Town Buildings List

[Wingshaw]

I thought the point of this thread was a general reference list of all the types of building that COULD be found in a settlement. It isn't really relevant whether ordinary schools existed or not; some towns MIGHT have had schools, and so they should be included in the list.

As an aside, I also strongly suspect that schools did exist in towns in the past, they just weren't as common as we know them today. I haven't verified this, so it might be wrong, but: in Muslim society, children would often go to the madrasa, where they would receive instruction in both religious and non-religious matters; schools have existed in Christian countries for centuries, and I would be very surprised if the same wasn't true of China, India and Japan, not to mention other places.

One thing to consider, though, is that schools were not always located in schoolhouses. I could easily imagine that in some rural village in, say, England, a charitable vicar would volunteer to teach the children inside the Church or Town Hall. It was a less formal, more fluid arrangement than now.

[foremost]

Some really interesting stuff here. Thanks to Green-Pilgrim for starting this thread. I want to do a smaller town, and hopefully I can master a 3-D look to it by doing illustrations for the buildings. The recent featured work by Blaidd Drwg is an excellent example of what I'll be trying to do - (only I'll be working on a smaller scale). This is very helpful - the part I like most about that featured map is how each building is detailed.

[Cunning Cartographer]

@TheHoarseWhisperer

It's a fair point that you COULD potentially find a school, but by that same principle you COULD potentially find a "Dragon Breeder" and any other number of miscellaneous buildings. I was going more along the lines of it isn't typical to find a "school" as for the general fantasy setting (medieval English type era combined with high fantasy), as you yourself have correctly identified, most "schools" were done in monasteries, mosques, etc. Schools have differed over the years and have indeed existed in one form or another, Spartans were taught to fight and read, but given that they had a warrior culture I wouldn't say this is the typical "school" that most people would identify with and is probably more accurate to the listed "Warrior School". The variations of different types of school are all dependent on too many factors to be listed.

There's no parameters to the list (era/high fantasy/technology level/culture) so the list is pretty much endless anyway.

[vorropohaiah]

i just find it difficult to undestand how a palce without the resources or inclination for a mundane university to then have a wizards school, which to all intents and purposes would be a far more exclusive and intense version of what medieval/reinassance universities/colleges were. just seems odd to me

[Counlin]

i just find it difficult to undestand how a palce without the resources or inclination for a mundane university to then have a wizards school, which to all intents and purposes would be a far more exclusive and intense version of what medieval/reinassance universities/colleges were. just seems odd to me

Acyually I don't think its necessarely the way you said, Depending on the world a wizards school could be "more mundane" than a mundane school (if that makes any sense).

At this point I agree with what was already said here: till where my knowledge goes, there were not many "mundane schools" where children went and learned math and reading/writing. From what I know there were specific schools where children would learn the basics and a specific skill (fighting, priesting, knighting, and others "ings" ).

[Cunning Cartographer]

Schools/education would be established by:

- Specialty organizations/guilds out of their own pocket
- Those who wish to spread knowledge/religion
- The state through taxes

If your ruler isn't bothered about bringing public education to the masses and considers knowledge/education but another tool by which to keep the poor and uneducated under heel, then they wouldn't fund a public school. Whereas guilds and specialty organizations probably have a direct control over their pupils and/or train them for a specific purpose which suits the organizations/guilds needs, or (which is more typical) it is considered more of a private school and people would have to pay to join it.

[vorropohaiah]

If your ruler isn't bothered about bringing public education to the masses and considers knowledge/education but another tool by which to keep the poor and uneducated under heel, then they wouldn't fund a public school. Whereas guilds and speciality organizations probably have a direct control over their pupils and/or train them for a specific purpose which suits the organizations/guilds needs, or (which is more typical) it is considered more of a private school and people would have to pay to join it.

this i like, a lot, though again a specific point. very characterful, though still i dont see why, if one is including a table of generic things, mundane 'schools' would be left out in favour of the more esoteric.

then again we may be arguing semantics. my natural tendency is to assume a very low-magic world. this list might be a more traditional high-magic setting, in which case fair enough

[Wingshaw]

I haven't gone through the whole list of buildings on this list, but it seems kinda funny that schools have become the battleground of choice in this thread.

In response to Yospeck and the comments since: you're right, the list is endless. That's why I was reluctant to comment on this thread before, and why I doubt the usefulness of this list (no disrespect meant to the original poster). Perhaps a more useful thing would be, instead of a list, a glossary of town buildings - give each building a short description that explains its historical background.

[Natai]

Here's a couple of small lists I previously compiled. They contain a mix of both modern and medieval/fantasy locations. There may be a couple of duplicates between the lists.

Docks
Entertainment
Public Works
Government Official
Government employee
Government (Admin positions)
Sanitation
Mercenary
Merchant
Military
Temples/ Religious
Travel
Education
Warehousing
Medical
Law Enforcement
Law
Emergency Services (Fire)
Food Processing
Food Production
Weaponsmith
Armorer
Gunsmith
Protection/ Security
Clothing Production
Maids/Servants
Barbers
Jewelers
Food Service
Second-hand Goods
Cook
Baker
Butcher
Carpenter/ Woodworker
Stone worker
Metal worker
Plumber
Electrician
Electronics Expert
Computer Expert
Animal Barding & Harnesses
Animal Trainer
Woodcutter
Book maker
Fisherman
Modern construction
Spice grower
Painter
Locksmith
Tanner
Messenger
Artist
Rugmaker
Bookseller
Ammunition
Scholar
Archaeologist
Explorer
Private investigator
Banker
Middle man/ broker
Tool maker
Advertising/PR
Agricultural manufacturer
Combat/ Martial Arts instructor
Machinist
Alcohol farmer
Vehicle mechanic
Clothing alterations
Communications tech
Caregiver
Athlete
Gladiator
Attorney
Magistrate
Heavy equipment
Jailer
Fishing supply
Dance instructor
Architect
Power production/ storage specialist
Bedding
Exterminator
Beverage producer
Distributor
Vehicle dealer
Animal control/ handler
Medical equipment
herbalist
pharmacist
Smithy
Undertaker
Grounds keeper
tax collector
HVAC
furniture maker
Travel outfitter
gambling hall owner/operator
Drotik breeder
breeder
breeder
casket maker
materials production
chemical production
mining
fertilizer distributer
garbage collection
waste processor
counselor
equipment operator
trapper
forensic specialist
fabric maker
glassworker

Agricultural tools, implements
Wagons
Art stores and artist materials
Books
Boots and shoes
Vehicle parts
butchers and meat dealers
Grain merchant
Livestock merchant
Farm produce
Candy confectionary
Cigars and tobacco
carpets and rugs
clothing store
Coal/fuel
lumber and wood
coffee and tea
crockery, glassware
curios, antiques, novelties
drugs and medicines
Dry goods
Florist
Flour and feed
Fruit
Furniture
Furs, leather, and hides
Electrical supplies
General stores
Grocieries
Hardware, stoves, cutlery
Harnesses and saddles
Ice and ice powder
Jewelry
Junk store
Pawnshop
Milk and dairy
Music and instruments
Newsdealer
Oil, paint, wallpaper
Optometrist
Produce and provisions
Rags
Stationary
Publisher
Printing press
Dentist
Library
Museum
Barber
Pool hall
Dance hall/club
Lodging
Foundry
Smelter
Tavern

[Green-Pilgrim]

To continue and expand on this thread I'm working on a list of trade guilds within a capital city within a Pathfinder Campaign.

So far I have:

Alchemy
Scribal (Paper making, record keeping, book production, etc.)
Banking

...and that's where I drew a blank.