City Based Campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

City Based Campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
VBakes
07-11-07, 10:10 PM Im currently designing a city based campaign, a huge city, like a couple hundred miles around. Im going to include everything from gangs, to guilds, to criminal organizations, to prominent families though at times one will seem like another. There will also be rather expansive ruins of an ancient city(complete with catacombs beneath). I was just trying to get some input and opinion from others who've tried this kind of thing before.
nameneeded
07-11-07, 10:42 PM I would recomend do not make the city to large. Keep in mind that players tend to pick and stay at one place during thier time in a city. You don't want a few days journey just to get to the market from your room.

Also it is harder to get to meet the imoprtant people of a large place. Think mayor of town vs mayor of New York.

If the city is too large it may overwhelm your group. I mean why tour it if they get what they need in one area then want to leave? Suddenly all your effort is wasted. Just like if they have to leave cause they PO'd the local law.

A city built on the ruins of a city is always fun for a lot of reasons and plot devices. So keep that.

Start with the heiarchy and work it down. That way you can tailor the city layout based on who the important people are. Its annoying to suddenly have a wealthy merchant house that has no room on you map where you need it because you built that temple.

Alot of cities have districts or areas that have common/ similar buildings. Banking centre, shopping centre, poor area, wealthy area, china towns/ racial areas where people of similar ethenticites congregate etc etc the only thing that doesn't follow this are churches. You don't see churches across the street from one another.

Don't forget the surrounding areas. Large cities are ussally port cities for example. But the area/ people around the city can influence the people inside it. A city that has always been attacked by muraders and such will have different views from one surrounded by farm fields.

Hope that helps.
MHolland
07-11-07, 11:00 PM Check out Ptolus by Monte Cook too. There is a great deal of inspiration to be found there.
VBakes
07-12-07, 07:50 AM Thankss that first one was especially helpul, and yes I will read that. So shrink it down some huh? I guess that would be a good idea its pretty expansive as is. There were some places tat I knew were too big, but I needed to fill up what I'd done as an outline.
Thanqol
07-12-07, 08:13 AM Sharn: City of Towers.

All of that done for you. If nothing else, come cannibalizable ideas.
Seeker95
07-12-07, 08:35 AM Check out Ptolus by Monte Cook too. There is a great deal of inspiration to be found there.Ditto. Although I am not as huge a fanboy of the actual adventures he uses, Monte's approach to building an urban setting is phenomenal. Too bad he's retiring.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
VBakes 07-11-07, 10:10 PM	Im currently designing a city based campaign, a huge city, like a couple hundred miles around. Im going to include everything from gangs, to guilds, to criminal organizations, to prominent families though at times one will seem like another. There will also be rather expansive ruins of an ancient city(complete with catacombs beneath). I was just trying to get some input and opinion from others who've tried this kind of thing before.
nameneeded 07-11-07, 10:42 PM	I would recomend do not make the city to large. Keep in mind that players tend to pick and stay at one place during thier time in a city. You don't want a few days journey just to get to the market from your room. Also it is harder to get to meet the imoprtant people of a large place. Think mayor of town vs mayor of New York. If the city is too large it may overwhelm your group. I mean why tour it if they get what they need in one area then want to leave? Suddenly all your effort is wasted. Just like if they have to leave cause they PO'd the local law. A city built on the ruins of a city is always fun for a lot of reasons and plot devices. So keep that. Start with the heiarchy and work it down. That way you can tailor the city layout based on who the important people are. Its annoying to suddenly have a wealthy merchant house that has no room on you map where you need it because you built that temple. Alot of cities have districts or areas that have common/ similar buildings. Banking centre, shopping centre, poor area, wealthy area, china towns/ racial areas where people of similar ethenticites congregate etc etc the only thing that doesn't follow this are churches. You don't see churches across the street from one another. Don't forget the surrounding areas. Large cities are ussally port cities for example. But the area/ people around the city can influence the people inside it. A city that has always been attacked by muraders and such will have different views from one surrounded by farm fields. Hope that helps.
MHolland 07-11-07, 11:00 PM	Check out Ptolus by Monte Cook too. There is a great deal of inspiration to be found there.
VBakes 07-12-07, 07:50 AM	Thankss that first one was especially helpul, and yes I will read that. So shrink it down some huh? I guess that would be a good idea its pretty expansive as is. There were some places tat I knew were too big, but I needed to fill up what I'd done as an outline.
Thanqol 07-12-07, 08:13 AM	Sharn: City of Towers. All of that done for you. If nothing else, come cannibalizable ideas.
Seeker95 07-12-07, 08:35 AM	Check out Ptolus by Monte Cook too. There is a great deal of inspiration to be found there.Ditto. Although I am not as huge a fanboy of the actual adventures he uses, Monte's approach to building an urban setting is phenomenal. Too bad he's retiring.