D&D General What are settlements of other species like?

[Xeviat]

We all (think) we know what medieval settlements are like. But we're human. What would the settlements of the D&D PHB species be like? How would they differ? What remains the same?

Aasimar: I don't think Aasimar usually have their own settlements, they seem to be born to humans. But, what if Aasimar were descendents of Angels that came to the material world and set up shop? Then there could be some strange outer planes influences.

Dragonborn: I really don't know anything about the baseline D&D dragonborn society.

Dwarf: Dwarven citadels are built under the mountains. The only surface buildings are farms, because you can't grow plants underground, trade outposts, and defensive keeps. In the citadel, space is at a premium; I imagine residential areas are more hotel like, with hallways leading to rooms and suites. Construction would need to have chimneys to the surface for ventilation. Old mines get converted into new living space as the mines dry up.

Elf: I imagine Elves planting fruit and nut bearing trees where old trees fall, so the forest surrounding an elven settlement is like a vast orchard. I also imagine most elves build with the trees, rather than cutting them down for wood. Elven builders speak to the trees to coax them to grow in certain ways to build tree houses. Elves' shorter rest needs could have some changes too, like businesses running 24 hours a day.

Halfling: I love the hobbiton all pastoral Halflings, but I also like wandering caravan Halflings. Since Halflings are small, they could build up easily. Halflings living in human settlements could convert a 2 story house into a four story house by adding extra floors.

Human: We all know humans, but I need to study what settlements were like in Africa and the Americas for more inspiration.

Gnome: Gnomes have their burrows. Forest Gnomes can talk with animals, so openings so friendly animals can come and go seems cute.

Goliath: ?

Orc: ?

Tiefling: Again, Tieflings are born from humans, but I could see Tieflings collecting into their own settlements to escape persecution. Not sure how their settlements would differ from humans.

Do y'all have any thoughts?

 

[aco175]

Elves and dwarves are long-lived races. They know the value of building to last. I would think that they make quality buildings with elves making them with more ornate details and dwarves making buildings with more structure.

I never liked the original dragonborn drawings. They always showed them with leather wrapped bone weapons and such, where I thought they could build something great on their own.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

You will walk right by forest gnome communities without ever knowing they're there, thanks to a combination of illusions but, more importantly, forest husbandry that conceals all signs of the community from those passing by. Shaping trees and bushes and even hills over generations to make the world seemingly naturally steer passers-by away without it being obvious.

And yes, they'll have lots of animals as lookouts, rather than actual gnomes. Even the most hardened ranger is going to be hard-pressed to realize that squirrel is actually a sentry.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

We all (think) we know what medieval settlements are like. But we're human. What would the settlements of the D&D PHB species be like? How would they differ? What remains the same?

Aasimar: I don't think Aasimar usually have their own settlements, they seem to be born to humans. But, what if Aasimar were descendents of Angels that came to the material world and set up shop? Then there could be some strange outer planes influences.

Dragonborn: I really don't know anything about the baseline D&D dragonborn society.

Dwarf: Dwarven citadels are built under the mountains. The only surface buildings are farms, because you can't grow plants underground, trade outposts, and defensive keeps. In the citadel, space is at a premium; I imagine residential areas are more hotel like, with hallways leading to rooms and suites. Construction would need to have chimneys to the surface for ventilation. Old mines get converted into new living space as the mines dry up.

Elf: I imagine Elves planting fruit and nut bearing trees where old trees fall, so the forest surrounding an elven settlement is like a vast orchard. I also imagine most elves build with the trees, rather than cutting them down for wood. Elven builders speak to the trees to coax them to grow in certain ways to build tree houses. Elves' shorter rest needs could have some changes too, like businesses running 24 hours a day.

Halfling: I love the hobbiton all pastoral Halflings, but I also like wandering caravan Halflings. Since Halflings are small, they could build up easily. Halflings living in human settlements could convert a 2 story house into a four story house by adding extra floors.

Human: We all know humans, but I need to study what settlements were like in Africa and the Americas for more inspiration.

Gnome: Gnomes have their burrows. Forest Gnomes can talk with animals, so openings so friendly animals can come and go seems cute.

Goliath: ?

Orc: ?

Tiefling: Again, Tieflings are born from humans, but I could see Tieflings collecting into their own settlements to escape persecution. Not sure how their settlements would differ from humans.

Do y'all have any thoughts?

Elf, Dwarves, Halflings, Gnomes, Aakocra, Dragonborn, and more all have cities in FR, The Netherese City of Opus that Selune saved became a city of Aasimar, now called Selûnarra.

 

[Minigiant]

Dragonborn settlements?

Imagine Medieval Constantinople but shinier and more gold.
Because there are trade shops and caravans leading good, weapons, and goods into this massive walled city.

Then think of the fall of Shiny Constantinople

Then they rebuild Constantinople again with magic

And Good Constantinople attacks Evil Constantinople

4-10 constantly at war burning Constantinoples.and Istanbuls of all dragonborn

 

[cbwjm]

Not sure what dnd gnome settlements are like, but for my setting, if they exist on the prime plane then they will be centred around a portal to the feywild. Moving through the portal takes you to the other half (or more) of the community. What might be a small village on the prime could be a large town in the feywild. The settlements themselves tend to be small buildings blended into the surrounding land and foliage. Some homes built directly into trees hidden beneath their roots.

 

[Tonguez]

I imagine Aasimar Cities to be centered around a central plaza overlooked by a monumental Temple, very much like something from Mesopotamia or the Mayans.

Dragonborn cities reflect their pride in being descendants of Dragons as well as their dedication to their clans. Dragonborn go for high vaulted buildings, often militaristic and architectural flourish. Flat rooves are common, providing for open air celebrations, perches for actual dragons to visit and for winged dragonborn to fly.
Dragonborn are very clan focussed and so each clan often builds together having a large covered mall where the rooftop is the common gathering space and lower floors are shared utility areas and private accommodations. Workshops and training grounds are also often attached to theses villas so clans can perfect their skills

Dwarfs live in subterranean Halls, caverns carved from the mountain and bedrock where clans ply their trade. The Halls are very orderly having central free hall often with a vaulted ceiling, robust pillars and ventilation and light shafts. Stalls and Gathering spacies can be found through the Free Halls but clan residences break off via side tunnels that lead to private tenements. The Free Halls also tend to connect to a working mine complex.
Above ground may be found the Holzlager camps which serve for lumber processing and access to surface foodstuffs

Forest Elves live in the forest Canopy, in treehouses connected by sturdy bridges and rope ladders. The settlements are so well integrated into the trees that an elf can move from one end of the forest to the other unseen and never having to touch thr ground.

High Elf settlements are elegant and sophisticated works of art and magic where the elfs have spent an age cultivating beauty for the sake of beauty. Private sleeping spaces are few instead Elf settlements feature public gardens, water features, tall spires, arcane libraries, areas of contemplation, theatres and galleries.

Halflings live in a classic english village, cultivated meadow and cabbage fields around a cluster of cottages, a public commons, feast hall and ale house.

Common Gnomes are burrowers and thus traditionally live in underground mounds, often with trees and shrubs growing on top so they are indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape, unless you are lucky enough to see wafting smoke from the chimneys.

Tinker Gnomes however have moved into 'town' and often form collectives inside (and under) human buildings. They sometimes take over shops or warehouses converting them into compact towns with eclecticallly stacked workshops, laboratories, holes, tunnels, ramps, slides and living spaces expanding out as need and whimsy arises.

Goliaths live in the mountains, a nomadic people who may claim two or three communal caves as they move from valley to valley. The caves are large and usually divided between common eating areas and more private sleeping and ritual areas. They caves are equipped with carved stone and wooden platforms as well as other tools of Goliath life.

Orcs are nomadic and tend to be militaristic, thus they use large tents made from thick hides which they surround with portable spiked barriers. Female orcs occasionally build palisaded settlements where they can claim the surrounding hunting territory.

Tieflings dont have their own settlements, they tend to want to maintain a low profile and the few times they have banded together has been to found hidden sanctuaries in abandoned castles or monasteries.

 

[Corinnguard]

Dragonborn: I really don't know anything about the baseline D&D dragonborn society.

There is a side bar in Level Up's Adventurer's Guide that gives the reader a bit of a hint as to what dragonborn society might be like. From the Draconic Nations sidebar:

Usually based around where their dragon once roosted, trap-filled caverns are slowly replaced with storerooms and housing, mountain top lairs growing to jostle with draconic spires and battlements. Life within draconic nations is similar to life in most populous cities, albeit with more fire breathing and scales. Commerce, agriculture, and especially metalwork flourish, aided by workers’ natural resistances and internal bellows.

 

[aco175]

Elves do not sleep and only trance for 4 hours. I would think that bedrooms would be something different that we think. It could be more Japanese with mats for sitting in contemplation or lounge couches like Romans or in psychologists offices. I would think they would be smaller or even shared spaces it only used for a few hours.

Elves do not strike me as having a lot of personal stuff either. I think they have finer things like clothing and enough outfits, but not so many that they need extensive closets. Style may be slow to change in elven culture with outfits being worn 50 years before going out of style. I would think that they have collections that may have been collected over their lifetime or several smaller collections devoted to periods of their lives.