This weekend, we decided to take several walks around two cities which shall remain nameless... Both cities have a degree of industries and other interesting aspects to them which, although not traditionally beautiful, have their own degree of character. This got me thinking about what belongs in a city and what doesn't. It especially got me thinking about what was missing from my own fantasy city, here are a few of the things that I seemed to have missed off!
1 - Major Landmarks - What do my characters use as points of reference for meeting? Where are the main religious houses? What does the skyline look like? I have my novel set in a renaissance setting so many of the modern day industrial sights will be missing but that is not to say all of them will be gone. Warehouses have been being used for many years to store goods. I am going to insert a rather large chimney as well where the tannery and smiths work. This will add more to the sky line as well. I also need to consider the height of the houses and how tall the mage towers are as well. How many districts are there in the city and how well populated are they? Are they slums or stunning villas where the rich live? How are the rich and poor separated? Think about rivers and elevation and the surrounding areas as well. What are the trade routes like? Who trades with your settlement? How old is the city, did the inhabitants build it all or did they settle and build on what was already there?
2 - Structure - I don't mean buildings here. I mean how is the city run? Is it by one man acting as a dictator or is there a council. If there is a council, how are the councillors chosen? Is it by vote or by hereditary means. What role does the ruler of the city play? How much of an effect does he have on the day to day lives of the inhabitants of the city? Is the ruler of the city and independent monarch or are they being ordered about by someone else? I guess the main question here is; who is in charge?
3 - Law and Order - As well as looking at who rules the city, there are other aspects as well which need a little consideration. How is the city policed? How are those caught doing crimes punished. I opted for a legal system biased towards the nobility governed by judges that inherit their position. They are all noble by birth and generally look out for their own, rather than the general inhabitants. I have also had to consider where are criminals held? If people are to be hung, where does this take place, is it a public or private affair? What is a crime and how are they punished?
4 - Greenery - One of the cities we visited this weekend had a lot of green area's spread throughout the city. There were wide streets lined with shops and squares featuring fountains and trees. near the town hall there was a garden area with water features that literally took my breath away. The town centre sprawled for miles but it didn't seem a chore to walk around as there was so much to look at. This is something I would very much like to incorporate into my own city, as well as the general parks, there should be little squares in each district where people meet and do their shopping.
5 - Business - Where are the major businesses located? What are they? There were a lot of big shiny glass office buildings on one of the walks we went on and although these buildings were stunning, they would not suit my city. They were located on a re-vamped dock area and they certainly attracted some large companies to set up camp in the area. Not very renaissance though! However, if this dock had existed (and I'm pretty sure it did) it would have had the offices of trade there. The import/export offices and places for workers to rest before and after loads come in. The docks would have been a thriving place, especially as this one is on the edge of a rather large estuary. Other businesses, such as trades and amenities would have been located in the centre of town, possible in a marketplace. How about finance? Who controls the money? Where are the banks?
6 - Tax - we all hate this part! How is the army paid for? Who funds the police? Who pays for the judges and funds any health-care that is available? In my particular world, I am currently working out the finer parts but I intend to impose a business tax, property tax and import/export tax as well. I don't think a wage tax would work without a central administration system and that is a relatively new venture so it won't fit with the world I'm building. How about a window tax instead? Or a door tax?
7 - Entertainment - Where are the theatres, parks, places of leisure, not only for the upper classes either, where do the normal people go when they manage to scrounge a day off work? What do they do with their free time? I bet they have different places than the nobles!
8 - Postal Services - Who delivers the letters? Who pays for this? How is this organised and how far are they willing to go? Will they deliver your package across shark-infested water at all costs or are they more likely to drop the package in the water and have done with it? Just a thought to keep you all going!
This is not a comprehensive list and I have no doubt that the next time I go for a walk around a different city, I will think of a host of other things I have missed but for now, this will keep me going!
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