This is a concept series in which I’m using the Halesowen Postal Code Area to craft an RPG region. Last time, I focused on the north-east quadrant. The one I live within. This area had a good range of urban and natural areas. For this north-west quadrant, there’s a lot more urban areas in reality. For this RPG region, the balance needs to be more like the north-east. While also including the largest urban area of the region. The one and only city it holds.
The first thing to set out are the connections between the north-west and north-east. The road near the business park is Station Road in reality. But, as that goes outside the Halesowen postal code boundary, I’m instead changing it to be the A458. That way, it can connect to the city of this region based on Cradley. The road leading out of the town based on Halesowen then becomes Hagley Road.
For the one river that comes into the north west of the region, I felt splitting it in two would be a good idea. The River Stour in reality connects to another source rather than splitting, but with how this quadrant has been set out, I felt a longer river would be best. One that marks the southern edge of the large hill of the region. For the northern split of the river, it serves as a way to mark the world boundary around the city based on Cradley.
Speaking of that hill, there’s a lot of farmland that splits the urban area south of the A458. Thinning the closer it gets to that road. While there is a slight incline in reality, for this region I’m exaggerating it. Its placement is also different, being closer to Cradley. The size of it is also exaggerated, taking up a lot more space. Underneath the hill is a road, while pathways allow a more scenic route to the city based on Cradley. Forests outline that hill, to get around me not using contour lines.
What makes up this city of the region, then? There’s a business park on its west, along with some houses. The central area uses the road of Apperley Way, since I liked its shape. And the fact there’s a small park area which I could enlarge to fill quite a bit of the space. Even adding a lake to it. Various other roads splinter off this central area, such as those inspired by Kestrel Road and Wesley Avenue to the north, and Furlong Lane and the roads connected to it to the east.
Other parts I’ve fabricated to fill out the space, but one part not fabricated is the building of the Lime Gardens retirement village. That plus Homer Hill Park become a university complex, with a few additional buildings making it fuller. Most of that complex is north of the A458, with the rest on its south side. Wrapping around that southern side of the complex are Beecher Road and Abbey Road.
Moving away from that city, a small part of Hasbury makes the first town created for this quadrant. Placed north of the river, the town is made up of Witley Avenue, Bournes Hill, and Huntingtree Road. There’s a small park area here that I’ve also incorporated into the town, with the roads surrounding it. No lake this time, though. Some large buildings placed at the south east of the town make sure it’s not all just houses here.
The roads north of Portsdown Road in Hayley Green make up a second town attached to the road that goes through the hill. Not every road is used, but again I make sure it isn’t just houses to be found in this town. Firstly, with a few buildings at its south end that make up some form of a complex. Then one in the central area that I see being a research centre. Then there’s a building that can only be accessed by a path. A mysterious something could easily be there.
Next up is an odd one simply because of what I’ve chosen to do with it. Returning to Hasbury, I drew out three quarters of the roundabout. Then placed a building in its middle. Utilising a few of the roads south of that roundabout to fill out the town, I then proceeded to add a fair few paths around. Paths that lead out of the town in various directions. Paths that connect south of the quadrant to the north. And head to the southern quadrants, through a mix of farmland and open fields.
The last town on the south is pretty much a few roads right on the eastern border (making it close to the town based on Halesowen) using Wolverley Road and those that splinter off it. Chosen simply because they form a shape that looks similar to antlers. A lake adds to that animal likeness by forming the rest of the head. Aside from houses, there’s not much here. Though maybe one of those houses is more than it appears.
Moving up north again, there’s just one more town to talk about. Based on Hawne. Specifically, a group of houses around Fairmile Road. These are interesting in design, with large roofs despite having multiple floors to them. There’s also Harden Court, where the houses aren’t directly attached to roads. I’m exaggerating that for a town that relies little on roads. Even if the main one runs directly through it.
Just to the north of this in reality is a business park, but with one of those already close by in the northeast quadrant, I see little need for it in this town. Instead, I’m pulling something from the south of Halesowen and placing it here. The Athletics Centre. After all, it makes sense for a town that relies little on motorised transportation to be big into fitness.
As a few extra details for this quadrant that might not be fully visible, there is a second major hill on the map. Roughly in the centre of it, the forest marks the boundary of it. As does the town to the south. While not as big as the one that separates the city from the rest, it would still allow a good view of where you would be heading. In fact, it would offer quite a nice view of the quadrant as a whole.
As for the out of bounds stuff, the road leaves the city to the west. This is one of the only parts of the map where an invisible wall would be needed. Simply because it’s a road. I could easily just not have it leading out of the city, but that would be unnatural. Another out of bounds road is to the south west. That road, while not accessible from this quadrant, will lead to one on the south west quadrant.
Now, I said last time that this would be four parts. However, in planning for the southern quadrants, I feel there might be less to talk about with both. With only one major urban area, there’s still quite a bit I can use to craft other towns. Including the service station of the motorway. Which will be the only part of that motorway I use. As for when the next one of these is coming… Most likely at the beginning of next year.
Images Taken From:
Google Earth Pro
