CREATING CITY MAPS

What is the Technology Level?
This defines the kinds of structures present, and the materials and techniques used to build them.

Across technology levels, the term 'city' represents a typical group settlement of the setting, such traditional groundside city, a futuristic colony, space station, or outpost on some distant world.

What is the Magic Level?
Magical construction techniques and defenses against magical attacks alter and expand city construction.

What geography existed before settling the area?
The underlying geography shapes how a city develops.

• Cloud castles?
• Undersea?
• Within caverns?

What waterways existed before settling the area?

What resources attracted settlers to this area?
Agricultural and mineral resource attract settlers and provide surplus products to trade.

What districts are present in the city?

What blocks or structures are present in the city?

What waterways and bridges divide blocks of the city?

What roadways and alleyways connect the blocks of the city?

How does the city provide or supply air to the residents?

How does the city provide or supply water to the residents?

How does the city provide sanitation services to the residents?

How does the city provide power services to the residents?

How does the city provide emergency services to the residents?

• Fire
• Medical
• Police / Law and Order

How does the city provide defenses or disaster services to the residents?

• Shelters (includes castles and other fortified defenses)

What transportation networks exist?

• Buses
• Subways
• Trains
• Monorails
• Flyways
• Airports
• Seaports
• Spaceports

What food distribution networks exist?

What communication networks exist?

How does the city adapt to different seasons or weather?

1. Sketch in the geography and land forms such as mountains and hills.
2. Sketch in the water such as ice, rivers, and lakes.
3. Sketch in the prevailing plant life of the area.
4. Place the core city districts
5. Place the surrounding city districts
6. Add in roads and bridges
7. Sketch in the surrounding areas basic usage (such as farms) or resources (such as forests).
8. Sketch in the remaining animal life present in the area including seasonal migratory animals.
9. Note any potential seasonal changes such as open field systems or crop rotations.
10. Note any agricultural, resource, or industrial surpluses and who they might trade to beyond the city map.

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◢ Salvage Space: City Maps

▲ Chronology :: ◢ References: Locations