City [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

City [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zen5887
10-10-07, 04:29 AM So I thorght of making a city campaign for the end of the year when the two DMs (I play two diffrent games but sort of working around the same storyline..if that makes any sence..) take a break. Two of the players are writing a sea campaign and tehy suggested we alternate week by week.

So I thorght about writing a city one. Problem is I have no idea where to start. The other times I've DMed the adventure has been made up on the spot or the night before.

I was thinking somthing along the lines of a war between two major guilds that the PCs get caught up in somehow.. Appart from that and making the city im not too sure where to go from.

Any advice in campaign writing in general would be very much appreciated

- Lachaln:)
cacheek
10-10-07, 08:57 AM I thought about this too. How about starting it with a series of murders, then go from there with the PCs investigating. It could be a vampire, werewolf, or whatever you want and you could make it involve some big conspiracy.
fodigg
10-10-07, 12:08 PM There was a D&D podcast where, I think Mearls, was describing a Dark Sun campaign that he ran once.

In this campaign, there was a city that was eternally surrounded by an impassible sand storm. Nobody is able to get in or out. Somehow, miraculously, his party stumbled into this city. The city is in the middle of a civil war. Both factions want the players to side with them, and the players want to get out of the damn city.

It sounded like a really awesome concept for an urban campaign, in that you're stuck in the city, and the ultimate goal is to escape.
Roac
10-10-07, 02:15 PM How open do you want the conflict to be? Will there be fighting in the streets similar to gang violence, or is it supposed to be a more subtle behind closed doors sort of affair with subterfuge and secrecy?
Tovec
10-18-07, 10:30 PM I think the level or intensity of the fight really depends on the DM, on their DM style. I prefer quiet espionage and big battles not open riots. I think that fights in the streets really is a different type of city and "war" then the more traditional guild-war city.

For example, I am working on a city campaign known as Dragonport. In the city there are many guilds and each basically cares for its own. There is very little in the way of a city authority not because the city couldn't but because the leader of the city cares not to try. Because of the general circumstances the guilds are always at war over territory, members, money or beliefs. There are some scuffles in the streets but they are generally broken up before too long, not wanting to incite a full city riot. Even the shops are aligned with the guilds and for this reason the mark up on items is 150%.

Alternatively you could have a super-dominated city where there are nobles controlling entire sectors and trade is limited. Or as others have said have it where the city is polarized over some issue and the party just wants to escape. All the alternatives work but it really depends on you, the DM and the players.
taradusis
10-19-07, 10:41 PM The mack bolan series by Don pendleton started witha returning war vet came back to a town that was being taken over by the Mob.So this campaign would start with a party for the heros when they get back from a war.They find out from family and freinds that the Mob has set up a brothel,and is doing loansharking,extortion,drug-dealing and gambling and is turning the old neighborhood to crap.The PCs get together to reclaim the streets?Consider using "walking tall"as well?RANDOM THOUGHTS
Absynthe_minded21
10-20-07, 01:55 PM If you're looking for ideas I recommend your local Blockbuster. Stock up on urban action movies with a vigilantte bend (Sin City, Predator 2, Leathal Weapon, Four Brothers, Bourne Identity ect)

A few good books to look into might be Neverwhere (Neil Gaimen) about half of the Discworld series (Terry Pratchet) takes place in the city of Ahnk-Morpork. Holly Black's Valiant. Laura Anne Gilman's Retriever series, or Laurell K Hamilton's Executioner series. Even Harry Potter, since Hogwarts functions much like a city in and of itself.

Also look into other games that take place in cities. Neverwinter Nights maybe, Grand Theft Auto prehaps. The first Morrowind expansion (Mournhold
I think?) is the mother of all city based games. Check out other RPGs too if you like (I'm not saying to buy them, but flip through them at your local bookstore at least) Shadowrun is hugely city based, as is Vampire. Plenty of ideas there.

Last, but far from least (and possibly the cheapest way!) read your local newspaper. Add a mystical twist and most any story can become an adventure.

Then go back and work up a list of any kind of monster that might live in a city you can find. Vampires and Werewolves are good. Giant alligators in the sewers are better.
taradusis
10-21-07, 09:28 PM Cityscape and DMG II had some good rules for city based campaigns,do you own them?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zen5887 10-10-07, 04:29 AM	So I thorght of making a city campaign for the end of the year when the two DMs (I play two diffrent games but sort of working around the same storyline..if that makes any sence..) take a break. Two of the players are writing a sea campaign and tehy suggested we alternate week by week. So I thorght about writing a city one. Problem is I have no idea where to start. The other times I've DMed the adventure has been made up on the spot or the night before. I was thinking somthing along the lines of a war between two major guilds that the PCs get caught up in somehow.. Appart from that and making the city im not too sure where to go from. Any advice in campaign writing in general would be very much appreciated - Lachaln:)
cacheek 10-10-07, 08:57 AM	I thought about this too. How about starting it with a series of murders, then go from there with the PCs investigating. It could be a vampire, werewolf, or whatever you want and you could make it involve some big conspiracy.
fodigg 10-10-07, 12:08 PM	There was a D&D podcast where, I think Mearls, was describing a Dark Sun campaign that he ran once. In this campaign, there was a city that was eternally surrounded by an impassible sand storm. Nobody is able to get in or out. Somehow, miraculously, his party stumbled into this city. The city is in the middle of a civil war. Both factions want the players to side with them, and the players want to get out of the damn city. It sounded like a really awesome concept for an urban campaign, in that you're stuck in the city, and the ultimate goal is to escape.
Roac 10-10-07, 02:15 PM	How open do you want the conflict to be? Will there be fighting in the streets similar to gang violence, or is it supposed to be a more subtle behind closed doors sort of affair with subterfuge and secrecy?
Tovec 10-18-07, 10:30 PM	I think the level or intensity of the fight really depends on the DM, on their DM style. I prefer quiet espionage and big battles not open riots. I think that fights in the streets really is a different type of city and "war" then the more traditional guild-war city. For example, I am working on a city campaign known as Dragonport. In the city there are many guilds and each basically cares for its own. There is very little in the way of a city authority not because the city couldn't but because the leader of the city cares not to try. Because of the general circumstances the guilds are always at war over territory, members, money or beliefs. There are some scuffles in the streets but they are generally broken up before too long, not wanting to incite a full city riot. Even the shops are aligned with the guilds and for this reason the mark up on items is 150%. Alternatively you could have a super-dominated city where there are nobles controlling entire sectors and trade is limited. Or as others have said have it where the city is polarized over some issue and the party just wants to escape. All the alternatives work but it really depends on you, the DM and the players.
taradusis 10-19-07, 10:41 PM	The mack bolan series by Don pendleton started witha returning war vet came back to a town that was being taken over by the Mob.So this campaign would start with a party for the heros when they get back from a war.They find out from family and freinds that the Mob has set up a brothel,and is doing loansharking,extortion,drug-dealing and gambling and is turning the old neighborhood to crap.The PCs get together to reclaim the streets?Consider using "walking tall"as well?RANDOM THOUGHTS
Absynthe_minded21 10-20-07, 01:55 PM	If you're looking for ideas I recommend your local Blockbuster. Stock up on urban action movies with a vigilantte bend (Sin City, Predator 2, Leathal Weapon, Four Brothers, Bourne Identity ect) A few good books to look into might be Neverwhere (Neil Gaimen) about half of the Discworld series (Terry Pratchet) takes place in the city of Ahnk-Morpork. Holly Black's Valiant. Laura Anne Gilman's Retriever series, or Laurell K Hamilton's Executioner series. Even Harry Potter, since Hogwarts functions much like a city in and of itself. Also look into other games that take place in cities. Neverwinter Nights maybe, Grand Theft Auto prehaps. The first Morrowind expansion (Mournhold I think?) is the mother of all city based games. Check out other RPGs too if you like (I'm not saying to buy them, but flip through them at your local bookstore at least) Shadowrun is hugely city based, as is Vampire. Plenty of ideas there. Last, but far from least (and possibly the cheapest way!) read your local newspaper. Add a mystical twist and most any story can become an adventure. Then go back and work up a list of any kind of monster that might live in a city you can find. Vampires and Werewolves are good. Giant alligators in the sewers are better.
taradusis 10-21-07, 09:28 PM	Cityscape and DMG II had some good rules for city based campaigns,do you own them?