How do you design better cities?

[Philopio]

I've been at this for quite sometime and can't figure it out. Usually I just make a 8 by 14 road rectangle and fill it with an area, but it's pretty boring. (And my cities look dead inside) Does anyone have any tips for better road placement? And also better city layout? Thanks in advance.

[Matt_ds_lasar]

I normally use the terrain and environment as a tool to help me build. I also lay down untouchable buildings (buildings you can't destroy with a road) and build road networks from their shapes. Also try to use different patterns to diversify the road layout (like drawing blocks made of an 'L' shape.)
PS I'm not sure how effective that is for traffic, so try building one way roads as well.

[yusuf8a684]

Whatch TheAn's videos they are cool

[THEMAX]

Downtown shape :
- small : 6 x 6
- medium : 8 x 8
- big : 12 x 12
- huge : 12 x 24

Residential / commercial (small buildings) / industrial shape :
- small : 4 x 4
- medium : 6 x 6
- big : 6 x 10
- huge : 8 x 14

[-LeoLeo-]

Is this (h x w) or (w x h)?

Isn't it the same? I'll will just flipped the orientation.

[Matt_ds_lasar]

Is this (h x w) or (w x h)?

Isn't it the same? I'll will just flipped the orientation.

Probably incorrect jargonI don't think so. While plots with the same width and height (eg. 4×4 and 6×6) are the equal regardless of what goes first, something like with different height and width sizes (like 6×10) isn't. If 6 units represent the height,and 10 units represent width, then the plot is longer than if it were 6 units width and 10 height (which is taller).

Also, normally width goes before height, so I assume he means w×h.

[-LeoLeo-]

...............fine, okay, as you wanted it, feel free. Aha... @Matt_ds_lasar

[TheBusinessMan]

I usually do the urban sprawl tactic basicly make a medium sized downtown then expand out into suburbs I just place bulidings one by one until I get the results I want it's really easy once you get used to it also mix buliding styles and make areas have a distinct feel from each other like a poor area to a rich area it gives your cities alot of personality went you do it

[TheBusinessMan]

And make neighborhoods have different building styles like near downtown every house is a townhouse or ya know what you think makes sense

[BoonBoi]

I dunno.

[TheDeserttFoxx]

You should watch some urban development videos, one of the thing I learned is that european cities have the most progress in this area, commertial buildings next to residential (2x2 alternating between them) reduce traffic and don't be afraid to use no cars zones (substitute the roads with pedestrian, bike, bus only, tramway and metro...), you can also use bridges to avoid intersections in the main road (it will add a new dimention and textur to the city) water ways with "Terrain"-"Asphalt" borders , don't fill the whole with building leave some blank spaces at least in the sub-urbs.
I, myself is still mastering these tips and I have to remember not to over do it a city can't have all of the above at once in the same area its to much so my goale as is yours is to put one or two features together and sprinkl it here and there in one map or even across multiple cities(maps) in your seed and mybe link them, this is as far as I know feel free to add on it and good luck to all.

[Somenamethatidk]

Definitely dont follow me, I have designing issues

[Jackattack]

I usually just make sure that all buildings aren't just connect by roads and pretty plain, I usually add creative stuff like car parks and statues and the larger building should be done with parks and lush wildlife as well as a few roads around them