(no subject)
Do any of you role-players want to help me populate a city?
I'm running a GURPs fantasy game for my family. There currently are three players, plus a six year old, and potentially one or two more. The climate and geography is somewhat similar to western Hungary, and the era is something like 9th century France. I'm going for something like a late Merovingian or early Carolingian feel.
Aquium is the capital city of Espia. It is located on a major river (about a quarter of a mile in width at that point) and is the major trade center of the area, but not on the grand scheme of New Orleans or Rome. It gets some goods from exotic lands, of course, but most of it is more or less local. The surrounding nations are somewhat similar to Espia in culture, and there are lands within trade distance that would be considered barbarian (west, north, central, and eastern European in flavor). Espia is a hereditary kingdom, currently ruled by King Hardwin. He has several high ranking magistrates to assist him, including counts, a seneschel (right hand man), a marshal (leaders of the army), envoys, judges, generals, and the like. I haven't gone too deeply into that yet. They are all by appointment, though; they are not hereditary (not even the counts).
Using various random web-based sources, I've decided that Aquium has about 30,000 people. I've also "calculated" that I need 150 "nobles", 75 taverns, 20 blacksmiths, 15 inns, and 11 "magic shops." Magic shops aren't places to buy magic items, they are places to buy supplies like spell components and parchment, get sage advice, sell things, buy maps, possibly hire specialized help, etc. There are no guilds, but there should be places for adventurers to get on with their business. "Adventurer" is an accepted profession in Espia, though most people probably think they are danger magnets.
What I need are those nobles, taverns, inns, smiths, shops, etc populated. There isn't a university anywhere near Aquium, though small, specialized schools would be OK. I'd like to stick to names in the spirit of medieval Europe (bonus points for using actual Frankish names). About .5% of the population of the country is Dwarven, but most of them do not live in Aquium. So they should be present, but not overabundant. The occasional elf or orc (treat as half-orcs) may be found with the usual fantasy stigmas. Nobles will pretty much be kinsmen of the King or other powerful and/or rich individuals. They don't have ranks such as baron or earl, but they are influential in government and society all the same. This isn't a full-fledged feudal society (yet). Espia is the property of the king, which he leases to the free citizens in return for taxes and military service. The counts are powerful administrative and military assistants, but do not actually own any land, nor do they have jurisdiction over specific areas (counties). The marshal is the grand general of the army, and the seneschel is the king's Master of the Horse.
Or feel free to create random hamlets of 20-1000 (most 50-300) people. Most would not have mayors; that role would be filled by someone like a smith (if there is one; only in larger hamlets), or a sage, or someone else chosen by consent, or de facto. Most won't have actual inns--travelers may score a room at a tavern (one or two per hamlet) if they are lucky, else they will have to camp or talk their way into someone's spare room or stable.
At any rate, that's what I'm working on. If you feel like helping out, please do. I haven't gamed in forever, so I could use the help. :)
I'm running a GURPs fantasy game for my family. There currently are three players, plus a six year old, and potentially one or two more. The climate and geography is somewhat similar to western Hungary, and the era is something like 9th century France. I'm going for something like a late Merovingian or early Carolingian feel.
Aquium is the capital city of Espia. It is located on a major river (about a quarter of a mile in width at that point) and is the major trade center of the area, but not on the grand scheme of New Orleans or Rome. It gets some goods from exotic lands, of course, but most of it is more or less local. The surrounding nations are somewhat similar to Espia in culture, and there are lands within trade distance that would be considered barbarian (west, north, central, and eastern European in flavor). Espia is a hereditary kingdom, currently ruled by King Hardwin. He has several high ranking magistrates to assist him, including counts, a seneschel (right hand man), a marshal (leaders of the army), envoys, judges, generals, and the like. I haven't gone too deeply into that yet. They are all by appointment, though; they are not hereditary (not even the counts).
Using various random web-based sources, I've decided that Aquium has about 30,000 people. I've also "calculated" that I need 150 "nobles", 75 taverns, 20 blacksmiths, 15 inns, and 11 "magic shops." Magic shops aren't places to buy magic items, they are places to buy supplies like spell components and parchment, get sage advice, sell things, buy maps, possibly hire specialized help, etc. There are no guilds, but there should be places for adventurers to get on with their business. "Adventurer" is an accepted profession in Espia, though most people probably think they are danger magnets.
What I need are those nobles, taverns, inns, smiths, shops, etc populated. There isn't a university anywhere near Aquium, though small, specialized schools would be OK. I'd like to stick to names in the spirit of medieval Europe (bonus points for using actual Frankish names). About .5% of the population of the country is Dwarven, but most of them do not live in Aquium. So they should be present, but not overabundant. The occasional elf or orc (treat as half-orcs) may be found with the usual fantasy stigmas. Nobles will pretty much be kinsmen of the King or other powerful and/or rich individuals. They don't have ranks such as baron or earl, but they are influential in government and society all the same. This isn't a full-fledged feudal society (yet). Espia is the property of the king, which he leases to the free citizens in return for taxes and military service. The counts are powerful administrative and military assistants, but do not actually own any land, nor do they have jurisdiction over specific areas (counties). The marshal is the grand general of the army, and the seneschel is the king's Master of the Horse.
Or feel free to create random hamlets of 20-1000 (most 50-300) people. Most would not have mayors; that role would be filled by someone like a smith (if there is one; only in larger hamlets), or a sage, or someone else chosen by consent, or de facto. Most won't have actual inns--travelers may score a room at a tavern (one or two per hamlet) if they are lucky, else they will have to camp or talk their way into someone's spare room or stable.
At any rate, that's what I'm working on. If you feel like helping out, please do. I haven't gamed in forever, so I could use the help. :)