The Town Planner series in White Dwarf has worn me down—hopefully, Dragon’s take on cities is an easier read.
What’s it about?
The article emphasizes that fantasy cities shouldn't resemble modern ones but should still be grounded in historical reality. It provides population benchmarks: towns at 2,000 people, cities between 20,000 and 100,000. Russian villages and towns are occasionally cited as examples.
Settlements arise for religious, economic, or political reasons, often forming around crossroads, keeps, or fords. Geography and trade drive their growth—merchants cluster near shrines to attract pilgrims, while villagers take pride in defensive walls of stone or wood, sometimes with moats guarded bridges/drawbridge. Over time, towns outgrow their walls with suburbs forming outside. Tradespeople settle near water, while nobles claim the most defensible spots.
Cities are noisy, with bells tolling, town criers, street vendors singing their wares, and entertainment like jugglers or cockfights. Upper stories overhang streets, turning them into dim, stuffy tunnels. Streets are narrow (8–10 feet), alleys even tighter (3 feet), and traffic accidents frequent. Encounters and hazards are suggested, with piles of refuse in the street and loose pigs, dogs and chickens. A daily disease roll from the DMG is recommended. Stone is reserved for castles and temples—everyone else lives in fire hazards. The description of a medieval inn stay makes it sound miserable. The article closes with an explanation of the guilds' stranglehold on trade and discussion about trade quarters.
Is this a keeper?
Yes. It's an easier read than the Town Planner series and covers similar ground. It helps simulate a medieval European town/city but lacks any nod towards fantasy and doesn’t give adventure ideas. I’m not sure if it's a ‘best of’.
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