10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks

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Thread:BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks

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09022009,11:56AM #1

DysonLogos
BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks
GuildApprentice
Imasuckerforurban
games.Oneoftheelements
Iamreallyenjoyingabout
the3.0gameIminright
nowisthattheentiregame
JoinDate: Jul2009 isbasicallyurbandealing
Posts: 46 withthievesguilds,the
assassinationoftheking,
buildingatempletoanew
godandallthepoliticsthat
goalongwiththat(the
urbanbasisforthegameis
inpartbecausetheDMof
thisparticulargamedoesnt
haveaDungeonMasters
GuideoraMonsterManual
oranymoduleshesbuilt
thegamefromscratchusing
justthe3.0PHB).

Ofcourse,developinga
functionalandbelievable
cityasthebackdropforsuch
agameisafairchunkof
work.Andthebelievability
canbeabitweakifyou
donthavemuchexperience
inurbanplanningand
organicsocialgrowth.The
actualmapofthecityisa
nicefinishingtouch,butis
reallyjustthereasaprop

http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=6946 1/11
10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks
becauseitisunlikelythat
youwilleverbeinan
environmentwhereit
matterswhatstreetgoes
whereallthatmattersis
knowingwhateachpartof
townislikeandwherethe
importantplacesare.

SinceImintheprocessof
remappingmyB/Xcampaign
setting,IfiguredIdtakethe
timetodetailoneofthe
manysmallercitiesonthe
HillIslands(whichoccupy
thesamegeosocialplacein
thecampaignasthePurple
TownsintheclassicElric
saga,ifyouarefamiliar
withit).

Insteadofcreatingthecity
fromscratchbymyself,I
figuredIdpulldownCity
Worksad20supplement
writtenbyMikeMearlsand
publishedbyFantasyFlight
Games.Thebookisbroken
upinto5majorsections
Characters,CityBasics,City
Construction,City
AdventuresandCity
Encounters.TheCity
Constructionchapter
(chapter3)iswhereweare
goingtodayafullchapter
onhowtodesignacitybuilt
aroundasetofrandom
tables.Butalotofthisbook
isgoodforjustaboutany
game,notjustthischapter.
Chapter2(CityBasics)is
almostentirelysystem
neutralandprovidesagood
foundationoncitypolitics
andsystems,Chapters4&5
arepackedwithtablesfor
randomnames,interiorfloor
plans,natureofbusiness
andperonalitytraitsofNPCs
tofleshoutacityaswellas
awholebunchofmaterial
onurbanevents(fire,
plague,siege)andhowto
setupanurbancampaign.
Definitelyaprettydecent
bookforsomeonelookingat
runninganurbancampaign.

Thefirststepinmappingout
acityistonotetheexisting
naturalgeographical
featuresthatexistinand
aroundthecity.Thenwe
needtodeterminethecity
size,whichinturnwill
determinethenumberof
cityblocksthatwellneed
toplaceduringthemapping
stage.

Sincetherearesomany
http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=6946 2/11
10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks
citiesinfairlyclose
proximitytoeachotheron
theHillIslands,mostare
eitherverylargetowns
(3,000to5,000persons)or
smallcities(5,000to12,000
persons).SinceImdetailing
oneofthemidrangecities
formyfirsttimeusingthe
citybuildingfunctionofthis
book,Illgowith8,000
people(midrangeofthe
SmallCitycategoryinthe
3.5DMG).Thesystemused
inthebookcreatesaseries
ofcityblocks,each500
feetonaside,thatyouset
outinagrid,withoneblock
per100residents.Sothis
citywilluse80blockstotal
(soIhavetomakesurethat
thereisatleasta99area
appropriateforthecity
whenIdrawoutthe
terrain).

Andnowitstimetodraw
theterrainunlikemostof
mymaps,Illbeusing
tracingpapersetovergraph
paper,andusethescaleof
250feetpersquareonthe
graphpaper(soablockin
theCityWorkssystemwill
bea1/2inchby1/2inch
square).Thiswillbeadetail
mapoftheterrainata
naturalbayononeofthe
HillIslands.

Soheresthemapattheend
ofstage1justtheterrain
andaroughideaofhowbig
thecitywillbe.TomorrowI
startrollingonthetablesto
determinehowthecityis
setup.

ACharacterForEveryGame
anRPGblog

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09022009,02:40PM #2

Coyotemax

http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=6946 3/11
10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks
ProfessionalArtist Thisisquitefascinating,Ilookforwardtoseeinghowthisdevelops.
FacebookConnected

JoinDate: Jul2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,972

TotalAwards:3

Myfinishedmaps

"...sometimesthemostefficientwaytomakesomethinglookdrawnby
handistosimplydrawitbyhand..."

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09032009,10:39AM #3

DysonLogos
GuildApprentice
NowthatIvedeterminedhowbigthecityis(8,000population)weknow
thattherewillbe80blocksinthecity,each500feetonaside.Forthe
mapImdrawingImusingascaleof1,000feettotheinch,soeach
blockwillbeahalfinchsquare.UsingCityWorks,thenextstepwould
betodeterminethedivisionsofblockswithinthecity.
JoinDate: Jul2009
Posts: 46 Arollof99makesCruarsCoveaFadingCity.Businessispoorforthis
city,asitsreliableindustrieshavehitaseriousslump.Manylaborers
areunemployed,andthosefewfamilieswhocanaffordtohaveleftfor
greenerpastures.Normallythishas5%ofthenonresidentialspaceas
dockspace,whereaportcityhas10%.WhatIlldohereisturn
Industrialdownfrom20%to15%,andadd5%ruinstothecity,and
havetheruinsastheoldunreppairedandcollapsingdocks.

Thedistributionofblocksgoesasfollows(80blockstotal40
residential,40industrial)

IndustrialBlocks(40total)

*5%Ruins(2blocks)
*5%Docks(2blocks)
*10%Entertainment(4blocks)
*10%Government(4blocks)
*15%Industrial(6blocks)
*15%Markets(6blocks)
*5%Military(2blocks)
*5%Parks(2blocks)
*5%Temples(2blocks)
*10%Travel(4blocks)
*5%University(2blocks)
*10%Warehouses(4blocks)

ResidentialBlocks(40total)

*5%UpperClass(2blocks)
*10%MiddleClass(4blocks)
*65%LowerClass(26blocks)
*20%Slums(8blocks)

Nowitstimetodrawthebasicenvironmentforthecitykeepingin
mindthatitneedsroomfor80blocks(soroughly4.5inchesby4.5

http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=6946 4/11
10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks
inchesonmymap).ArollonTable3(CityShapeandLayout)sticksto
thestandardRadiallayout.Ithas1d3walls(oneofwhichisanouter
wall,andanyremainingwallsbeingonesthecityoutgrew).Inthiscase
wegettwowalls,theouterwallsandaninnerwall.20%ofthecityis
withintheinnerwall,60%withintheouterwall,andtheremaining20%
willbeoutsideofthewalls.2d4majorroadsrunintothecity(fromthe
farmsandfishingvillagesscatteredacrosstheHillIslands).Iroll5
roads.Halfrundirectlyfromtheouterwallthroughtheinnerwallstothe
centeroftown.

Timetobreakoutthetracingpaperandtheterrainmapfromyesterday
andlaydownthegridIllbeusingforthecity.Ilayoutanarearoughly
thesizeIneedandthendrawinthecitywalls(inpencilfornowIll
addthemasanewlayerinpenoncetheblockshavebeenassigned).I
alsohaventputthemajorroadsinyetinthisscanwellseethemonce
Istartassigningblocks.

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anRPGblog

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09032009,10:41AM #4

SteelGeneral
CommunityLeader
FacebookConnected Thiswillbeveryinterestingtowatchdevelop.

JoinDate: Jun2008
Location: Ft.Wayne,IN
Posts: 9,464

TotalAwards:2

http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=6946 5/11
10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks

MyFinishedMaps|MyChallengeMaps|GhorajaJuun,my
largelystagnatedcampaignsetting.
Unlessotherwisestatedbymeinthepost,allworkislicensedunderaCreative
CommonsAttributionNoncommercial3.0UnitedStatesLicense.

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09032009,10:43AM #5

DysonLogos
GuildApprentice
Fortheroads,Iplacethetwothatheadstraightintothecoreofthecity
andwillplacetheother3usingtherandomtablesaftertheblockshave
beenassigned.Ido,however,placetheirgatesaroundtownwhereI
thinktheywouldlookgood.

JoinDate: Jul2009 Andwereontotheblocks.

Posts: 46
Thefirstthingwehavetoplacearetheruinedblocks.Inthiscase,
becauseofthethemeofthecity,theyaredocksandthereforeIput
themonthebaybutfarfromthecitycore(whichisontheEasternhill).

NextuparetheGovernmentblocks.ItakethepointthatIveindicated
asthemiddleofthecity(notthegeographicalmiddle,butthemiddle
whenitfirststarted,intheoldcityupontheEastside),andIputthem
intheinnerwall,upagainsttheEasternwall,wherethereisagatefor
themainroadintotown.Withonlytwoupperclassblockstoplacenext,
onegoesupagainstthegovernmentblocks(randomlyrolledtobetothe
South),andtheothergoessomewherepretty(SlightlySouthEastofthe
otherUpperClassblock,againstthecitywalls).

TheDocksgetplacedagainstthewater,asneeded.Inthiscase,halfare
intheoldcity,andhalfrightbesidetheruineddocks.

Thesixmarketblocksarenext.Ibreakthemupinto32blockmarkets.
Thereshouldbeamarketattachedtoeachdock,soIputonebetween
theinnercitydocksandupperclassdistricts,anotheradjoiningtoboth
thenewdocksandtheruineddocks,andthelastmarketgoesona
majorroad.Theroadmarketgetsplaced1d6110%oftheway
betweenthecitywallsandthecentreoftownalongtheroad.Irolla3,
soits20%oftheway(onarollofa1,themarketisatthecitywalls
andhalfofthemarketsitsoutsidethecitygatesIlikethefeelofthat,
maybenexttime).

TheTravelandentertainmentblocksareplacedlikethemarketblocks,
butplacedadjacenttomarketsinsteadofdocks.Halfareplacedwiththe
docks,theotherhalfareplacedwiththeroads.Withonly4travel
blocks,thatsoneblockateachdock,andtheothertwowillbeatthe
citygateclosesttothenondockmarket.Theonesbythedocks
specializeinboatingandsoon,whiletheoneatthegatesisforhorses
andtradecaravansandfarmers.

Warehousingisalsobasedaroundthedocksandmarkets.Inthiscase,
thelargestsectionofwarehousesareadjacenttotheruineddocksas
wellasthemarketthere(andareprobablyquiterundownandrat
infested,withsomeevenbeingusedbysquattersnow),withsmaller
warehouseareasintheoldcityandalongtheSouthroad.

Sohereswhatthecitylookslikenow:

http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=6946 6/11
10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks

Ifyouwanttoseealargerversion(wheremyhandwritingissomewhat
morelegible),I'vegotonepostedonmyblog.

TomorrowIllplacetherestoftheresidentialareas,themilitaryblocks,
temples,university,parks,andindustriesbeforelayingdownthe
remainingthreemajorroadsthroughtown.

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anRPGblog

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09042009,05:59AM #6

Gandwarf
CommunityLeader
Thisiscertainlyveryinteresting.Can'twaittoseewhatyoucomeup
withintheend.Thisisentirelyanotherwaytodoacity...

JoinDate: Jun2008
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 3,025

TotalAwards:4

CheckoutmyCityDesigner3tutorials.Seemyfantasy(city)mapsinthisthread.

Gandwarfhasfallenintoshadow...

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09042009,09:48AM #7

DysonLogos
GuildApprentice
Fromyesterdaysroughoutlinewehavethecitystructurewithsomeof
themajoreconomicblocksalreadyinplace(government,upperclass
residential,docks,markets,warehousing,travelandentertainment).

http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=6946 7/11
10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks
ThefirstthingIgettoaddtodayisthemiddleclassresidentialareas.
Theyareplacedadjacenttotheupperclassblocksandspreadoutina
radialmanner.Sinceoneoftheupperclassblocksisalreadycompletely
surroundedwithcitystructures,thedecisiononplacementisverysimple
JoinDate: Jul2009 andrequiresnorandomizationthemiddleclassareacompletely
Posts: 46 surroundstheupperclasshilltoppartofCruarsCove.(Byluck,there
are4availableblocksaroundtheupperclassblock,andthereare4
middleclassblocksintown).Italsohasthebenefitofbeingonthe
hilltop,makingitpretty,lesssmellyandgenerallyhighdemandlandto
buildon.

Nextuparethemilitaryareas(ofwhichwehave2blocks).Now,
accordingtothebook,theyaretheretodefendthegovernment,ports
andgatesinthatorder.Imsupposedtobreakupthenumberofblocks
into3groups,andplaceoneneartheseatofgovernment,onenearthe
docks,andtherestscatteredatthegatesoratroadsleadingtothe
gates.WithonlytwoblocksweendupwithonlytheGovernmentand
Docksmilitaryareas.Iputamilitarycitadelontheverynorthendofthe
oldcityarea(whichwasbeggingforafortress),andthesecondone
rightbesidethedocks,ontheothersideofthegatetotheoldcity(this
willbeanavalbasesomoredocks!)ThisleavesCruarsCovewithout
anymajormilitarypresencenear4ofthe5gatesintotown,butwitha
lotofpresencerightaroundthetwoofthethreegatesintotheoldcity.
Weknowwhosimportant,anditsnotthetownsfolk.

TheTemple,UniversityandParkareallocatedinthesameway:Roll1d3
todeterminehowmanyclusterstobreakeachinto(inmycaseIllrolla
d2,sinceIonlyhave2blocksofeachinthissmallcity)(2fortemple,1
eachforparkanduniversity).Nowwescatterthemusingtherandom
distanceanddirectiontablesfromtheUpperClassdistricts.ThePark
endsupSouthWestoftheOldCitydistrict(andsitsverynicelyalongthe
Southroadlikeitwasdesignedtobeasighttobelookedataspeople
enterthetownandheadfortheoldcity).TheUniversityisSouthWest
oftheUpperClasshillsidedistrict.ThetemplesendupSouthofthe
hillsidedistrictanddueSouthoftheOldCitydistrict.Thisputsonesetof
templesonthehilltopbehindtheuniversityandtheothersetoftemples
onthemainSouthroad,acrossfromtheparkandjustontheotherside
oftheOldCitywallsonthesideofthehillsoeventhebacktemplesare
visiblefromthemainroad(forthosetemplestryingtoattractnew
worshipers,thisisakeylocation).

TheIndustrialareaisthenjammedinasfarfromtheprosperous,
comfortableareasoftownaspossiblewhilestillbeingwithinthecity
walls.Webreaktheindustrialarea(6blocks)into1d3groupsofblocks
andspreadthemaround.InthiscaseIrolla1,soall6blocksgo
togetherandareadjoiningtheruinsandwarehousesintheroughWest
endoftheCove.Thisiswheretheyprocessfishfromthedocks,lumber
broughtinfromoutsideoftown,andmakecheeseandsausagesandso
on.Onesectionisupagainstthewaterfrontagain,sothatareawillbe
boatbuildersandrepairdocks.

Theslumsgettheworstareaoftown.Westartbysurroundingruinsand
industrialareaswithslums.Inthiscase,sincetheruinsarealready
completelysurrounded,thismeanssurroundingtheindustrialarea.That
fillsuptheremainingWestendofthecityandevenoverflowsbeyond
thecitywallsabit.

Andtheneverythingthatsleft?Thatsthelowerclassresidentialareas
thatmakeupthemajorityoftheSouthendoftownandtheareatothe
southofthewalls.

So,hereswhatthemaplookslikenow(again,alargerversionis
availableonmyblogifyouwanttoreadmyhandwriting)

http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=6946 8/11
10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks

Thelastthingsonthatmapthatwehaventdiscussedaretheother
majorroads.Ihaddeterminedyesterdaythatthereare5roadsinto
town,and2ofwhichleadstraighttothetowncentre.TheremainderI
rollonTable5todeterminewheretheygo.Thefirstone,attheWestern
gateintheSouthwall,rollsa98itrunsthroughtownfromonegateto
anotherwithoutgoingthroughthecitycentreorheadingforanyother
pointsofinterest.Thatleavesonlyonegateleft.Arollof63hasit
connecttothecityscentreandthenconnecttoastreetthatleadstoa
randomgate.IdeterminethatitconnectstotheroadtotheSouthgate,
sowehaveaslightreroutingoftheroadaroundthecitycentrearea
(thatisalotmorevisibleinthefinalmap,below).

ThismapoverlayishonestlyeverythingIneedtorunthecityinmy
game.Wenowknowwhatareasoftownareinteresting(theentireEast
Endbasically)andwhatareastoavoid(theWestEnd)andwhatsjust
boringresidential(themiddleandSouth).

ButIlovetomap,anditisFriday,thatdaywhenIpromisedmyselfto
postanewmapeveryweek.SoheresarevisedversionofCruars
Cove,withthecityoverlaidontheterrainandeverything.Again,my
bloghasalargerversion.

http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=6946 9/11
10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks

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09042009,11:02AM #8

BaldMan
GuildNovice
Thishasbeenveryfuntofollow.Imayhavetolookforthatsupplement,
becausemywifedoesn'tthinkI'menoughofageekyet.

JoinDate: Aug2009
Posts: 12

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09052009,06:37PM #9

ravells
CommunityLeader
GraciousDonor Fascinating!Ithinkthisisagreatapproachtocitymapping.It'salmost
likerollingupacharacterandallocatingpointstovariousattribItutes.
Thesystemhasautility,economyandelegancetoitwhichIreallylike.
Havesomerep!

Ravs
JoinDate: Jun2006
Location: London,UK
Posts: 11,075

TotalAwards:6

|Pleasetakeamomenttotelluswhatsoftwareyouuse|Aguidetothedepiction
andcreationofFantasyCities|Createanondestructiveeditablemapinphotoshop|

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10/13/2015 BuildingaFantasyCitywithCityWorks
Believablemountainandforestboundaries|PositioningNamesonMaps|My
Portfolio

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09062009,02:46AM #10

icosahedron
GuildAdept
Fascinating.ThisCityWorkssoundsgood.However,mymaininterestis
modern/futuristiccitiesIwonderifthesamerulesapplytomoderncity
creation?Ifso,itmightbeworthaninvestment,OTOHitmayneedtoo
muchhouseruling.
Isuspectthatwallswillbelessimportantandroadsmorefrequent.
Whatotherchangesmighttherebe?Willgroundareaperheadof
JoinDate: Feb2009
populationdifferwithuseofhighrisebuildings,will'docks'includerail,
Posts: 337
airandspaceports,etc?

MappingaTravellerATU.

Seemy(fantasybased)apprenticeshipblogat:

http://www.viewing.ltd.uk/cgibin/vi...forums&sx=1024

LookforChitChat,Sandmann'sblog.Enjoy.

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