Creating a homebrew world for D&D or Pathfinder can be challenging. Each place your party travels should feel like a unique, living location. It can be a rewarding process but also a labor intensive one. I created this cheat sheet to make the process a little easier. Below are examples of some of the things you may find in communities of various sizes. This list is not meant to be all inclusive but will give you a starting point. Choose a handful based on the population size and drop them into your world.
Village
Population: 300 – 1,000 Shopping/services Taverns/Inns General store Black Smith (General) Farmers Market Butchers and Bakers Tanners and Cloth weavers Carpenters Grain mill Church/temple (Healer) Town
Population: 1,000 – 5,000
Shopping/services
Taverns/Inns
General store
Black Smith (General)
Black Smith (Weapons and Armor)
Farmers and Fish Markets
Butchers and Bakers
Brewer/Wine Maker
Carpenter/Craftsmen
Warehouses
Church/temples (Healer)
Herbalist (Healer)
Mage (Arcane shop)
Merchant Guild (Local Chapter)
Adventurers Guild (Local Chapter)
Thieves Guild (Local Chapter)
City
Population: 5,000 – 25,000
Merchant District
Black Smith (General)
Black Smith (Weapons and Armor)
Jewelry/Silver-Smith
Tanners and Cloth weavers
Tailors and Cobblers
Carpenter/Craftsmen
Herbalist (Healer)
Farmers and Fish Markets
Butchers and Bakers
Brewer/Wine Maker
Arcane Shops
Service District
Lawyers
Accountants
Couriers
Auction House
Warehouses
Stables
Entertainment District
Taverns/Inns
Theaters
Music venues
Museums
Parks
Brothels
Gambling
Guilds and Organizations
Merchants Guild
Adventurers Guild
Thieves Guild
Assassins Guild
Dock Workers
Mage’s College
Knight’s Academy
Grand Cathedral (Healers)
Grand Library/University
All Communities
Key Government Officials
Mayor/Nobility
Council/Advisors
Treasurer/Tax Collector
Judge/Magistrate
Sheriff/Guard Captain
Statistics/Key Features
Reputation
Crime Rate
Guards Per Capita
Peace/War Status
Primary Industry
Unique Commodities
Imports/Exports
History/Culture Important Landmarks Local Legends Local Heroes Festivals Unique Holidays
- Written by Dan @StayOnYourCouch