Good Ideas for a city? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Good Ideas for a city? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
esuom
02-09-08, 10:45 PM I am lookign to creat a city for my players to play around in. Rather then making thme go off into some dungeons or in the the dark woods, they will be exploring the different aspects of my city.

What i wanted to knos was some good ideas or plots that i cna have them get into. The main characters are probly going to be both rogue or fighter or one of each, not sure. Also some other characters that would go good in city campaigns.

Any books out there that focus strictly on city games that i cna look at.

Just ned some ideas to get thsi campaing going.

Thanks
ElfWord
02-09-08, 10:50 PM Cityscape focuses on urban campaigns and creating a city-based campaign world. Dungeon Master's Guide II also includes a full write-up of the city of Saltmarsh, which I'm using for my own campaign now.
psylo
02-11-08, 07:55 PM some suggestions for things to think about in the city. A city is a multifaceted world in all of itself. One thing I did when working on this is sit in the mall or other social gathering spot. See how different people interact when they are in this. How do the shop keepers interact when they are not working and how does each group interact with each other.

While for the most part alot has changed from the era that we are playing dnd for the most part not a whole lot has really changed in how different social groups work together.

groups to think about and some things to keep in mind

Food Source
Money
protection
manufacturing
reason for the city
why would the players find interest in this city

that and fights on roof tops are great fun
Anuvrix
02-12-08, 10:09 AM The capital of a nation in one of my campaigns covered hundreds of square miles. There were entire secions of older city that are "uninhabited".
The ist has a pop of 13million, but can hold over 30.

Many old organizations and such squabble through the city, and the deepest parts (near the capitol building) are empty but for seedier characters who shouldnt be there.
yellowdingo
02-14-08, 10:00 PM Fights on roof tops are great fun.

Even more fun if you are in the Old Quarter where the mudbrick homes are all roof accessed and the population is on the roof with you.
Alexeduardo
02-15-08, 08:25 PM One thing I did when working on this is sit in the mall or other social gathering spot. See how different people interact when they are in this. How do the shop keepers interact when they are not working and how does each group interact with each other.

try not to look creepy though...

How about:
Something like Venesia or Tenochtitlan, in which the whole city is built on water

A city in which the people adore the ruling criminal organization and would be willing to go into rebellion for the capo

Something carved into a mountain (got the idea from a little obscure indy book)

A city tht's actually just a tower! (god, I'm an effing genius!)
Orchomenos
02-18-08, 02:02 PM Something like Venesia or Tenochtitlan, in which the whole city is built on water

Many cities follow this pattern.
Nouvelle-Orlean (actually built lower than sea-level, the sea is held by a dam)
Amsterdam (similar as above, many windmills help pumping the water away)
St. Petersburgh (built in a river delta)

Something carved into a mountain (got the idea from a little obscure indy book)

*caugh* Moria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_%28Middle-earth%29)*caugh*:P

A city tht's actually just a tower! (god, I'm an effing genius!)

Or as New York in Fifth Element (and other dystopias), a city composed of many towers, linked by bridges, and the bottom being completely polluted by whatever...
GoriceXII
02-18-08, 03:05 PM I recommend going to lythia.com; it is for Harn but I've found it's one of the best sources of creating ordinary people, from knights to blacksmiths to farmers, since it has many different villages, towns and even city blocks that you can download for free and make use of. Excellent artists and writers btw.

I also recommend this for figuring things out:

1. Who runs the town? Make this simple and direct at first--is it a council of merchants? A prince? a temple of some kind?

2. who defends the town? is it mercenaries? the city's aristocracy? a citizens' militia?

3. Who runs crime? A standard type thieves' guild, various corrupt guilds, or what?

4. What basic alignment is the city?

5. What kind of religion exists? Is this simply religion based on popular beliefs or is it integral to the success of the city? (for example in my setting the gods worshipped actually affect commerce, crafts, defense, healing, food, etc)

6. Where is the city? what kind of climate, environment?

7. Who lives there? Are they mostly human, or something else?

8. How powerful are npc characters in the city? How well known are they, and what effect do they have on the city?

9. Does the city have enemies, rivals?

10. Are there monsters of some kind in the city or near it?

I also recommend checking out paizo.com and seeing if any of the Dungeon magazines have writeups for cities you might find interesting. Examples include:
Scuttlecove (as a chaotic and evil city)
Sasserine (as a typical neutral and intrigue ridden city)
Cauldron (similar except in a VERY exotic location)
Exag, City of Clay (an oddly chaotic-neutral city again in a rather exotic place)

Game material cities you can outright buy might include:
Sanctuary (for Thieves' World; the book is large and very comprehensive)
Shadizar (for Conan D20, fairly well developed though a lot of it is fluff along with character templates)
Messantia (for Conan D20; more of the same)
theblindman
02-19-08, 08:33 PM Over the summer of 2006 I ran a D&D blog called dmmemoirs, on which I almost completed a city-building exercise from the dice up. (with complete explanations for each table and aspect) Reading through it gives you a good example of how a city evolves organically over time, how each aspect that grabs the PCs is an offshoot from some other entry you've made. The most important aspect of a city are the characters, the movers-and-shakers that inhabit it, and the connections between them. As you work up a story around each one, the rest of the city springs up almost instantaneously.

The city is called Hopedelve, a mining town on the frontiers of a barbarian wilderness.

City Building Part I: The Tables (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/04/city-building-part-i.html)
City Building Part II: The Constable (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/05/city-building-part-ii-constable-tenipa.html)
City Building Part III: The Poison Maker (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/05/city-building-part-iii-paisley.html)
City Building Part IV: The Master of Disguise (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/05/city-building-part-iv-orunak-jerred.html)
City Building Part V: The Baron (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/06/city-building-part-v-baron-thorvaine.html)
City Building Part VI: The Advisor (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/06/city-building-part-vi-oriole-alabaster.html)

Once you have a good idea of who is in the city, you can decide what is in it. Make sure you have a variety of environments the PCs can play around in. Plazas, markets, riverbanks, mage towers, castles, dungeons, sewers, shady alleys, etc.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
esuom 02-09-08, 10:45 PM	I am lookign to creat a city for my players to play around in. Rather then making thme go off into some dungeons or in the the dark woods, they will be exploring the different aspects of my city. What i wanted to knos was some good ideas or plots that i cna have them get into. The main characters are probly going to be both rogue or fighter or one of each, not sure. Also some other characters that would go good in city campaigns. Any books out there that focus strictly on city games that i cna look at. Just ned some ideas to get thsi campaing going. Thanks
ElfWord 02-09-08, 10:50 PM	Cityscape focuses on urban campaigns and creating a city-based campaign world. Dungeon Master's Guide II also includes a full write-up of the city of Saltmarsh, which I'm using for my own campaign now.
psylo 02-11-08, 07:55 PM	some suggestions for things to think about in the city. A city is a multifaceted world in all of itself. One thing I did when working on this is sit in the mall or other social gathering spot. See how different people interact when they are in this. How do the shop keepers interact when they are not working and how does each group interact with each other. While for the most part alot has changed from the era that we are playing dnd for the most part not a whole lot has really changed in how different social groups work together. groups to think about and some things to keep in mind Food Source Money protection manufacturing reason for the city why would the players find interest in this city that and fights on roof tops are great fun
Anuvrix 02-12-08, 10:09 AM	The capital of a nation in one of my campaigns covered hundreds of square miles. There were entire secions of older city that are "uninhabited". The ist has a pop of 13million, but can hold over 30. Many old organizations and such squabble through the city, and the deepest parts (near the capitol building) are empty but for seedier characters who shouldnt be there.
yellowdingo 02-14-08, 10:00 PM	Fights on roof tops are great fun. Even more fun if you are in the Old Quarter where the mudbrick homes are all roof accessed and the population is on the roof with you.
Alexeduardo 02-15-08, 08:25 PM	One thing I did when working on this is sit in the mall or other social gathering spot. See how different people interact when they are in this. How do the shop keepers interact when they are not working and how does each group interact with each other. try not to look creepy though... How about: Something like Venesia or Tenochtitlan, in which the whole city is built on water A city in which the people adore the ruling criminal organization and would be willing to go into rebellion for the capo Something carved into a mountain (got the idea from a little obscure indy book) A city tht's actually just a tower! (god, I'm an effing genius!)
Orchomenos 02-18-08, 02:02 PM	Something like Venesia or Tenochtitlan, in which the whole city is built on water Many cities follow this pattern. Nouvelle-Orlean (actually built lower than sea-level, the sea is held by a dam) Amsterdam (similar as above, many windmills help pumping the water away) St. Petersburgh (built in a river delta) Something carved into a mountain (got the idea from a little obscure indy book) caugh Moria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moria_%28Middle-earth%29)caugh:P A city tht's actually just a tower! (god, I'm an effing genius!) Or as New York in Fifth Element (and other dystopias), a city composed of many towers, linked by bridges, and the bottom being completely polluted by whatever...
GoriceXII 02-18-08, 03:05 PM	I recommend going to lythia.com; it is for Harn but I've found it's one of the best sources of creating ordinary people, from knights to blacksmiths to farmers, since it has many different villages, towns and even city blocks that you can download for free and make use of. Excellent artists and writers btw. I also recommend this for figuring things out: 1. Who runs the town? Make this simple and direct at first--is it a council of merchants? A prince? a temple of some kind? 2. who defends the town? is it mercenaries? the city's aristocracy? a citizens' militia? 3. Who runs crime? A standard type thieves' guild, various corrupt guilds, or what? 4. What basic alignment is the city? 5. What kind of religion exists? Is this simply religion based on popular beliefs or is it integral to the success of the city? (for example in my setting the gods worshipped actually affect commerce, crafts, defense, healing, food, etc) 6. Where is the city? what kind of climate, environment? 7. Who lives there? Are they mostly human, or something else? 8. How powerful are npc characters in the city? How well known are they, and what effect do they have on the city? 9. Does the city have enemies, rivals? 10. Are there monsters of some kind in the city or near it? I also recommend checking out paizo.com and seeing if any of the Dungeon magazines have writeups for cities you might find interesting. Examples include: Scuttlecove (as a chaotic and evil city) Sasserine (as a typical neutral and intrigue ridden city) Cauldron (similar except in a VERY exotic location) Exag, City of Clay (an oddly chaotic-neutral city again in a rather exotic place) Game material cities you can outright buy might include: Sanctuary (for Thieves' World; the book is large and very comprehensive) Shadizar (for Conan D20, fairly well developed though a lot of it is fluff along with character templates) Messantia (for Conan D20; more of the same)
theblindman 02-19-08, 08:33 PM	Over the summer of 2006 I ran a D&D blog called dmmemoirs, on which I almost completed a city-building exercise from the dice up. (with complete explanations for each table and aspect) Reading through it gives you a good example of how a city evolves organically over time, how each aspect that grabs the PCs is an offshoot from some other entry you've made. The most important aspect of a city are the characters, the movers-and-shakers that inhabit it, and the connections between them. As you work up a story around each one, the rest of the city springs up almost instantaneously. The city is called Hopedelve, a mining town on the frontiers of a barbarian wilderness. City Building Part I: The Tables (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/04/city-building-part-i.html) City Building Part II: The Constable (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/05/city-building-part-ii-constable-tenipa.html) City Building Part III: The Poison Maker (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/05/city-building-part-iii-paisley.html) City Building Part IV: The Master of Disguise (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/05/city-building-part-iv-orunak-jerred.html) City Building Part V: The Baron (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/06/city-building-part-v-baron-thorvaine.html) City Building Part VI: The Advisor (http://dungeonmastermemoirs.blogspot.com/2006/06/city-building-part-vi-oriole-alabaster.html) Once you have a good idea of who is in the city, you can decide what is in it. Make sure you have a variety of environments the PCs can play around in. Plazas, markets, riverbanks, mage towers, castles, dungeons, sewers, shady alleys, etc.