How to Build a Settlement

These are my cursory notes advising authoring of generative code for settlements in my sim game and should not necessarily be used to form your own settlement.

Before you build a settlement

Settlements should be built in locations which are some combination of:

• on fertile land
• near water
• in a defensive position
• in a strategic position for trade

When it becomes a settlement

Once you have two homes connected by a road, I'd call that a settlement.

Gathering places develop approximately halfway along that road. In some worlds, that might mean a manor or a church. In better worlds, that means a town square or a school.

A road connecting the settlements to other areas of interest should intersect the main road.

How a settlement grows

Settlements grow as more people are born or attracted in.

Each new denizen will want to:

• participate in whatever trades are currently most underserved
• find a place to live
  • take up residence in an existing building
  • build a home in an open area that can be connected to existing roads