So, a while back I had a setting idea:
What about a setting that was some sort of medieval coruscant?
A world of great stone towers reaching far into the sky. At the top of the tower would live the stereotypical "good guys"; mostly humans, elves & dwarves.
For added charm, the world would be a "hollow earth". If you go deep enough, you find towers going in the other direction, at the "depths" of which live the so-called evil races, like drow & tiefling. However, there would be an impracticable maze between both sides making them largely unknown to each other.
This would be a world eminently political, and lawful in appearance. Large-scale destructive magic would be banned (since it could take down a tower and kill thousands if not millions). Even open combat would be impractical, since there is always someone watching ready to report you to the authorities.
I'm also thinking of some sort of role-reversal. Average alignement would be about LN, but the top (IE top dwarves, humans elves, good races) would be largely evil, twisted by the centuries of destructive politics that have led them where they are. They have become masters of appearing good while being very, very evil.
On the other hand, the other side would be good, trapped in a constant struggle trying to keep a giant portal to the abyss in the center of the world from opening. They appear to be constantly doing evil (consorting with the demon-portal, mass sacrifices to keep the portal closed, other things TBD).
So I'm looking for ideas to flesh this world out. How would one make such a world?
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Do you know Magic the Gathering? Yes, the I mean the card game. Well, Magic actually already made this very setting, almost word for word as you describe, in it's world of Ravnica. There are some differences(the society is instead of being strictly lawful a veritable mix of law and chaos as well as good and evil, due to being ruled by a number of guilds all of whom have very different philosophies and outlooks) but the similarities are none the less many. I HIGHLY suggest you go look up Ravnica. If anything, it will serve as a good jumping-off point for your own world.
Interesting. Though I should add that the world only appears lawful (with everyone that doesnt follow the law far in hiding).
It looks similar, though the guild dynamics is something I would want to avoid. The importance of cooperation/organisation.
I wouldn't miss SHARN: CITY OF TOWERS (Eberron), too, if not for the same flavor, then for the maps and details.
I will admit that a lot of the way I have been viewing it was inspired by the french artist "François Schuiten" and the BD series "cités obscures" (dark cities). A lot of grandiose, exaggerated pre-industrial architecture.
I was thinking giant greenhouses towers (there are some current modern designs that could be adapted) & extraplanar import; don't forget, the intent is that the outside & inside of the planet have no idea they exist.