City Design and Layout

In all strategy games, you have cities. Cities can range in size from thriving metropolis's to humble villages. Here is a list of city sizes, just to give you an idea:

  • Single hut/house
  • Hamlet
  • Small village/hovel
  • Large village/hovel
  • Town (small, medium, and large.)
  • Fishing Village
  • Small city
  • Large City
  • Capital
  • Metropolis

Then of course you have army camps, supply bases, and other types. On the last two, metropolis and Capital, they can be reversed in size. This is not a list to use, but just to give you an idea on different city sizes and types.

When you set up a city, location is everything. Do you want a river running through your city, or a nearby lake? Maybe a coastal city? Then you have to deal with size. This is not a problem. You know as a designer what size you want your city to be.

Another important thing to remember is city style. In all strategy games, there are different civilizations/factions, which will probably have different city/building styles. Use this feature to your advantage and make beautifully laid out towns.

All cities have industrial and commercial areas. Whether it be an ancient Rome or a futuristic San Francisco you are making, remember to put in a well planned road system. This will be the artery in which you travel through cities. But remember, crooked roads winding through cities can give off a good effect as well. Along the major roads, place markets and other centers of trade, to give the feeling of a wealthy city. Military buildings near the entrances of cities give the effect of a well guarded city. On back roads of cities, place houses/places of habitation, and place a few other centers of trade as well.

In large cities, you have to worry about the shape of the city. Is the city a square, rectangle, triangle, or a polygon? With small towns and fishing communities you can get away without using a layout,  in large cities you can't. Spend time in laying out your cities. Players will be cursing your scenario if their city is a big mess and they can't find where anything is. Keep that in mind.

City walls and fortifications also add to cities. They don't only provide defense, but they set boundaries for cities. In large cities, place all the buildings a player will need. This way they won't have to build other buildings within there city and have no room for their units to move around. Also remember that if you are making a medieval city, the castle was almost always in the center of the city. Trees, flowers, ponds, statues, and other what not make a good city pleasant to the eye.

On your maps, place occasional houses in the countryside. Houses and structures break up the monotony of the terrain.

That's basically all you need to know about cities. In a good scenario, well laid out cities really stick out. People will notice and admire your designing.