However, I have no idea of how relatively wealthy the Concords are. I mean, sure, Platinum Concord is really freaking rich. But, that's really vague. Would a Copper member be like a local merchant, a Silver member a merchant guildsman, a Gold member an international guildsman, and a Platinum member....um....something bigger?
Discuss.
Reading the Aurum hierarchy paragraph in the ECG:
Copper: minor-guildmasters, influential bureaucrats and wealthy, crime lords...
Silver: merchant princes, famed personages and low-ranking members of dragonmarked houses...
Gold and Platinum: scions of noble houses, dragonmarked houses leaders, continent-wide crime lords...
It seems to me that climbing from Gold to Platinum (or falling) is more about internal Aurum politics as both of those concords are the same in wealth status.
Edit: Sooooooo.....I guess this is a thread about the Aurum in general, now.......
That mention of continent-wide crime lords. Who exactly are those? In the other thread asking about crime-lords, we've all pretty much come to the conclusion that crime-bosses and mafias are pretty much city-specific.
We know the Boromors are really powerful in Sharn, but that's about it. Has there ever been a mention of a Khorvaire-wide crime syndicate? Not that I recall.... And I wouldn't count something the the Order of the Emerald Claw because they obstensibly aren't in crime for the business of crime. Crime is a means to an end for them....
Have I just missed these? Because it seems like a great way to take a noir gritty mystery/crime-solving Heroic campaign starting in Sharn into the Paragon tier and traveling to multiple cities to bring down a huge crime network.
I've always found the Aurum to be the least-appealing villian group to use, but connecting this thread and another asking about crime syndicates has made a thought occur to me.
That mention of continent-wide crime lords. Who exactly are those? In the other thread asking about crime-lords, we've all pretty much come to the conclusion that crime-bosses and mafias are pretty much city-specific.
We know the Boromors are really powerful in Sharn, but that's about it. Has there ever been a mention of a Khorvaire-wide crime syndicate? Not that I recall.... And I wouldn't count something the the Order of the Emerald Claw because they obstensibly aren't in crime for the business of crime. Crime is a means to an end for them....
Have I just missed these? Because it seems like a great way to take a noir gritty mystery/crime-solving Heroic campaign starting in Sharn into the Paragon tier and traveling to multiple cities to bring down a huge crime network.
In Forge of War (IIRC) there was mention of 'The Black...Network' (or maybe Road or something like that), which was a continent wide smuggling ring. Though I think it is / was more of a loose alliance of syndicates than a full-blown organisation itself.
However, AR, if the idea of a continent-wide crime syndicate appeals to you, run with it! You can either create something akin to S.P.E.C.T.R.E., or tie in another, existing organization as what is actually behind it.
My go-to for this would be the Dreaming Dark or Lords of Dust, seeking to influence mortal actions towards various actions to fulfill the Prophecy or whatnot.
Oh, and also, AR, I have traditionally found the Aurum to be not that interesting either. I've historically preferred the Emerald Claw; I mean, Nazis with zombies? How cool is that? In my current campaign, though......wait.....I will not reveal anything! They could be watching! I've already said too much!
I believe it was The Black Highway, and yes, I interprited them as a continent-wide but loosely-affiliated smuggling network.
However, AR, if the idea of a continent-wide crime syndicate appeals to you, run with it! You can either create something akin to S.P.E.C.T.R.E., or tie in another, existing organization as what is actually behind it.
My go-to for this would be the Dreaming Dark or Lords of Dust, seeking to influence mortal actions towards various actions to fulfill the Prophecy or whatnot.
Oh, and also, AR, I have traditionally found the Aurum to be not that interesting either. I've historically preferred the Emerald Claw; I mean, Nazis with zombies? How cool is that? In my current campaign, though......wait.....I will not reveal anything! They could be watching! I've already said too much!
I'll have to take a closer look at Forge of War then. I think I ended up skimming that one and not really getting into it cause I don't remember anything about the Black Highway.
What appeals to me about a continent-wide crime syndicate with a singular Crime Lord is that it ISN'T backed by the Dreaming Dark or the Lords of Dust.
Don't get me wrong, I *love* those guys. Typical supernatural threats like that are my mainstay at higher-levels. But the idea of a "mundane" crime syndicate threat in the paragon tier, backed by the Aurum, intruiges me. Suddenly I might have some use for these guys.
Even if they don't have any nazi zombies.
Even if they don't have any nazi zombies.
*cackle*
What appeals to me about a continent-wide crime syndicate with a singular Crime Lord is that it ISN'T backed by the Dreaming Dark or the Lords of Dust.
Don't get me wrong, I *love* those guys. Typical supernatural threats like that are my mainstay at higher-levels. But the idea of a "mundane" crime syndicate threat in the paragon tier, backed by the Aurum, intruiges me. Suddenly I might have some use for these guys.
Well, if you come up with something, please tell us. One of the things I love about Eberron is that its so open that you can trim and expand to your taste. Hell, in the game I'm running, there are no Lords of Dust or Chamber. But, the world continues on.