(Alright, this is an enormous topic. In some ways it is all encompassing. Consequently, I'm going to try to start with the basics and move into other areas in subsequent posts when I feel like it ; ) On with the show.)
Alright, so you've got your story idea and decided where you want to set it (right?). Now we need to think about the impacts that setting have on civilization. In the modern world (especially the US), we tend to forget that not all things are available to all people. In fact, the limitations that place put on people is often a dominant factor in the power that one group has over its neighbors. For a good run through on this idea in the real world, read Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond.
The placement of any population (human or otherwise) is predicated on the availability of required resources. The basics are, of course, food and fresh water (meaning not salt water). Other considerations include defensibility, trade routes, mineral resources, and so on. All put together, they should answer the question, "Why did they put that there?"
What do your people eat? Remember, the potato was first imported to Europe some 400 years ago. Pasta came to Italy a bit earlier, but still after Charlemagne. If we think about the diet of our communities, it will lead to a fuller understanding about how this society functions. Do we import everything? That'll get expensive. Anyway, how do we preserve things? If we want flour, we need to grind the grain. Do we have a mill? So there is a mill; how do we turn the stone? Do we use flowing water, windmill, a large barbarian? Evolving our characters' diets can lead to the evolution of our economies, skylines and moralities.
Fresh water is a resource that seems abundant to most people. The truth is that most surface water (rivers, streams, ponds, etc.) near human settlements is not exactly the healthiest to drink. This is due in large part to us befouling the waters with our own wastes (fecal and otherwise), but still water in general is a great breeding ground for bacteria and other teeny creatures that like to feast on your entrails (damn it, I'm not a doctor). You might tell me that you'll just dig a well. This is a perfectly reasonable answer for a source of fresh water in certain areas, though you can certainly contaminate them too. It will be a bit more troublesome near the ocean where there may be issues with no fresh water (some islands collect rainwater) or salt water intrusion in your city's aquifer (http://kanat.jsc.vsc.edu/student/spatafora/setup.htm). Mountains can be difficult for a variety of reasons depending on your rock type. Getting into geology and soil science isn't the goal here, but just remember that civilizations stay in a given place for a reason. If it's hard to get fresh water, there better be a damn good reason.
Alright, that's enough to think about for now. It's a good place to start at least. Remember, as a Fantasy setting, of course you can always give your cast everything they need, but limitations encourage creativity from you and your characters.
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