I. Rules for Everyone

Here's a simplified version of the plot claiming and build rules in the capital city:

A. Definitions

Plot: A perimeter of land that has been demarcated by materials. Usually, these materials are often: cobblestone, stone brick, or wood

B. Claiming a plot:

1. Ask in #builds outlining which plot you wish to claim.

2. Once you have claimed a plot, proceed to follow the rules outlined in Section C under Rules for Everyone

3. If you claim a plot, place a sign with the date of the claim listed, we will let that claim remain for upwards to 2 days from the claim date.

4. After 48 hours, if the claim has not been built on, the plot might end up being given to the next person in line.

5. In the absence of a plot, ask in Discord under #builds for a plot

C. Building on a plot:

1. Use a minimum of 3 materials in your build.

2. Use the full space of the plot outlined

3. Leave no space between your building and your neighbour's building.

4. No basements. We are building a lot of underground infrastructure, and basements might negatively impact this goal.

5. Don't place blocks in your neighbour's vertical space, and don't impede on foot traffic on the roadways in front of your home.

6. No bunkers, unless if expressly permitted by the King's Council.

II. Style Guide for City Builders (Ignore if you only want to build a home on a plot)

These rules don't apply to most people. If you're only claiming a plot and building a home, ignore this.

If you want to help extend roads, keep reading.

Reasoning

The Capital is not a suburban city. We're looking to build a city that looks decidedly urban in this game. We also want to ensure that we can control the flow of traffic in and out of the city. Controlling the flow of traffic is important, since it helps us control where raiders and criminals can be in the city during times of PVP. Ensuring different areas are accessible for different kinds of people helps us create spaces where raiders can easily be countered, and spaces where civilians can easily find safety during times of strife.

Furthermore, to ensure urban streetscapes, while allowing as many people as possible to contribute the following rules and guidelines are to be adhered to.

A. Building Roads

1. Do not cut through the terrain, nor should you flatten the terrain.

2. If there's a hill, have the road climb over it, or go around it.

3. Roads can be curvy, or run diagonally. Plots that line diagonal or irregular roads are just fine, and people will make it work.

4. Do not create a bridge over the canals, unless if given permission by the Canal Team. By default, roads should connect to canals by having a staircase that goes down to the canal. The Canal Team has already created examples of how to do this.

5. Use stone brick slabs and stone slabs for the roads. Neutral colours like these help put the focus on players' builds.

B. Guidelines for Roadways:

Materials Allowed

• For roadways:

  • Stone Brick, Cobble Stone, Stone Slabs, and their mossy variants.

• For public spaces, like Medians, Plazas, and Courtyards, you may use any combination of materials.

  • If it looks horrible, people will complain about it.

    • Don't get angry at them. Consider your role as that of a UX/UI Designer who needs to listen to the needs of people who will make use of your space, not as an artiste

Core Road Component Definitions

Road:

• 5 wide stone brick or cobblestone half slabs with

• 1 wide smooth stone half slab sidewalk lining each side

• TOTAL: 7 wide

Street:

• 3 wide stone brick or cobblestone half slabs with

• 1 wide smooth stone half slab sidewalk lining each side

• TOTAL: 5 wide

Laneway:

• 3 wide stone brick or cobblestone half slabs with

• No sidewalk

• TOTAL: 3 wide

Alleyway:

• 2 wide stone brick or cobblestone half slabs with

• No sidewalk

• TOTAL: 2 wide

Path:

• 1 wide stone brick or cobblestone half slabs with

• No sidewalk

• TOTAL: 1 wide

Public Space Compositions

Median:

• Public space that separates two parallel roadways in a thoroughfare.

• A Median can be empty, or it can have (but not be limited to) gardens, parks, and shops.

• A median may not have builds on them, because then it's no longer a median

• Example of Medians:

  • Simple Median: https://nacto.org/wp-content/themes/sink_nacto/views/design-guides/retrofit/urban-street-design-guide/images/residential-boulevard/carousel/StLouis-residential_median4.jpg
  • Decorated Median: http://scvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/median-refurbishment.jpg
  • Median with a monument: http://68.media.tumblr.com/135536a3b14c07fc872bda70525a65bd/tumblr_inline_n0v06eNngk1swnqhy.jpg
  • Median with a park: http://files.guidedanmark.org/files/382/160421_Snder_Boulevard_designet_af_SLA_Foto_SLA__Magnus_Klitten_beskret.jpg?qfix

Boulevard:

• Two parallel roads with a median in between

• Medians cannot have plots for buildings on them, as that would defeat the purpose of Boulevards.

Avenue:

• Two parallel streets with a median in between

• Medians cannot have plots on them, as that would defeat the purpose of Avenues.

Plaza:

• An open urban public space, such as a city square

• A plaza can be any gathering place on a street or between buildings, a street intersection with a statue, etc. Today's metropolitan landscapes often incorporate the "plaza" as a design element, or as an outcome of zoning regulations, building budgetary constraints, and the like.

• The front door of buildings face the plaza.

• Examples:

  • Piazza de Ferrari: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Genova-IMG_2285.JPG/1280px-Genova-IMG_2285.JPG

Courtyard:

• A courtyard or court is an enclosed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky.

• Unlike plazas, these are a private open space that serves as a shared backyard between neighbouring buildings on a city block.

• Examples:

  • A courtyard enclosed by a single building: http://www.livablecities.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/39_The-European-Square.jpg

C. Outlining Plots

1. Ensure that neighbouring plot outlines touch each other, unless if you wish to build an alleyway, laneway, a gatehouse, a connection to the underground, or a pathway to a courtyard in between.

2. Outline the full plot that you intend to be filled up by a build.

• If you don't outline the full plot, this will lead to confusion because people are idiots and they need their hand held for things like this.

• Trust me, this will help you avoid headaches.

1. Use different materials for neighbouring plot outlines

• This will help avoid confusion as to where one plot ends, and another plot begins.

• For example, a plot outline done in stone brick can visually separate a plot outline done in cobble stone. This helps people understand that they are separate plots, and they make less mistakes when claiming and building on them.