Random Town Generation

Inspired by this and this

So, this system is pretty self explanatory. Simple table for what to find in any random settlement. Larger die size indicates greater complexity. Also works as a mapping device, roll the dice on paper, and record the face of the die. Then use the shape and relation to the other shapes to determine a map of districts.

It means you can also add the possibility of big city sophistication into a smaller settlement. Say, creating a village using a bunch of d4s and then one d10. This may result in some unorthodox settlements, a village of hovels with a giant theatre, or a settlement composed of nothing but social hubs. However I think that this can give some great character to the place, if there is a theatre and nothing but hovels it might be an ancient Colosseum whose surrounding city long ago decayed and shrank, a large settlement somehow only made up of taverns may be a waypoint of several trade routes between giant cities.

1. Residence (Poor)
2. Market
3. Artisan
4. Social Hub (Tavern/Church)
5. Residence (Middle Class)
6. Administrative Centre
7. Merchant's Quarter
8. Entertainment (Theatre/Bear Pit)
9. City Wall/Gate
10. Fortification (Tower/Keep/Castle)
11. Slums
12. Residence (Rich)
13. Dockyard
14. Arsenal/Armoury
15. Justicars (Courts/Prison)
16. Waterworks (Sewage/Baths/Public Fountains)
17. Foreign Quarter
18. Something Unique
19. Palace
20. College

I used this to generate the city of Vincenza for my campaign, although I didn't use the dice to determine where the buildings lay. Instead, I started with a layout and filled in the different sections with the results from the table (majority of d10s with a few d20s). I wanted different factions to hold different parts of the city, but didn't know what I wanted them to be yet, so I used a point to point version of the Risk board with the separate continents being the points of control of different factions/borders of their influence. Then after filling it in, and moving it around a bit, I drew in some land, some water, and hey presto! A city!