I watched this on twitch, and I'll say it again now; I'm really impressed by your efficiency. In an hour, you considerably characterized and designed the city and its power structure (and brokers). Good job! The worldbuilding series has been genuinely helpful to me as I'm designing the kingdom in my upcoming campaign. Thank you!

Makes total sense that the paper mill that is revolutionary is situated near the slaughterhouse. The leader of the Broadsheets is practical, she saw the practical aspect of wrapping meat in paper and the slaughterhouse was her first huge client. Then, Hassar saw how much more it could be and shifted the guild towards paper news.

The best thing in the whole video is actually the thing on the beginning about how you first come up with some categories when you need to come up with a large (in this case 34) number of some specific thing. I'm a DM with 20 years under my belt and had never thought of that. I'd just think about 4-6 things, go out of ideas, give it 1-2 days to "refresh" and then have 3-4 ideas, and repeat this process. Your method is just much more efficient.

Woah woah woah, where was my "peace, out."!!!

I like your explanations, I like your planning, I like your channel.

I love this. I just love it. I’ve always been fascinated by detailed things, complex things with a lot of interconnected moving parts. Be it puzzles, legos, complex drawings and designs, building/city planning videogames, even ants. You call it. I just find it very compelling Worldbuilding just caters perfectly to that fascination, and these videos, this look behind the curtain, the process of it all is something I love

I think you missed an important one. Labor guilds. And their meeting halls. Considering that amount of stuff, it is too much to believe they gathered people on a single city center, or on the homes of the lords/barons that control the industries, or on their workplace to voice their concerns, or complains, or be commanded into a unifying viewpoint. People didn't gather into mobs out of nowhere every time they needed to iron things out. More importantly the place where commands are spread to the workforce from.

I'm really glad you didn't do this off stream. It might be less flashy but this is still an important part of world-building!

Very, very cool. Love it. There are lot of house names with "V" though. My players would probably be confused by that.

These videos are helping me so much. I'm trying to write a book with multiple differnet Powers vying for superemacy on the same continent. I'm also using my players to test out how the different cultures work and it's been really fun! So thanks! PS: S&F is Awesome!

Customs houses! You could make them just one minor component of a gatehouse / harbour district. These would be tax income sources not under the dead lady's control.

Matt, thank you so much. Watching these world building videos have been great. Please keep it up

It's pretty amazing what experience and knowledge can result in. I'm not a stranger to world building, but your videos are so interesting and useful to watch/listen to that I can't help but feel inspired in a hobby I already love. Thank you for sharing your time, energy, wisdom, and personality with us.

Hey, not too related to the contents of the video I'm sure but I just needed to say thank you for all the help advice and wisdom you have offered with these videos over the last several years. Yesterday, I ran my first game session. Homebrewed campaign, simple adventure to kick things off, nothing special there, but I probably would not have done any of it had I not been given the vote of confidence you have given everyone who has watched your videos. We had some snags, things I may not have made clear, some poor pacing, people were bored mid dungeon and I could tell I wasn't getting my ideas for the adventure across as dramatically as I would have liked, But nearly everything you have ever suggested worked for me, even with my first time running. I messed with a monster for the boss of the dungeon, gave him abilities on the fly and prepared some before hand, that battle was one of the first that actually challenged my players. I played up the role playing of my player's warlock gaining invocations, and I did the same for my other player's druid. I had a hard time doing the dragon born accent, I'm disappointed to say, but I'm going to keep at it. and this entire time I have had the privilege of being able to get advice from my friend who DMed for the group before I took a crack at it and ended up playing with me. We played for the entire day really, some 9-10 hours of just DnD. and we had fun, I want to keep doing it, and it's all thanks to you Matt. You really are a river to your people. (I had to have made like 10-15 references to your videos throughout the day)

I was so happy to be a part of this creative experience!

This is the Colville Content I think you want to show people with the stream: the nuts and bolts, the getting things done. Running the Game is great at giving outlines, and this here is some of that in practice, which helps contextualize a lot. Many thanks for uploading these.

I love this so much, and I hope you post the process of naming every single... "neighborhood." From each of those names stories will emerge oh, such as the old gate.

When you brushed the topic of power centers in a previous video I was very curious to explore further and understand more of what that meant. So I am super here for this content

lol with your recent shoutout to contrapoints, this video title had me "Is Matt Coville full on Left-tube now?, I'm on board"

This was really good. That spreadsheet helped me figure out how to do power structure in my own cities better. I was floundering a bit.

I wish Navarr was Austria because as the military church faction it can more easily justify the aggressive opening that Austria is so good at.

These world building videos have quickly become one of my favorite things to watch/ listen to

Love that I said "monastery" out loud to myself literally two seconds before Matt did.

I really want to thank Matt Colville for such a good video. I have been using my own world, but I've lacked real depth until using some of these strategies for building my new town. The last game I ran was probably the best I've ever had. My players are truly loving the depth of the political power struggle. Thank you so much.

I love your flashy colorful wall triangles.

Very interesting and helpful. Because of your structure only some "minor" tweaks can alter the setting drastically and make it a fresh thing. For example giving the paper mill to a noble house immediately generates drama, the other noble houses urge them to stop supplying the broadsheet guild but the noble house that owns the paper mill realizes that it will lose the money battle against the other houses if they stop supplying the Broadsheet guild. One swap in the excel sheet, completely new dynamic in the city

Thank you for the new video Matt

I want to start first by saying that the category breaking down at the beginning of the video was an amazing piece of advice that I will definitely be using from now on, thank you! On the other side, I can’t help but play devils advocate here about the way the power structure has been laid out. I don’t really feel it makes sense. I think the issue (from my perspective) is the use of the diplomacy map and clumping the factions power center control together. When battle over territory is conducted by use of force, like in world conquest, then it makes sense for the factions to grab up the territories closest to them in order to build a strong defence. But a city isn’t a war ground. A city is a cohesive unit where all factions need to work together in some fashion or the whole falls apart. Ownership of a power center, aside from things like the barracks or a fort, would not be kept through use of force but through influence. Things like the manor houses would probably all be situated in one corner of the city where the rich and powerful all live. Things like the press and law and commerce buildings would be towards the center where people congregate, the church would be spread throughout the city. A city faction power map should me a mess of colours spread all over the place. The fulcrum might control the whole of the docks, but the rasp wouldn’t scramble to grab everything nearest the first district they developed power in, they would scramble to gain influence all over the city in the places that would contribute most to the industry they are trying to monopolize. I hope what I’ve written here gets my point across and I want to make it clear that this isn’t meant as scathing or scrutinizing, it’s simply meant as constructive Criticism. Been watching for a long time Matt, and I appreciate a lot of what you do and how you present yourself and your ideas. Looking forward to the next upload!

Definitely loving these videos, they're helping me a lot with fleshing out various parts of the setting I am running (Tal'Dorei), because even though it's an established setting, it only talks about things on a surface level, so there's always work for me with figuring out specifics. One thing I noticed though during the video: was it intentional that house vorona didn't get a manor house?

Saw a good part of the stream on Twitch, but had to finish it here. Thanks for editing it down! Also, well played with the "Prisoner" reference #6.

This sounds awesome! Right now I’m working on my fantasy world of Varlden!

Paused the video and came up with my own 34 centres before continuing. Thought I’d share here. 1. The mint 2. City armoury 3. The main keep (access to the keep in case city is attacked) 4. Arcane academy 5. Custom house (what is allowed in and out of the city, information about trade) 6. Cathedral 7. Tannery district 8. Smith’s lane (metalworks) 9. Granaries 10. Aqueduct 11. Main market square 12. Ambassadors’ row 13. Opera Royale (influence the nobility’s opinion) 14. City barracks 15. Naval gun battery 16. Public baths (information flow) 17. City’s arcane protection ward 18. Trade good warehouses 19. The docks 20. City’s water well or spring 21. Red light district (information and revenue) 22. The aviary (distant communication) 23. The gallows and execution place 24. The trading house (a coffee house conventionally used for traders - an exchange) 25. The crypts and catacombs 26. Treasury 27. The lighthouse 28. Civil servant house (think Whitehall in the uk - control of the bureaucracy) 29. City stables (large source of income and military power) 30. City gardens (with which, through historical accident, come deeds to large external farmlands) 31. The charcoal pits 32. Military training grounds 33. Herb gardens and apothecaries (the city’s health) 34. The arena (mover of popular opinion)

Addicted to this worldbuilding of capital. Nice job.

Yes, build a city for me to steal and throw into my hodgepodge of Lankhmar, Greyhawk, and Black Company based world! (In all seriousness, I love your world. Thank you for all the content. )

Thanks for turning me on the Countrapoints! I love her channel almost as much as I love yours!

Note: Wise words at the end of my comment. It's such a great gift for us that you share your thoughts while creating something with us. When I was younger I thought that there was a right and a wrong way of how to write a book, play certain games or create a world. There definitely are some hints, tips, tricks and especially thoughts by other people (like you) that can help but ultimately don't decide how you should approach something. It is a great way to see if it fits for the style of creating something. I definitely have to say that you are a big inspiration for me and that a lot of my thought processes, creation techniques and story telling is inspired by you and sometimes almost copied 1 tp to 1 (I only recommend this if you really feel comfortable with what you are doing). I'm a mechanical engineer and a Professor of mine once said: "Sometimes it's better to copy something which is already good rather than making your own bad invention"

This whole process is rad AF and super useful to boot. Seriously helpful ways to structure a political atmosphere in an RPG setting and cement it in the brain. Good job man, keep up the good work.

I am loving your Prisoner outro. Not to the real reason I am commenting: It would make sense to have the slaughterhouses and tanneries to be in neighboring districts at the edge of the city. Preferably an edge which is not a directional source of wind, which means they shouldn't be in the docks (in my opinion). Otherwise, this is quite fascinating to watch!

Happy new year, Matt!

I was halfway through the twitch stream but glad you've uploaded. I don't know if it's you or twitch that choose to do it but I was getting a ad on stream every 15 mins, 3 hour stream it was alot of ads!

So when the prince gave the 3 guilds power and territory did he take some of those territories away from the noble houses? Or did he just give them portions of his own? With the broad sheet guild being right in the middle of everything when that central to northeastern area is predominantly noble control it would be interesting to see if by introducing the guilds into power the prince head to lower the nobles power to put them on equal footing. Taking some of house Alvaro's and Navaar's holdings might put the broadsheet guild at odds with them even more so

I can't believe Matt would say this stuff is boring. He's making potential adventure locations and backdrops for the campaign!

This is pretty useful stuff. I'm interested in seeing at least some of the nitty gritty naming process, too, hopefully.

Great video, i'm loving this series! Quick question, since it's a city with alot of magic, shouldn't be out there one or two power centers focused on the magical? Like an enchanters station, storehouse of magical items (which suplies the magic shops of the city), divination tower, etc.

Matt, bonus points for the Prisoner reference. :D

I would have given the Broadsheet Guild the Textile Mill, The slaughter houses to the Fulcrum (as they could also slaughter fish) and the Tanneries to House Valetta, as they could be located near the swamps... and the Military dudes control the Aqueducts/canalization system, as they are entrances into the city as well, and could serve as training ground... while providing access everywhere in the city.

Hi Matt, Financial: What about a Black Market? Law: The Watchhouse should be part of the Law, right? At least i feel that way. Military: What about a Fortress of some sort? Or a Bastion. Is there Magic? If Yes "Magic Academy" or something like that in the Knowledge-Category of course. Trading-Docks for Example scould be a Powercenter aswell. Because of the Tradinglaws and stuff. If you could buy first, you would probably. In the German Free Cities it worked at least in Medieval times. And you could collect the tolls. And , like the Black Market, what about some "illegal" powercenters? Good Video, just some brainstormed ideas :) Greets from Germany

Hey Matthew, I hope you don't mind, I'm stealing the line "...the greatest city in this or any age" for part of the blurb for my homebrew setting. It's such a good line.

How long ago was it that Duchess Valetta stopped distributing taxes? How much money as she accumulated?

I love watching your videos, specifically the ones on world building and politics, since the campaign I’m currently building has major political drivers, it’s a huge help. The entire plot of mine is started by the political landscape of the world my adventure takes place in.

Wow. I'm really enjoying and learning from your videos. I’d like to add a possible power center for people to think about, Salt-works. Entire real life civilizations have risen and fallen due to what we think of as simple salt. Pre-industrial processes made it a very valuable resource. While not unreasonable to fold into other trading or food entities, it could easily stand by itself. Even in large cities. Salt, a World History by Mark Kurlansky summarizes this idea very well.

One thing that I start to wonder about. Many times the "military power centers" you picked would depend on having influence over certain people or groups of people. So couldn't a power center just be something like having the officers of the army on your payroll? They would bring with them troops and maybe help you get away with crimes or control the gates as well. But the points don't necessarily have to be just buildings I don't think.

I think one thing you missed out on was collections of things. So a single shop wouldn't be a power center, but you could have a market district, full of different shops, that all pay taxes to whoever controls the area. No given shop is a dot, but collectively they could be.

Wine is also a religious institution, or at least it was at one point. There were a lot of monasteries that were entirely supported by the cultivation and production of wine. In most of my worldbuilding, breweries and distilleries are almost always exclusively religious institutions XD

don't forget the Seemstresses guild of ladies with negotiable values (Thanks Terry Pratchet). In allseriouslness "The Admiralty" - the navy's HQ Buildings.

Hospitals! A city needs hospitals! If a faction had control of medical supplies, it'd give them a heavy advantage!

House Varona is missing a Manor House, a religious power could be something to do with child rearing (orphanages or primary schools), I’m surprised that the great hub isn’t a building full of teleportation circles! Great video Matt, your process always sparks my imagination.

Hey Matt! I just wanted to suggest adding a baking oven for manufacturing centers. In medieval times towns/villages/cities featured communal ovens that all the bakers would use to bake bread as personal ovens were very expensive and thus quite rare. Just my 2-cents since I missed the stream! :)

will you be posting all your notes and map for the city once you are done?

Nice systems analysis example. There may be some lessons in object oriented design that apply here.

For House Navarr how about giving them control of one of the gates, an entrance to the city traditionally used by religious pilgrims to enter and exit Capital. This would give them a greater reason to develop military might af they would need soldiers/ templars to defend it

I am in favor of each part of the city having its own 'flavor'. Either the people controlling the area give it a certain flavor, or you have districts such as the harbor district (possibly more than one), the Temple district, Royal district, the noble district,...

Maybe i misunderstood this whole thing, but...I think you forgot the city guard, if we're talking about power centers. I'm pretty certain that whoever controls the city guards is very much in good standing of the ruler, if not even a tad bit more powerful. Also, I think that the city guard is a pretty important center of power, more important than, say, slaughterhouses, or even the post office. I'm not trying to say "you bad", I'm just suggesting that this might be important. Also, although pretty abstract, the Alms House / Orphanages should not be underestimated as centers of power. Yes, common folk and orphans are not powerful, but in a big city, it is highly advantageous to have spies everywhere. For both examples I would like to cite Littlefinger and Varys respectively.

I feel like great manor houses would be a symptom of power, not a source. Because those things need a lot of maintenance. Its a status symbol if nothing else, but it does not grant you power. Unless I am missing something.

It's fascinating, and says a lot about your intuition, that you were able to come up with eight or nine 'Power Centers', as you call them. If you take a look at the list that you made, you'll notice that they (basically) reflect the seven aspects of culture -- customs and traditions, language, arts & literature, religion, government, economy and social organization. You could argue that each one of these aspects is a wild beast, in and of itself, that steers cultures down certain avenues of progress... or that large organizations have culture and influence over them, and by 'nudging' them in certain directions maintain control of their own aspect, and therefore a certain amount of the society, itself. The clearest examples of this would fall under government and economy, which flow and are directed based on what sort of management system the members of a culture develop. What might be interesting to explore, however, are more non-traditional examples of wielding power over the flow and development of a culture. For instance -- what if there were a 'language guild' (for lack of a better term) that decided what words, or forms of expression, were and were not grammatical/permissible/legal in both public and private. Depending on how the guild regulated the flow of language (and I'm not quite sure how this would be done, but it sounds fun to think about in a fantasy or science fiction setting, for sure), they could control the society on a very foundational level -- how we associate and assign words to images and ideas in our own brains. Just a thought from a social studies teacher. Thanks for another cool video, and congrats on Strongholds & Followers.

What music did he have on? I love it, really calming.

"Be seeing you"? I was waiting on a satisfying "Peace... out."

Has Matt ever made a video on his highly developed concept of how names should work?

How did you make the mapa of this zones? I know its based on the Diplomacy map (as you've said) but did you use any specific software that makes creating maps like these easier?

This is cool

41:45 I so much want to scream: Almhouse. Give them the Charities, which would mean they have all the "poor" on their side. That would be a tremendous power base, to be in the favor of the people and hard to get rid of. They would probably be seen as the caretakers of the people. Try to sell someone on the idea that these people are the bad guys :D

Could a lighthouse be considered a point of power? I can see how it is an important landmark but you cant really selectively control whose ships you guide to shore, well, unless you magic

Varona needs a great manor house

It's only now that, after beginning to read Dune, I understand the spice reference.

I would've done somethings different. Such as instead of gate and watch house I'd instead be generic and list it as fortifications. I feel the slaughterhouse district should be right next door to the tannery district as well due to effluent from both making them needed near the docks.

What is the function of a great manor house? How is it different than any other house? And why does house Vorona lack one?

"Did they really have hospitals in medieval cities?" Well, they wouldn't have textile mills. You need to get up to the industrial revolution before the "textile industry" advanced beyond the level of folks spinning textiles in their homes. Your setting is never going to be 100% consistent with medieval life in the Real World. So I wouldn't worry about it so much.

Wish I say this live so I could have pushed for the Red Light District power centre

The navy noble house didn't get a manor. Was that deliberate?

just to throw this question into the aether. does anyone know of any content like this geared more to players? I've been looking and haven't found much

Can someone explain to me what's the difference between a military academy and barracks?

Prison as power center - Salusa Secundus.

FLESH

FLESH!

is there going to be a version of these notes that we can download?

what are you pressing to cross off the ones that you place on the chart???

Epic

I assume the late Prince had a Kingdom/ Residence. Why wouldn't that be in the middle? Note: I just started watching the video

House Vorona is the only Noble house without Great Manor Houses?

What about weapon manufacturing and Armor manufacturing?

what about funeral homes? Mausoleums, and places to store their dead like grave yards or tombs.

Ah, very interesting. The main market is not a power center... yet. A piece of leverage the powers that be have overlooked.

Shouldn't the Fulcrum control the Shipyard, considering they are the docks?

This is good stuff. It makes me feel like having political and social forces in the game (instead of merely a map dotted with dungeons to crawl through) is something doable.

If you're going to do factions in a city, they should not be WW1-style contiguous territory blocks. Some factions should be dispersed around town (especially trade, service, and infrastructure factions), and others should have some outliers separate from their main area. That's how power evolves opportunistically over time.

Sadly I've only recently broken into your videos and streams, and now it is too late to recommend, but for future builds....Knowledge - Museums, Religion - Reliquaries. Both would have artifacts, possibly magical in nature, that they could argue and scheme over

What are those panels on Matt’s wall

"Religious shrines" (small chappels or "praying houses" not Cathedrals whre huge Mass and events are held, but more "mundane", custumary stuff goes around. And "HARBOR" or a "marina"... where the boats come and go. To me, The TEXTILE Mill would be "similar2 in maintainance to BROADSHEET" paper mills, and would swap them the Slaughterhouse to the "military" (who CAN go out and HUNT GAME as "Military Practice"). BUT that's jst me :)

What did you use to create that map? I've looked everywhere for something similar.

Anyone knows how u Could get a similar map to the one he has here ??