)</p><p></p><p>Have you chosen a city map already and need help adding details to it (perhaps having stripped it of its prior details - or making alterations to it assuming hundreds of years have past since those details were relevant)?</p><p></p><p>Or do you intend to draw a map from scratch - or have already done so - and wish to add details and such to make it more realistic?</p><p></p><p></p><p>Lastly, if you do not yet have a map drawn, could you tell us a little about what you intend for this town or city? </p><p></p><p>How long has it been since the first buildings were raised (ie: since it was founded, likely as a village)? What climate is it in - wetland, rain forest, forest, light woodland, plains, desert, etc? What is the terrain like - mountainous, hilly, a bit rough, utterly flat - and is it at the top, on the side, or in the valley of said mountains or hills, if such is the terrain? Is it near a sea, a lake (vast or small), a river, or even a stream - or does it rely on a well for its water supply?</p><p></p><p>In the past (prior to the PoL setting) was it along a major trade route? Or was it perhaps even a hub of trade - and/or a center well known for a particular product? (In the bronze age most lapis lazuli came from a single region, for example, and while copper was somewhat common, tin was quite uncommon - only a few regions had tin mines.)</p><p></p><p>Was it the former head city of a major religion, the capital of an empire or kingdom, or just one of many cities that happened to exist under the rule of some other city? Or was it merely a village - only recently grown to large size? </p><p></p><p>As this is a fantasy world - what other races live nearby? Is the city cosmopolitan - having several races with no one race being predominant, or is it more insular - primarily of one race, although members of other races have small areas of their own (equivalent of china-town, perhaps) within the city? Or is the city of only one race - with any other races present being visiting dignitaries, merchants from afar, and so forth. Maybe the town is mostly or all of one race - but other races are not too far off. The hills nearby hide a dwarven hall or an underhill elven realm. The forest might have an elven band or two wandering or settled within it. Halflings or gnomes might have small villages <em>somewhere</em> nearby - although no one is quite certain as to which direction or how far off they are. </p><p></p><p>What about the power factions in the city? How many religions are present, and do they get along, or do they fight amongst each other (usually politically, sometimes violently) for influence? Or is one a state religion, with several others allowed only second hand status - the worshipers of such perhaps levied an extra tax? </p><p></p><p>What about magic? Is this a high magic world or a low magic world? This can have a massive impact on your city - its character, its history, and its resources.</p><p></p><p></p><p>If you can answer just a few of these questions, I feel we can help you far more with your city. Even if you have already decided on a layout and many of the details, we might be able to help you flesh it out more. And if you are mostly uncertain as to the details, if you give us the few details you have decided upon we may be able to help you build the rest of the skeleton of the city and even help flesh it out a bit.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nyeshet, post: 4412801, member: 18363"] [b]One quick question ...[/b] (Okay, I admit it has grown into quite a bit more than just one question ....) Have you chosen a city map already and need help adding details to it (perhaps having stripped it of its prior details - or making alterations to it assuming hundreds of years have past since those details were relevant)? Or do you intend to draw a map from scratch - or have already done so - and wish to add details and such to make it more realistic? Lastly, if you do not yet have a map drawn, could you tell us a little about what you intend for this town or city? How long has it been since the first buildings were raised (ie: since it was founded, likely as a village)? What climate is it in - wetland, rain forest, forest, light woodland, plains, desert, etc? What is the terrain like - mountainous, hilly, a bit rough, utterly flat - and is it at the top, on the side, or in the valley of said mountains or hills, if such is the terrain? Is it near a sea, a lake (vast or small), a river, or even a stream - or does it rely on a well for its water supply? In the past (prior to the PoL setting) was it along a major trade route? Or was it perhaps even a hub of trade - and/or a center well known for a particular product? (In the bronze age most lapis lazuli came from a single region, for example, and while copper was somewhat common, tin was quite uncommon - only a few regions had tin mines.) Was it the former head city of a major religion, the capital of an empire or kingdom, or just one of many cities that happened to exist under the rule of some other city? Or was it merely a village - only recently grown to large size? As this is a fantasy world - what other races live nearby? Is the city cosmopolitan - having several races with no one race being predominant, or is it more insular - primarily of one race, although members of other races have small areas of their own (equivalent of china-town, perhaps) within the city? Or is the city of only one race - with any other races present being visiting dignitaries, merchants from afar, and so forth. Maybe the town is mostly or all of one race - but other races are not too far off. The hills nearby hide a dwarven hall or an underhill elven realm. The forest might have an elven band or two wandering or settled within it. Halflings or gnomes might have small villages [i]somewhere[/i] nearby - although no one is quite certain as to which direction or how far off they are. What about the power factions in the city? How many religions are present, and do they get along, or do they fight amongst each other (usually politically, sometimes violently) for influence? Or is one a state religion, with several others allowed only second hand status - the worshipers of such perhaps levied an extra tax? What about magic? Is this a high magic world or a low magic world? This can have a massive impact on your city - its character, its history, and its resources. If you can answer just a few of these questions, I feel we can help you far more with your city. Even if you have already decided on a layout and many of the details, we might be able to help you flesh it out more. And if you are mostly uncertain as to the details, if you give us the few details you have decided upon we may be able to help you build the rest of the skeleton of the city and even help flesh it out a bit. [/QUOTE]
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