Note from the Author

Not every bullet point below needs to be answered individually. These questions are simply prompts to get you thinking about your settlements from a more contextual frame of mind.

Feel free to skip any sections you don’t need, go absolutely overboard with massive paragraphs for every detail, or just keep things short and sweet. It is completely up to you, the world builder. The most important thing is to have fun creating something that you and your players will enjoy!

**Any further notes will be italicized as well.

Description

Keep this section simple, as other sections below will cover some of the broader aspects in much greater detail.

• A brief synopsis of the settlement.
  • Is it wealthy or suffering? Beautiful or desolate? Quaint or imposing? On a mountainside or riverside?
  • Is the population one single group or a variety of races and cultures coexisting?
• What was the driving force that made this a settlement in the first place?
  • Was it a defensive stronghold? A waypoint along a trade route? A small farming hamlet that just kept growing?
  • What single thing is the settlement known for? People and culture? Resources? Impressive history?

History

This section is not entirely necessary for every settlement - especially newer ones - but it does help bring the world to life.

• Who started the settlement and how long ago?
  • Is the age of the settlement reflected in the buildings, the streets, and the population?
• As time went on and the settlement evolved, how were new sections added on?
  • What are these sections? When did each form, and why?
  • Is there a wealthy area? A district known for its nightlife? Is there an ‘old town’ beloved for its history?
• Has anything happened in more recent years that has driven the settlement in a new direction?
  • Has a power struggle left the government in disarray?
  • Did miners uncover a bedrock filled with gems?
  • Was there a great flood or fire that put the settlement into a rebuilding phase?

Internal & External Forces