Building my first world. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building my first world. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Drinaten
03-13-07, 11:58 PM Im building my very first world. I have DMed for about 2 months now and recently ended our first serious campaign. My player decided they want to have their next adventure on a mountinous island with lots of forests and rivers and lakes and creeks ect. I have the map drawn up and the basic idea of whats going on. Now Im going to work on making the citys. My problem is I dont know how much detail to put into making the citys...I have about 3 or 4 large citys to make and a dozen or so smaller villages. My players love to go around and explore the small little details of places. Back when I just made a tiny island with 1 large city and 2 or 3 villages I could pour alot of time into the city and make it very detailed for them to explore. But now I have alot more things to do so I dont have much time to spend on one thing.
So I was wondering how much detail to put into a city? What info would be most important and what detail could I leave out? What do I do if the PCs decide to explore a part of the city I havnt put much time into?
Thanks for the help in advance.
Comus
03-14-07, 12:49 AM I think the best thing to do is to have a vague outline and only fill in the details as the PCs explore it. Works best if you're good at making things up on the fly (and making it sound like it was always there). That way you don't make things up that won't be used, and the city can seem more alive because it responds to what the PCs are looking for.
TheChilliGod
03-14-07, 12:50 AM You would most likely only need to make a map and a basic description, along with all the basics (size, GP limit, power centre and so on). As you said, you have better things to do than really fleshing out a settlement. Add districts is you have to, but I don't really see the point of going into more detail than just saying "It's a so-and-so district. Stuff happens here."
Also, the important buildings (such as the PC's favorite tavern, or the Lord's Keep) should probably have some extra thought put into, because that extra info accentuates its importance.

If the players surprise you by looking into an alley or some random building, the best thing to do is to improvise based on what you have. If the settlement is poor, then say that the random building is a shanty-house. If the PC's are in the Inn district, then it's an inn. And so on.

If cities are supposed to be a more important part of your campaign, don't look past looking at Cityscape. It could give you a better idea of how much to flesh out the cities of your campaign.
Archangel_James
03-14-07, 12:50 AM Just a little advice. The players will go to the one place you haven't fleshed out, but this isn't a bad thing. With the pressure on, you'll come up with some interesting characters, places, and situations that you would never have even dreamt of sitting by yourself brainstorming at your leisure. Just keep on your toes when this happens or you'll end up with a bunch of Nazi dwarves (true story).
Comus
03-14-07, 02:07 AM Just a little advice. The players will go to the one place you haven't fleshed out, but this isn't a bad thing. With the pressure on, you'll come up with some interesting characters, places, and situations that you would never have even dreamt of sitting by yourself brainstorming at your leisure. Just keep on your toes when this happens or you'll end up with a bunch of Nazi dwarves (true story).
I intentionally have Nazi Elves in my campaign. It was planned in advance. I know. Hard to believe. And the Space Pirates just got introduced last game. Hopefully they'll be able to jump planet soon (to get away from said pirates) and I'll be able to kick off my Romeo and Juliet story on the water planet while they're lying low. Did I mention it's between a Sea Elf and a Sahuagin? Hopefully they'll manage to avoid the bad ending.
Daydreamer
03-14-07, 02:38 AM There is actually a world creation forum somewhere, id advise u post there, as im sure the ppl who frequent it have much interest int his stuff.

ahh yes its the campaign workshop and homebrew forum.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Drinaten 03-13-07, 11:58 PM	Im building my very first world. I have DMed for about 2 months now and recently ended our first serious campaign. My player decided they want to have their next adventure on a mountinous island with lots of forests and rivers and lakes and creeks ect. I have the map drawn up and the basic idea of whats going on. Now Im going to work on making the citys. My problem is I dont know how much detail to put into making the citys...I have about 3 or 4 large citys to make and a dozen or so smaller villages. My players love to go around and explore the small little details of places. Back when I just made a tiny island with 1 large city and 2 or 3 villages I could pour alot of time into the city and make it very detailed for them to explore. But now I have alot more things to do so I dont have much time to spend on one thing. So I was wondering how much detail to put into a city? What info would be most important and what detail could I leave out? What do I do if the PCs decide to explore a part of the city I havnt put much time into? Thanks for the help in advance.
Comus 03-14-07, 12:49 AM	I think the best thing to do is to have a vague outline and only fill in the details as the PCs explore it. Works best if you're good at making things up on the fly (and making it sound like it was always there). That way you don't make things up that won't be used, and the city can seem more alive because it responds to what the PCs are looking for.
TheChilliGod 03-14-07, 12:50 AM	You would most likely only need to make a map and a basic description, along with all the basics (size, GP limit, power centre and so on). As you said, you have better things to do than really fleshing out a settlement. Add districts is you have to, but I don't really see the point of going into more detail than just saying "It's a so-and-so district. Stuff happens here." Also, the important buildings (such as the PC's favorite tavern, or the Lord's Keep) should probably have some extra thought put into, because that extra info accentuates its importance. If the players surprise you by looking into an alley or some random building, the best thing to do is to improvise based on what you have. If the settlement is poor, then say that the random building is a shanty-house. If the PC's are in the Inn district, then it's an inn. And so on. If cities are supposed to be a more important part of your campaign, don't look past looking at Cityscape. It could give you a better idea of how much to flesh out the cities of your campaign.
Archangel_James 03-14-07, 12:50 AM	Just a little advice. The players will go to the one place you haven't fleshed out, but this isn't a bad thing. With the pressure on, you'll come up with some interesting characters, places, and situations that you would never have even dreamt of sitting by yourself brainstorming at your leisure. Just keep on your toes when this happens or you'll end up with a bunch of Nazi dwarves (true story).
Comus 03-14-07, 02:07 AM	Just a little advice. The players will go to the one place you haven't fleshed out, but this isn't a bad thing. With the pressure on, you'll come up with some interesting characters, places, and situations that you would never have even dreamt of sitting by yourself brainstorming at your leisure. Just keep on your toes when this happens or you'll end up with a bunch of Nazi dwarves (true story). I intentionally have Nazi Elves in my campaign. It was planned in advance. I know. Hard to believe. And the Space Pirates just got introduced last game. Hopefully they'll be able to jump planet soon (to get away from said pirates) and I'll be able to kick off my Romeo and Juliet story on the water planet while they're lying low. Did I mention it's between a Sea Elf and a Sahuagin? Hopefully they'll manage to avoid the bad ending.
Daydreamer 03-14-07, 02:38 AM	There is actually a world creation forum somewhere, id advise u post there, as im sure the ppl who frequent it have much interest int his stuff. ahh yes its the campaign workshop and homebrew forum.