Whither Reddit? In the meantime, here’s a place to chat up old school revival (OSR) and new school revolution (NSR) style TTRPGs.
My name is Todd aka Hexed Press and I am the current caretaker (have I always been the caretaker?). Here are some other places to find me, if you are so inclined:
Mechanically, I really like Helix from Barrowmaze as it has just enough of everything you need for a home base.
Honestly my favourite thing to do though is to create the village with my players during session 1. They’re always far more engaged, they remember more about the town and it’s people, and it’s usually hilarious.
Illmire is my favorite town of recent, although I wouldn't use it for a West Marches. For me the most important thing a WM town has is safety. The world is strange and dangerous place, but the town us the one place they're guaranteed respite. A WM town also needs a tavern NPCs that have knowledge of the outside world to help seed adventure ideas. Shops, churches, and NPCs can be made on the fly as you need them.
What should a town in a West marches campaign even have in it?
Also, some antagonists. Nothing pills together a party like a common target of animosity.
thanks! I'm tempted to make my own town now....
Useful tool for adding Ultima Towns to your game world :)
I tried to recreate some of these crazy Italian cliffside coastal towns for the Mystara Campaign https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/italy-s-10-beautiful-coastal-towns-to-visit-before-you-die/
Stone Mason Took got my old squad addicted to the took weed sold at Stoneys in the City of Carse.
But it was to Haven the Free City we most travel - available at http://www.diffworlds.com/haven.htm
But there is fun & intrigue at Barnacus Town in ye old Dragon Magazine Issue #80 https://www.annarchive.com/files/Drmg080.pdf Free Public Domain Now