Ideas for a medeival town?

[Commander Redbeard]

I have enough buildings and people in my town, but it just doesn't seem to have the bustle of a Medieval center of commerce. The streets just seem too empty. Any ideas for little "fillers" I can build to give it a realistic look?

[lil Jon]

Carts, if theres enough room.

Make up little stories for everyone and have them living their life. Fun to play also.

[Bruce N H]

Hey,

Think about all of the different jobs you could illustrate--merchants with their wares, farmers with chickens, marching soldiers, etc. Think of your whole scene broken down into a bunch of small interactions or individual stories. For instance, here is a bar scene from my Tolkien story:

I've got at least six different conversations going there, which I think makes it have "bustle".

Jojo has some great small MOCs here that could fit on city streets:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=56938

Also check out Jon Furman's guild festival for ideas:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=9761

Here are my band and acrobats:
http://www.ozbricks.com/bricktales/misc ... isc11.html

Bruce

[jwcbigdog]

Definately carts and merchant booths. Even if they are outside of stores, kind of like a sidewalk sale, this would add to the bustle feeling. Also street performers with crowds watching them would help to, and be realistic. Singers, bands, jugglers, people demostrating skills or entertaining on the side walks. Trees may help take up some dead space as well, making the area feel tighter.

I really like the idea of a military parade or troops marching, that just screams medieval to me.

[JoshWedin]

Lots of people going about their business. One thing I did in my town was to have it be "fair" day. Lots of contests of skill going on. Merchants, visitors, nobles, peasants, a busy outdoor tavern scene. A thief mugging someone between two houses. The sheriff roaming about. Rogues hiding from sheriff. I had a sword contest going on in the square and many contestants making their way to it from all over town, etc. You get the point. Here is pics of what I am talking about. Quality is a bit bad. I was still learning how to take lego pics then.

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=25240

Hope this helps,
Josh

[lil Jon]

Here are some pictures that I took of my town:

http://brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=805071

http://brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=805071

[Commander Redbeard]

Wow, pretty good ideas! I do have a big croud of people at my Inn already... I added some farmland and a few roadside musicians, and some venders selling Ale and food...

[Longbowmen]

Maybe you could setup a execution? They where very crouded in that ages....