Creating a Fantasy City, Part 2

Below is the template I use when creating a fantasy city during world building.  Feel free to adapt it your purposes. You can read Part 1 here.

Download the PDF or Word template.

City/Town Name

General

Alliances

Independent city or part of a kingdom?  Allies?

Identification

Symbol and Banner:

City Colors:

Slogans:

Famous For

What comes to mind when people think of this place?

Location

What continent?  Nearby land features?  How accessible?

Setting

Terrain?  Forests, mountainous, desert, plain, sea/river port?

Relations with Other Settlements and Places

Town 1

Town 2

Elven Forest 1

Important Features in Town

Is there a distinctive land feature?  City layout?

Notable Religious or Magic Sites

Other Special Sites

Fortifications

Walls/Gates

Is there a wall around it? How many gates?  Well guarded?  Ever breached?

Castle

Where is it and what condition is it in?  Ruined or intact?  What’s it made of?  How many towers?  Mote?  Ever been destroyed?

Local Lore

Any legends or mysteries about the place?

Products

This depends on geography.  Very useful when writing stories as you can refer to wine, for example, from a certain city or region.

History

Year Founded:

What events are important in the formation of this settlement?

Wars

Battles

Outcome?  Who attacked them?  Or did they attack?

The Inhabitants

Attitude toward magic?  Gods?  Supernatural?  Races?  Strangers?

Leaders

What sort of government is there and who is currently running it?

Who’s Really in Control

Is some organization really in control of the city?

Population

The overall population count and which races live here.  How do they get along?  Are they segregated?  What are they afraid/proud of?

Humans

Race 1

Race 2

Religion

What religions are taught/tolerated/shunned here?

Armed Forces

Is there an army?  Garrison?  Just local guards?  Militia?  Knights?

The Local Guards

How many?  Well trained?  Well equipped?  Who’s in charge?

Knights

Important People

Priests

Magic-Users

Are they in town or nearby in a tower?  Is magic tolerated?  Feared?  Can wizards cast spells in public or only in secret?  Are they a rare/common sight?

Heroes

Villains

Nearby Monsters/Creatures

Good or bad?  How many of what kind?  What is the effect on the inhabitants and fortifications?

Public Places and Occasions

Religious Temples and Sites

Festivals and Holidays

Taverns and Inns

Are there any?  Curfews?  Are they friendly/hostile to strangers?

Guilds

Equipment Shops

What kinds of items are available for purchase or trade here?  Is this place famous for making anything?  Two-handed swords?  Full plate armor?  Silk tunics?  Strong ropes?

Weapons

Armor

Clothing

General Gear

Special Considerations

Supernatural Phenomenon

Unknown

Are there are any secrets about this place, whether known to a few or not?

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