Town Buildings List

[CharlesRobinson]

If you can get a copy of the old Thieves World RPG boxed set, it has an awesome system for populating cities.

[perlygatekeeper]

How many of you have tried to figure out what buildings (type and number) you would need when designing a settlement?

Well, this is an attempt to start a thread (perhaps sticky) for all of the types of buildings / structures that you'd possibly find. I know that as soon as I post this I'll remember 5 more things to add. Please list any additions you can think of.

Thanks!
-GP

Cook
Baker
Tinker
Candle Maker
Mortician
Fletcher/Bow Maker
Musical Instrument Maker

[isais007]

Great start Green-Pilgrim ... here is a list of Medieval Occupations I have compiled ... not sure if it is 100% accurate in terms of the commonality of the occupations as it is only based on my own assumptions. But this would help in terms of building regularity (i.e. number of buildings per occupation per city) .

I can't seem to open up the attachment is there a way that you can possibly email me that list?

[Lysylya]

There's a great book for info on building towns and cities within a magical medieval setting called
"Magical Medieval Society Western Europe" from Expeditious Retreat Press which is well worth taking a look at.
It has content and tables associated with mapping towns and cities to areas of land, as well as identifying what wards would be present in population centers of different sizes. There are also frequency charts of a particular type of workplace being found in a given ward of a particular type.
If you're interested in that sort of thing, I would definitely look this book up.
That aside, here's a list of workshops, shops and offices that they came up with.

Workshops:

• Cobblers
• Furnature Makers
• Furriers
• Weavers
• Basket Makers
• Carpenters
• Paper/Parchmentmakers
• Potters
• Wheelwrights
• Jewelers
• Masons
• Bakers
• Soapmakers
• Chandlers
• Coopers
• Pastry Makers
• Scabbard Makers
• Silversmiths
• Saddlers and Spurriers
• Purse Makers
• Blacksmiths
• Goldsmiths
• Toymakers
• Artists
• Leatherworkers
• Rope Makers
• Tanners
• Buckle Makers
• Cutlers
• Fullers
• Harness Makers
• Painters
• Woodcarvers
• Glass Makers
• Instrument Makers
• Locksmiths
• Rug Makers
• Sculptors
• Bleachers
• Shipmakers
• Bookbinders
• Bowyer/Fletchers
• Brewers
• Glove Makers
• Vintner
• Girdlers
• Skinners
• Armorers
• Weaponsmiths
• Distillers
• Illuminators
• Perfumer
• Tilers
• Potionmakers
• Clock Makers
• Taxidermists
• Vestment Makers
• Alchemists
• Bellmakers
• Dye Makers
• Inventors

SHOPS

• Clothiers, Used
• Grocers
• Dairy sellers
• Launderers
• Prostitutes
• Furriers
• Tailors
• Barbers
• Drapers
• Flowersellers
• Jewelers
• Mercers
• Engravers
• Pawnbroker
• Haberdashers
• Wine Merchants
• Tinkers
• Butchers
• Fishmongers
• Wool Merchants
• Beer Merchants
• Herbalists
• Spice Merchants
• Woodsellers
• Brothel Keepers
• Hay Merchants
• Booksellers
• Religious souvenir sellers
• Dentists
• Navel Outfitters
• Grain Merchants
• Tobacco merchants
• Magic Merchants

OFFICES

• Livestock merchants
• Carpenters
• Masons
• Pawnbroker
• Wine Merchants
• Doctors, Unlicensed
• Wool Merchants
• Beer Merchants
• Spice Merchants
• Doctors, Licensed
• Copyists
• Moneychangers
• Sage/scholar
• Advocates (lawyers)
• Historians
• Engineers
• Architects
• Astrologers
• Grain Merchants
• Tobacco merchants
• Bankers
• Slavers
• Cartographers
• Magic Merchants

[AliceBlackBow]

Thank you for the list!

[Jaxilon]

This goes to show the depth of this site. I haven't seen this until just today while digging for some town maps.

But since I'm here you might love this link: http://arcana.wikidot.com/list-of-me...an-professions

[donpaulo]

I think its also important to factor in regional issues such as trade routes, difficult terrain, low hanging fruit resources vs more intensive investment schemes, as well as weather patterns.
They naturally lead to all sorts of interesting things to map.

For example
If there are regular floods, then there will be a very important engineering guild which will be in need of large numbers of day laborers during certain times of the year. Is there a market for these workers ? are they slaves ? indentured servants ?
Where does the financing for this kind of settlement pattern come from. Clearly a kind of banking group which then needs some protection.
Where do these workers live ? are they migrants or localized ? If they travel they will be in need of transport. What forms will the city or town be using ? water based ? land based ? If they are migrants perhaps there is a place to setup contracts which means there needs to be a kind of postal system. Money paid into contracts needs to be deposited and or delivered.
Maybe the workers also have their own barter system where they exchange things they need such as temporary shelter, foodstuffs, clothing, footwear. The list is endless. What kind of shelters ? tents made of ? What kind of food ? This requires a food distribution and production business center. Clothing made of ? If its wool then the herders and all associated aspects of weaving need to be established. Footwear made of ? leather perhaps ?

and so on

I love all the lists on this thread btw

thanks so much for sharing

[Bindusara]

than you for the list, i copy it with my lists of workers in middle age (in french, ask me if you're interested by it).

[Anestis]

That is a very nice and thorough list.