Want to build a city?

[captaincrumbcake]

I've been bashing this thing around for...years it seems, and just don't know if I got the hutzpah(?) to do it all myself.
The idea is, a new city state for the JG world. 
Most are familiar enough with the CSotIO and CSotWE, but there was also Tarantis that got very little attention. These game accessories are inspiring, to say the least. So, I was inspired to try to come up with (my own) really large city; the map I got. But it needs a population.
I've got some ideas on the ruler, her followers and a sketchy military body for the city. But it needs folks, to breathe life into it.
I've been googling "Lists of Medieval Professions" and found this very helpful. Some of the lists are staggering to say the least. But the city has 790 buildings, and sits on roughly 2.5 million square feet.
A couple of days ago I thought I might try to actually flesh it all out. I'm having 2nd thoughts about it now; I doubt my ability to do it. 
Here's a look at it for everyone to give it a good examination. Feel free to copy and use it for yourself, if you wish. Though I'd like to complete this, I don't know if I have the will.
I'm calling it CITY STATE OF THE ERRANT QUEEN; but what you make of it is up to you.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Fascinating idea!

[Admin Pete]

Why don't you first identify the sectors of the city. The market area, craftsman, the pubs, temples, nobility residential, wealthy merchants, the average joe, the poor, the crooked, etc. and then start filling in the buildings.

[tetramorph]

Looks like material for a one page setting contest.

[Vile Traveller]

I'm off the idea of fleshed-out cities nowadays. My go-to references for in-game random generation are Vornheim, Towers of Krshal, and RuneQuest Cities.

[Admin Pete]

Dec 24, 2015 7:11:22 GMT -5 Vile Traveller said:

I'm off the idea of fleshed-out cities nowadays. My go-to references for in-game random generation are Vornheim, Towers of Krshal, and RuneQuest Cities.

I find fleshed-out cities fascinating, I look at them for ideas that I have missed. I am not familair with these three you have mentioned for in-game random generation, perhaps you can start a new thread and elaborate on the pros and cons of each.

[Vile Traveller]

Dec 24, 2015 8:51:36 GMT -5 Admin Pete said:

Dec 24, 2015 7:11:22 GMT -5 Vile Traveller said:

I'm off the idea of fleshed-out cities nowadays. My go-to references for in-game random generation are Vornheim, Towers of Krshal, and RuneQuest Cities.

I am not familiar with these three you have mentioned for in-game random generation, perhaps you can start a new thread and elaborate on the pros and cons of each.

I will, after Xmas!

The reason I've given up on (large) fleshed-out cities when running games is that there's just too much information to remember, most of which won't see action during the game. The advantage of random generation in play is that you only worry about what matters at the time, and it keeps the city (especially the fantasy mega-city) as mysterious and unknowable as it should be. One of the city products that was very disappointing for me was Sanctuary as portrayed in the Thieves' World supplement published by Chaosium. It suddenly became a mean little place - which, to be fair, is entirely realistic when you're talking about ancient or medieval cities, but it ruins the atmosphere.

Of course, I do like reading city settings. Even randomised cities need some fixed ideas in them to make them hang together, and these are a great source. Three fleshed-out cities I have used and re-used are Cardolan (I.C.E.), Pavis (RuneQuest), and Irilian (from White Dwarf, for AD&D). The city of Blueholme is strongly reminiscent of Irilian ...

[captaincrumbcake]

I may come back to this.
I've been thinking about the drow city in D3 (Vault of the Drow). It isn't all that fleshed out.
If I follow that example, CSotEQ could become an actual product.