Canon
For projects based on book locations, canon research is your foundation. Research the location in the books using your own copy and tools like A Search of Ice and Fire (opens in a new tab) to find mentions of it. Read entire chapters, not just extracted quotes. This helps you understand a location's role in key events, its relationships to other places, and the details that should shape your build.
Architectural details Martin mentions in the text are typically requirements, not suggestions. If he describes "drumtowers" or "slate roofs," your project should include them.
Analyzing implied information is encouraged too. If your location hosts feasts for a hundred, your great hall should reasonably accommodate that. If a castle is described as "impregnable," its fortifications should actually look defensible.
Generally, the larger the project, the deeper the research required. Big projects need a thorough understanding of every implication and how the build fits the map and its neighbors.
Regional Style
Every region of Westeros has a distinct architectural style. Study completed projects in your region extensively, noting block palettes, detailing approaches, roof styles, and techniques. Prioritize recently completed projects; older builds may not reflect current standards.
Regional styles are defined in-game in the Repository World, which has a full list of regional style warps.
Worldbuilding
Martin's books give sparse descriptions for most locations. Builders interpret what's written and expand on details he never specified, which means thinking through how a location actually functions within the larger world.
Key questions to consider:
- What's nearby, and what roads connect here?
- What would regional people build in this spot?
- What economic or defensive purpose does this serve?
- What does the terrain support?
- Is this on a major route or isolated?
- How does climate affect building choices?
- What resources exist, and how do people sustain themselves?
These questions help you develop locations that feel lived-in and logical rather than arbitrary. Some have already been answered at the server level, like climate patterns and regional economics, so check with the Wardens or your regional Discord channel to understand what's already established.