A Riverside Fantasy Town

[rdanhenry]

It looks a bit more like gated communities than historical construction, but there's the *fantasy* for you. Frankly, if you have magic (or the right kind of labor pool and resources), so that the cost of building the walls isn't too high, and you can actually man them adequately (which requires less man-power if you are defending against small raiding parties or stupid monsters than if you need to hold off an army that will launch coordinated attacks at multiple points), then you can afford to spread out a little more. Advantages are being able to keep some livestock inside the defenses (thus protecting them as well), avoiding crowding that helps spread disease and assists pickpockets, and space between buildings to slow the spread of fires (so the whole place is unlikely to burn down in one big fire, a serious risk historically).

[Aval Penworth]

It's quite funny you say that. In my RPG game I run a world where magic is fairly accessible. Itinerant magician's go from town to town offering their spells to wealthy townsfolk; from mending glass, and crockery to conjuring walls of stone and steel. Books about spell manipulation on how to achieve a curved and tapering stone wall or or how to conjure up a magical glass dome are highly prized. Most magic items are to help with everyday affairs, rather than adventuring and combat.
Many (but by no means most) human towns are bright airy communities where ducks and piglets scamper about while young maidens pick flowers and berries. Lively music can be enjoyed each night as townsfolk bring tables and chairs out onto the commons to share a meal with their neighbours. Indeed, as you say, the towns are walled mainly to protect the town from opportunistic attacks from wandering monsters and not from organised sieges. A wonderful place to return after driving back encroaching bands of gnolls and ogres.

I used to run campaigns of gritty, grim and perilous adventure; where life was cheap. Since I've had kids I like to envision a much more idyllic fantasy world. Often it is this happy way of life (and the valued NPC relationships) that the brave and heroic adventures stride out each week protect.