towns & villages

[kengr]

Ok, I've though about the way towns and villages are set up in FRP and in fantasy stories. Far too often, they are just medieval villages dropped into the scenario with few changes.

Given magic, this sometimes doesn't make a lot of sense.

I've also read some fantasy that manages to make something more like Old West towns work. Though again magic often should alter things more than seems to be the case.

Anyway, just noodling around a bit and I'm thinking about what sorts of things should be found in most such places, and what the equivalents are.

There's also the matter of what would be needed to justify such a business in a town/village.

First, the equivelances (village/western town)
baker/baker
butcher/butcher
chandlery/general store
stable/stable
tavern/saloon
inn/hotel
doctor/healer

Any others I've missed? And yes, I know that some of the equivalences are a bit iffy.

railroads do cause some *big* differences. that's why you see boards used so much for making buildings in the Old West. Plus there's less need for defense against invasion (and guns make a difference that isn't much like the ones spells do)
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