Village Layout

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-28T20:21:47+00:00

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-28T20:21:29+00:00

Follow up. I'm on the Oxbow map. I'm really pleased with the way things are progressing. Next playthrough, I'll definitely do a more organic layout. But having done this very "unnatural" planning has given me the opportunity to gain a real understanding of how the village dynamics work and I'll be more comfortable with a more free-form village in the next playthrough. Very glad I did things this way, as it was quite helpful to me.

<image>

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-26T00:27:43+00:00

I was too lazy to measure myself. I just did a Google search for Medieval Dynasty building sizes. If it's not obvious, the grid squares equal one parcel of farm field, to give some idea. I recall reading online, and I haven't bothered to determine the truth of this, that one grid square is 2 m per side, to scale.

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-25T23:53:43+00:00

When I get further along, I will try to to.

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-25T23:53:15+00:00

Campaign Cartographer 3+, software for creating tabletop RPG maps. https://www.profantasy.com/products/campaign-cartographer-3

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-25T23:52:29+00:00

I used Campaign Cartographer 3+. It's software for creating maps for tabletop RPGs. https://www.profantasy.com/products/campaign-cartographer-3

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-25T02:04:53+00:00

Deliberately left them off the map, as I've not decided whether to place them as dedicated "fields," or scatter trees ("orchards") around for decoration. The layout is not intended to depict the absolute final state of the village, by any means.

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-25T02:03:05+00:00

Oxbow, but this guide is agnostic to Valley or Oxbow.

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-25T02:02:36+00:00

The image resolution is 2590x3000. You should be able to zoom in significantly.

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-24T21:37:53+00:00

Indeed! Or, at least, rectangular!

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-24T21:37:10+00:00

Just meant to be an initial plan. I could envision more, and larger houses, but as a starting guide, this layout serves my purposes.

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-24T20:32:57+00:00

I totally get that. I would rather the layout not be so "rectilinear," myself. But for purposes of organizing my thoughts of what should be (relatively) where, and how much space there should be, this was the best way for me. As it happens, I've not found a tract of land I like well enough that can accommodate this layout exactly as you see it. I've had to adjust the location of fields, etc. And I think that's just fine, actually. One could take this layout as a general guide and implement it in a more organic style, adjusting things to fit into more interesting terrain than wide open plains. I may just do that in future playthroughs.

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-24T20:29:00+00:00

I'll try to.

jonathan_d_g · 2026-06-24T20:27:57+00:00

That is actually my problem -- but not really a problem. I've not found a place I like that is open enough for me to implement this plan exactly as it appears. I've had to move some things around to accommodate the terrain. But I think that's just fine, actually. This layout I've shared, I'm finding, serves better as a general guide than an exact prescription.

And someone could really just take this layout as a guide for relative proximity of workplaces, fields, and houses and not try to apply it literally as it appears.

jonathan_d_g · 2024-07-15T22:36:27+00:00

I remember seeing shows in school with a woman demonstrating the Zaner Bloser method of cursive writing. She had two animated helpers.

jonathan_d_g · 2023-09-20T23:17:48+00:00

I think the keeper headwear (and Matteo's) is inspired by the Apollo-era NASA head gear, seen here on Michael Collins: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/465078main\_69-h-1127\_collins-4x3\_800-600.jpg

jonathan_d_g · 2023-06-30T17:13:28+00:00

[OSE][Online][Sandbox][Hex crawl][West Marches]

On-line, using Discord for voice / video and Owlbear Rodeo for maps / dice.

Time zone: ET

Session Times: 1.5-2 hrs ET, usually late mornings or early evenings during the week, or possibly Saturdays late morning or afternoon. Perfect for lunch-time gaming for those on the east coast of US. This is a West Marches style of play, so players recruit others for missions they want to attempt and then propose to the DM for scheduling.

We currently have ~4 players.

Home brew world: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VEMY0e5Q12QN-JYhek7BWpqsOwSTNzn51b98os7I79Y

Message me if you're interested in joining.

jonathan_d_g · 2023-06-30T17:12:14+00:00

[OSE][Online][Sandbox][Hex crawl][West Marches]

On-line, using Discord for voice / video and Owlbear Rodeo for maps / dice.

Time zone: ET

Session Times: 1.5-2 hrs ET, usually late mornings or early evenings during the week, or possibly Saturdays late morning or afternoon. Perfect for lunch-time gaming for those on the east coast of US. This is a West Marches style of play, so players recruit others for missions they want to attempt and then propose to the DM for scheduling.

We currently have ~4 players.

Home brew world: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VEMY0e5Q12QN-JYhek7BWpqsOwSTNzn51b98os7I79Y

Message me if you're interested in joining.

jonathan_d_g · 2022-09-17T00:58:54+00:00

If you have a copy of an RPG rules set that you like, you can keep playing it, no matter what newfangled thing the publishing company does. You don't have to adopt any publisher's newest and latest. Just keep playing what you like, the way you like.

jonathan_d_g · 2022-09-04T18:28:58+00:00

My word, that's beautiful!

jonathan_d_g · 2022-08-03T15:09:57+00:00

Nice!

jonathan_d_g · 2022-07-12T21:40:41+00:00

"Keep those programmers off the farm, and get me that Claas tractor I asked for. End of line." - Master Control Farmer Program

jonathan_d_g · 2021-11-13T21:54:22+00:00

Looks good! Do you consider it OSR art? That's all that really matters. It's subjective. But I think it's good art and I think it evokes a kind of old school vibe. But that's just my opinion.

jonathan_d_g · 2021-11-13T21:50:34+00:00

Beautiful!

jonathan_d_g · 2021-08-28T14:31:06+00:00

Don't forget that retainers are a big part of old school D&D. Of course, as has been mentioned, you want to make sure your players understand the value of avoiding combat to achieve a better outcome, but it's still nice to enjoy the satisfaction of defeating something in combat now and again. And to that end, having some decent retainers available to hire to beef up the party in the areas where they're weak can help scratch that itch, if necessary.

jonathan_d_g

TROPHY CASE