settlement-building-system.md

title	Settlement and Building System
summary	Settlement types/sizes, founding, building types, construction, infrastructure, population, economy, defense, districts
audience	developer agent designer
topics	settlements buildings construction infrastructure population economy defense districts leadership
prerequisites	gdd-overview.md
related	gdd-settlement-policy.md gdd-economy.md npc-daily-life-system.md housing-storage-system.md
last_validated	2026-01-18

Settlement & Building System

1. Overview

Settlements are the social and economic hubs of the game world. They range from tiny camps to sprawling capitals, each with their own character, services, and opportunities. Players can visit, live in, trade with, lead, or even found settlements.

Aspect	Description
Population	NPCs who live, work, and interact
Services	Shops, crafters, guilds, institutions
Economy	Local production, trade, currency flow
Governance	Leadership, laws, policies
Defense	Guards, walls, militia
Growth	Can expand or decline over time

---

2. Settlement Types

By Size

Type	Population	Buildings	Services	Governance
Camp	2-10	Tents, temporary	Minimal	Informal leader
Hamlet	10-30	Few permanent	Basic	Elder/founder
Village	30-100	Homes, few shops	Limited	Village chief
Town	100-500	Districts forming	Moderate	Mayor/council
City	500-5000	Full districts	Comprehensive	Lord/council
Capital	5000+	Multiple districts	Everything	Ruler/government

By Function

Type	Primary Focus	Typical Features
Agricultural	Farming, livestock	Large fields, granaries, markets
Mining	Resource extraction	Mines, refineries, heavy industry
Trade Hub	Commerce	Large markets, warehouses, caravans
Port	Maritime trade/fishing	Docks, shipyards, fish markets
Military	Defense, training	Barracks, walls, armories
Religious	Worship, pilgrimage	Temples, shrines, monasteries
Academic	Learning, research	Libraries, academies, archives
Frontier	Expansion, survival	Basic services, high danger

By Governance

Type	Leader	Succession
Tribal	Chief	Challenge/hereditary
Democratic	Elected mayor	Elections
Aristocratic	Noble lord	Hereditary
Theocratic	High priest	Religious hierarchy
Guild-run	Guildmaster council	Guild politics
Military	Commander	Appointment/rank
Lawless	Strongest/richest	Power struggles

---

3. Settlement Founding

Requirements

Requirement	Description
Location	Suitable terrain, resources nearby
Founders	Minimum population (3-5 for camp)
Resources	Building materials, food supply
Security	Defensible or low threat area
Legitimacy	Claim recognized or unchallenged

Founding Process

Identify suitable location
    ↓
Gather founding population
    ↓
Establish temporary shelter (camp stage)
    ↓
Build essential structures:
├── Shelter/housing
├── Food storage
├── Water access
└── Basic defenses
    ↓
Attract more settlers
    ↓
Grow into hamlet, then village...

Location Factors

Factor	Effect
Water source	Required for growth
Fertile land	Enables farming
Resources nearby	Mining, lumber, hunting
Trade route	Commerce potential
Defensible terrain	Security bonus
Climate	Affects comfort, crops
Existing roads	Accessibility

Player-Founded Settlements

Stage	Requirements	Unlocks
Camp	3+ party members, basic supplies	Rest point, storage
Hamlet	10+ population, permanent structures	Basic services
Village	30+ population, defined roles	Shops, crafters
Town	100+ population, infrastructure	Guilds, governance

---

4. Building Types

Residential

Building	Capacity	Cost	Construction Time
Tent	1-2	5-10 silver	Hours
Shack	2-4	20-50 silver	1-2 days
Cottage	2-4	50-150 gold	3-7 days
House	4-8	200-500 gold	1-2 weeks
Manor	8-16	1000-3000 gold	3-6 weeks
Estate	16+	5000+ gold	2-4 months

Commercial

Building	Function	Cost	Requirements
Market Stall	Basic trade	10-30 gold	Market area
Shop	Retail	150-400 gold	Town+
Warehouse	Storage	300-800 gold	Trade route
Inn/Tavern	Lodging, social	500-1500 gold	Traffic
Bank Branch	Finance	1000+ gold	Merchant Guild

Production

Building	Output	Cost	Requirements
Farm	Food	100-300 gold	Arable land
Workshop	Crafted goods	200-500 gold	Crafter
Mill	Processed grain	300-600 gold	Water/wind
Smithy	Metal goods	400-800 gold	Ore supply
Tannery	Leather	200-400 gold	Animal supply
Brewery	Alcohol	300-600 gold	Grain supply

Infrastructure

Building	Function	Cost	Effect
Well	Water access	50-100 gold	Required for growth
Road (segment)	Movement	20-50 gold	Travel speed
Bridge	River crossing	200-500 gold	Accessibility
Wall (segment)	Defense	100-300 gold	Security
Gate	Controlled entry	150-400 gold	Checkpoints
Watchtower	Early warning	200-400 gold	Detection range

Public/Civic

Building	Function	Cost	Requirements
Town Hall	Governance	500-1000 gold	Town+
Courthouse	Justice	400-800 gold	Town+
Jail	Prisoners	200-400 gold	Guards
Barracks	Military housing	300-600 gold	Guards
Temple	Worship	400-1000 gold	Congregation
Library	Knowledge	500-1000 gold	Scholar
Academy	Training	800-1500 gold	City+
Hospital	Healing	600-1200 gold	Healer

Guild Buildings

Building	Guild	Cost	Services
Guild Hall	Any	800-2000 gold	Headquarters, meetings
Training Yard	Adventurers	400-800 gold	Combat training
Merchant House	Merchants	600-1200 gold	Trade coordination
Craft Hall	Crafters	500-1000 gold	Shared workshops

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5. Construction System

Construction Flow

Plan building
    ↓
Acquire land (if needed)
    ↓
Gather materials OR purchase
    ↓
Hire builder OR build self
    ↓
Construction begins (time passes)
    ↓
├── Progress affected by:
│   ├── Builder skill
│   ├── Weather
│   ├── Material quality
│   └── Interruptions
    ↓
Building complete
    ↓
Ongoing upkeep required

Material Requirements

Building Size	Wood	Stone	Metal	Other
Small (shack)	20	5	2	—
Medium (house)	50	20	10	Glass, etc.
Large (manor)	150	80	30	Specialty
Massive (castle)	500+	300+	100+	Many

Builder Classes

Class	Speed	Quality	Cost
Unskilled labor	Slow	Poor	Low
Apprentice carpenter	Moderate	Basic	Moderate
Journeyman carpenter	Good	Quality	Higher
Master carpenter	Fast	Superior	Premium
Architect (consolidated)	Fast	Excellent	Very High

Construction Modifiers

Factor	Effect
Builder skill	Speed and quality
Material quality	Final durability
Weather	Can slow/halt work
Multiple workers	Faster (diminishing returns)
Player assistance	Minor speed bonus
Magic assistance	Significant bonus

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6. Settlement Infrastructure

Essential Services

Service	Minimum Size	Effect if Missing
Water source	Camp	Cannot grow
Food supply	Camp	Starvation risk
Shelter	Camp	Rest penalties
Security	Hamlet	Bandit/monster attacks
Trade access	Village	Limited goods
Governance	Town	Chaos, decline

Service Tiers

Tier	Availability	Quality
None	Not present	—
Basic	Limited hours, one provider	Minimal
Standard	Regular hours, competition	Normal
Good	Extended hours, variety	Above average
Excellent	Always available, specialists	Premium

Utility Systems

System	Cost	Benefit
Wells (distributed)	50-100 each	Water access
Sewage (basic)	200-500 gold	Health, smell
Street lighting	100-300 gold	Night safety
Paved roads	50-100/segment	Movement speed
Drainage	150-400 gold	Flood prevention

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7. Population & Growth

Growth Factors

Factor	Effect
Food surplus	Enables growth
Housing availability	Required for new residents
Economic opportunity	Attracts migrants
Safety	Attracts families
Reputation	Word spreads
Trade routes	Brings travelers who stay

Decline Factors

Factor	Effect
Food shortage	Starvation, emigration
Overcrowding	Disease, unrest
Crime	Residents flee
Economic collapse	No jobs, emigration
Disaster	Immediate population loss
War/Raids	Deaths, refugees

Population Flow

Natural growth (births)
    + Immigration (attracted)
    + Refugees (fleeing elsewhere)
    - Deaths (natural, violence, starvation)
    - Emigration (seeking better)
    = Population change

Growth Limits

Limiting Factor	Effect
Water supply	Hard cap on population
Food production	Sustainable population
Housing	Where people can live
Jobs	Economic carrying capacity
Leadership	Management capacity

---

8. Settlement Economy

Economic Roles

Role	Function	Population %
Farmers	Food production	40-60% (villages)
Laborers	General work	10-20%
Craftsmen	Goods production	10-20%
Merchants	Trade, distribution	5-15%
Guards	Security	2-10%
Governance	Administration	1-5%
Services	Inn, temple, etc.	5-15%
Other	Scholars, artists	1-5%

Local Economy Loop

Production (farms, workshops)
    ↓
Local consumption
    ↓
Surplus to market
    ↓
Trade (export/import)
    ↓
Currency circulation
    ↓
Wages, purchases
    ↓
(cycle continues)

Economic Health Indicators

Indicator	Healthy	Warning	Critical
Employment	90%+	70-90%	<70%
Food supply	Surplus	Adequate	Shortage
Trade activity	Active	Slow	Stagnant
Currency flow	Stable	Inflation/deflation	Collapse
Tax revenue	Meeting budget	Shortfall	Bankrupt

---

9. Services & Facilities

Standard Services by Settlement Size

Service	Camp	Hamlet	Village	Town	City
General store	—	Maybe	Yes	Multiple	Many
Blacksmith	—	—	Basic	Full	Specialists
Inn/Tavern	—	Maybe	Yes	Multiple	Districts
Temple	—	Shrine	Small	Full	Cathedral
Healer	—	Herbalist	Basic	Hospital	Specialists
Guards	—	Militia	Few	Force	Army
Guild halls	—	—	—	Some	All
Bank	—	—	—	Branch	Full
Academy	—	—	—	—	Yes

Service Quality Factors

Factor	Effect on Quality
Provider skill	Direct impact
Competition	Drives improvement
Resources available	Limits options
Settlement wealth	Funds better service
Reputation	Attracts better providers

---

10. Defense & Security

Threat Types

Threat	Source	Frequency
Bandits	Criminal groups	Common
Monsters	Wilderness	Depends on location
Raiders	Enemy factions	Periodic
Invasion	War	Rare
Internal crime	Residents	Ongoing

Defense Structures

Structure	Defense Value	Cost	Maintenance
Palisade	Low	50-100/segment	Low
Stone wall	High	200-400/segment	Moderate
Tower	Detection + range	200-400	Moderate
Gate	Chokepoint	150-400	Moderate
Keep	Last defense	2000-5000	High
Moat	Assault difficulty	300-600	Low

Guard Force

Settlement	Guards	Militia Potential
Hamlet	0-2	All adults
Village	2-6	20-30%
Town	10-30	10-20%
City	50-200	5-10%
Capital	200+	5%

Security Response

Threat Level	Response
Petty crime	Guards investigate
Serious crime	Active pursuit, bounty
Raid incoming	Alert, militia called
Siege	Full mobilization

---

11. Settlement Leadership

Leader Powers

Power	Description
Set policies	Tax, corruption, enforcement
Appoint officials	Delegate authority
Manage treasury	Allocate funds
Issue decrees	One-time orders
Negotiate	With guilds, factions, neighbors
Expand	Authorize new construction
Defense	Mobilize guards, militia

Becoming Leader

Path	Requirements
Election	Democratic settlement, campaign
Inheritance	Noble lineage, previous leader death
Appointment	Higher authority names you
Conquest	Military takeover
Founding	Start new settlement
Purchase	Buy leadership rights
Guild backing	Guild controls settlement

Leader Responsibilities

Responsibility	Failure Consequence
Security	Crime rises, residents leave
Economy	Poverty, unemployment
Justice	Unrest, vigilantism
Infrastructure	Decay, service loss
Defense	Vulnerable to attack
Diplomacy	Trade loss, isolation

Losing Leadership

Cause	Trigger
Citizen revolt	Approval too low
Coup	Rival faction acts
Conquest	Military defeat
Deposition	Higher authority removes
Abdication	Voluntary step down
Death	Succession activates

---

12. Districts (Cities Only)

District Types

District	Character	Services
Market	Commercial	Shops, warehouses, traders
Residential (wealthy)	Upper class	Manors, gardens
Residential (common)	Working class	Houses, apartments
Residential (poor)	Lower class	Slums, shelters
Craftsman	Industrial	Workshops, guilds
Temple	Religious	Temples, shrines
Government	Administrative	Town hall, courts
Military	Defense	Barracks, training
Docks	Maritime	Ships, warehouses
Academic	Learning	Library, academy

District Effects

District	Bonuses	Drawbacks
Market	Trade +20%, variety	Noise, theft
Wealthy	Status, connections	Expensive
Common	Affordable, community	Basic services
Poor	Very cheap	Crime, disease
Craftsman	Workspace access	Noise, pollution
Temple	Spiritual services	Donations expected

---

13. Events & Incidents

Positive Events

Event	Effect	Duration
Harvest festival	Morale +, trade +	3-7 days
Trade boom	Prices favorable	Weeks
Immigration wave	Population +	Permanent
Discovery nearby	Resources, opportunity	Permanent
Royal visit	Prestige +, trade +	Days

Negative Events

Event	Effect	Duration
Plague	Deaths, quarantine	Weeks
Fire	Building damage	Immediate + rebuild
Drought	Food shortage	Season
Flood	Damage, disease	Days + recovery
Raid	Deaths, theft	Hours + recovery
Economic crash	Poverty, unemployment	Months

Event Response Options

Response	Cost	Effectiveness
Do nothing	Free	Event runs course
Minimal intervention	Low	Slight mitigation
Standard response	Moderate	Normal mitigation
Major effort	High	Strong mitigation
Extraordinary measures	Very high	Maximum mitigation

---

14. Settlement Relationships

Inter-Settlement Relations

Relation	Effect
Allied	Trade bonus, mutual defense
Friendly	Trade access, cooperation
Neutral	Standard interactions
Rival	Trade penalties, tension
Hostile	No trade, possible conflict
War	Active conflict

Relationship Factors

Factor	Effect
Trade agreements	Improves relations
Faction alignment	Shared = bonus
Competition	Same resources = tension
History	Past conflicts/cooperation
Leader relations	Personal affects political
Distance	Closer = more interaction

Diplomacy Options

Action	Effect
Trade agreement	Economic ties
Alliance	Mutual defense
Marriage (nobles)	Political union
Tribute	Avoid conflict
Sanctions	Economic pressure
War declaration	Open conflict

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15. Player Interactions

Visitor Actions

Action	Requirement
Enter	Not hostile reputation
Trade	Shops open, not banned
Rest	Inn available, can pay
Work	Jobs available
Join guild	Meet requirements
Buy property	For sale, can afford

Resident Actions

Action	Requirement
Vote (if democratic)	Citizenship
Run for office	Standing, backing
Start business	License, capital
Hire workers	Currency
Join militia	Able-bodied

Influence Methods

Method	Effect
Build reputation	Gradual influence
Complete quests	Favor with factions
Economic power	Leverage through wealth
Guild leadership	Institutional power
Marriage	Political alliance
Force	Risky, reputation hit

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16. Integration Points

System	Integration
NPC Daily Life	NPCs live, work in settlements
Housing & Storage	Buildings provide housing
Economy & Trade	Settlements are economic hubs
Factions	Faction presence and influence
Settlement Policy	Leader-configurable options
Black Market	Underground activity
Crafting	Workshops, guild halls
Combat	Defense, guards, raids
Gathering	Resource nodes near settlements
Classes	Services unlock class training

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17. Data Tables

Settlement Size Thresholds

Type	Min Pop	Max Pop	Min Buildings
Camp	2	10	0 (tents)
Hamlet	10	30	3
Village	30	100	10
Town	100	500	30
City	500	5000	100
Capital	5000	—	300

Building Construction Times

Size	Unskilled	Apprentice	Journeyman	Master
Small	3-5 days	2-3 days	1-2 days	1 day
Medium	2-3 weeks	1-2 weeks	5-7 days	3-5 days
Large	2-3 months	1-2 months	3-4 weeks	2-3 weeks
Massive	6-12 months	4-6 months	3-4 months	2-3 months

Service Availability by Size

Service	Hamlet	Village	Town	City	Capital
Food vendor	50%	90%	100%	100%	100%
Blacksmith	10%	60%	90%	100%	100%
Inn	20%	70%	100%	100%	100%
Temple	30%	80%	100%	100%	100%
Bank	0%	0%	50%	90%	100%
Academy	0%	0%	10%	60%	100%
All guilds	0%	0%	30%	80%	100%

Defense Values

Structure	Defense	Build Cost	Per Segment
None	0	—	—
Palisade	10	50-100 gold	Yes
Stone wall	30	200-400 gold	Yes
Tower	+15	200-400 gold	Each
Fortified gate	+20	300-500 gold	Each
Keep	+50	2000-5000 gold	One
Moat	+10	300-600 gold	Surrounds