Realistic Towns, What makes a town believable? Options

[MEands]

So I was going to just request a town, but from what I've checked, there are no places for requesting specific maps, only for people to join teams.
So I might as well learn, what exactly makes a town map look believable.

Stuff like this


Like, I guess I could take stuff from this picture, but do you guys have any specific details that would help in making a good looking town?

This post has been edited by MEands: Apr 11 2012, 04:00 PM

[Titanhex]

MisterToonz I understand you want to help, but if you are not directly contributing to the original topic of the thread you should put your message in PM form and send it that way. Just a warning, please stay on topic and if you're directly addressing someone consider it for PMing instead.

That aside a town has activity. It's important to remember that. At varying levels of the day towns have varying levels of activity as well. Consider putting NPCs there on different tasks, errands, and activities to make it feel more alive.

Also consider the size of the town and the social atmosphere of the village. Small villages have close-knit relations and gossip mills. Large cities have tight groups and cliques, and fewer people socializing outside of those.

When designing a structure, villages are often erected as settlers come and plant down, and unless the two families settling down are close there won't be too much structure to where they build other than the quality of land. Cities are usually built around a central rulling power though.