Building your 4E Setting? Want Help? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

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#1 VampyresThrenody Apr 13, 2008 17:46:04	I was tempted to post this in the similarly named thread but figured it was off topic and thus a bit cruel to put in. Anyway, I've got some spare time and figure others may too and wonder if anyone wants help making/building/getting ideas for their new 4E world! This could be anything from something as broad as "hey give me an idea of a god of X" to something as small as what's a good description for a typical mercenary weapon in this country? You can of course link your various wikis/threads/etc's on your settings so that things can fit well. Just don't expect too much reading :P I also figured that I could get help in the same department in return, I hope! Anyway, I'll start off: District 11 I need ideas for a unique district of this partially ruined city. Quick summary of necessary background: 1,000 year old city of stone, recently re-discovered and now in use. The city is made up of 40 districts. I need ideas for a former park or residential housing area. Not sure what I'm looking for I suppose...a dungeon, a place to colonize, a unique culture or such that has 'evolved' there in reclusion? I'm shot for anything, hopefully someone can encourage my imagination with ideas I can steal >.>
#2 smerg Apr 13, 2008 18:29:05	Gamma World and Metamorphis Alpha are good places to start with the idea of the cut off colony. If different blocks of the city have different ideas and themes then you could look at some of the shows that feature world hopping themes like; Sliders SG-1 (including things like Atlantis) Sci-Fi shows like Star Trek (and derivatives) have usually a new idea featured every week. You can also open the Atlas or look up some news stories and find some fun ideas. The world is filled with countries of various types and manerisms. Choose one as the base and apply a thin veneer of fantasy paint to adapt to the new world. Many groups in the real world would make fantastic ideas for odd societies in a 'block'. Furries - people that try to imitate animal behaviours and dress as animals. I saw a CSI episode on people that like being dressed up and treated as horses by others that keep them as stables. News of the Utah group that is polygamist could make for an interesting fantasy society. Consider the Society for Creative Anachornism which in a fantasy society could be a group that regularly practices at beating each other up with play swords but actually posses no real weapons that do damage. Murder Myster Theatre could be the source of an idea for a group of people that like to solve murder mysteries. They compete among themselves to develop the best mystery. The hook is that they like using real people for the corpses and need to collect people for 'stiffs'. Lovecraft has plenty of good societies that you might choose to lift. Innswich is a town that harbours a secret cult that has for many years been mating with monsters (the movie Dagon is a good way to get the feel). Another way to think of things is to look at a big major city and choose a piece of it to 'go rogue' and figure out what might happen. A city zoo would become a minature culture of animals hunting and killing (see Jurasic Park for the dino version). A prison would become a very depraved society (see Prison Break second season). Escape from New York and L.A., along with Block 13, are also good movie material of this sort. Jonney Mnemonic has a society living in a bridge that they have fortified like a castle. Okay, I hope these suggestions help get you started.
#3 VampyresThrenody Apr 13, 2008 18:40:43	I could only wish that I had enough city to use more of these! I think I'll have to write up a few and then figure out which one to choose, may allow the PCs to make the choice. Murder Myster Theatre could be the source of an idea for a group of people that like to solve murder mysteries. They compete among themselves to develop the best mystery. The hook is that they like using real people for the corpses and need to collect people for 'stiffs'. This actually fits quite well into one of the factions of the city. They are degenerate nobles who regularly perform strange sexual acts, drug use and assassination. A 'club' like this would fit in very well. Also, the idea on the city zoo I will most likely use for the mysterious District 11. I suppose I was looking less for culture and more for geography/building/etc but whatever I was looking for I believe I found it..will edit this later to include what I come up with. Here's the start: Cevilla Park A weed covered arch covers the entranceway into this once gentle park. It states Cevilla Park in the ancient language of the city. Within the now barricaded doors lies a land that no one wants to walk through. Unfortunately, it lies between one faction and an important resource. Last Thoughts of the Famed Hunter Gygin Vance: Show A quivering in the bushes to my left was the only warning before a large, furry creature of fangs and claws jumped out and tackled me to the ground. I could hear the shouts of the other huntsmen with me as our prey finally surfaced. Unfortunately, this cat was currently trying to disembowel me. I rolled with the tackle and tossed the beast onto its back, drawing my sabre as I did so. “A thousand gold for this skin, they say!” I shouted these words as I rushed at the creature, swinging my blade left then right hoping to distract it. It wasn’t interested. I swear it even smiled at my shout as if it knew what I was saying, but that isn’t possible, is it? Is it? With a sound like a dog being burnt alive by malicious children the beast let forth a chilling roar and ran at me. It leapt over my head and crashed into the men I had brought along, tearing them apart. I turned to engage it only to see the last wisp of its tail disappear into the brush once again. Six men lay in a large pile before me. Three seconds, that was all it had taken. Three damned seconds. I walked over to Phil, or maybe it was Jack? I’ wasn’t quite sure anymore. His face was gone, replaced with seeping claw wounds that made you realize how easily flesh peeled from muscle. ****. I moved past their bodies and walked into the brush. Death embrace me or grant me reprieve. I wonder if I’d ever make it out?
#4 sigil_beguiler Apr 13, 2008 20:07:21	Once we get Druids in PHB2 I could see them playing a important role within Cevilla Park. I could see a secretive society of Druids who embellish both the aspect of wilderness ferocity but also human control that once existed over this wilderness in the form of the zoo. They would be a force feared by both animals and men, these Druids seem inhuman as they always seem to shift and warp slightly; their animalistic side bubbling too the surface. The animals fear them, for these Druids do not see themselves as living in-tune with nature, no rather they wish to dominate and control nature. Experimentation, mutilation, and animal sacrifices on the creatures that now inhabit Cevilla Park (perhaps they are the reason behind some of the more unusual animals to inhabit it). They have lost most of their humanity and act out violently to any parties of humans that tread into their territory.
#5 gaelic_hero Apr 13, 2008 21:41:08	Once we get Druids in PHB2 Once we get them in PHB2? Why don't they put that stuff in the PHB1 and make life easy? Fricken WOTC, planning PHB2 before PHB1 is even out....
#6 sigil_beguiler Apr 13, 2008 21:47:21	Once we get them in PHB2? Why don't they put that stuff in the PHB1 and make life easy? Fricken WOTC, planning PHB2 before PHB1 is even out.... Well don't want to go too off-topic, but I actually prefer them dividing it up. It means each class, race, etc. has more time and pages devoted to it so they can be more balanced, more thought out, have more powers, options, etc. in it then if they were all thrown into one book. Quality vs. Quantity as it were. Back to Topic: With the park, have you considered having sewers play a role. While you do say the park is walled off, are the sewers also? You could have all manner of creatures running around in the sewers (as well as foliage) that could randomly pop-up in the city itself.
#7 bad_mike Apr 13, 2008 22:53:46	This actually fits quite well into one of the factions of the city. They are degenerate nobles who regularly perform strange sexual acts, drug use and assassination. A 'club' like this would fit in very well. I suppose I was looking less for culture and more for geography/building/etc but whatever I was looking for I believe I found it..will edit this later to include what I come up with. If you're looking for more city geography/buildings, then one idea that might fit in well with your faction of degenerate nobles would be a gladiatorial arena. Picture a sprawling, open stadium constructed with raised levels of seats from which the nobles watch the fights in comfort. On the ground level (and on a lower catacomb level) are kept slaves and monsters, along with the trainers' quarters and various equipment rooms. The shape of the stadium is semi-circular, and the flat side of this half-moon shape is actually an outer wall of a massive palace belonging to one of the wealthiest noble families. They and their honored guests watch the fights from the best seats in the house: an overhanging terrace jutting out over the floor of the arena.
#8 VampyresThrenody Apr 14, 2008 16:24:29	Sigil: The bit about the druids is interesting, and I may have to use it come PHB2. I actually completely forgot about the sewers and so, most likely, would the nearby factions. I could make that a good plot hook. "Well four people died from a strange plant thing again...can you look into this?" Mike: The gladiator arena would work well. Not only would they be using slaves, but duels could be held there since it is both legal and a highly public event. Thanks for the ideas guys!

Post/Author/DateTime

Post

VampyresThrenody

Apr 13, 2008 17:46:04

I was tempted to post this in the similarly named thread but figured it was off topic and thus a bit cruel to put in. Anyway, I've got some spare time and figure others may too and wonder if anyone wants help making/building/getting ideas for their new 4E world!

This could be anything from something as broad as "hey give me an idea of a god of X" to something as small as what's a good description for a typical mercenary weapon in this country? You can of course link your various wikis/threads/etc's on your settings so that things can fit well. Just don't expect too much reading :P

I also figured that I could get help in the same department in return, I hope!

Anyway, I'll start off:

District 11
I need ideas for a unique district of this partially ruined city. Quick summary of necessary background: 1,000 year old city of stone, recently re-discovered and now in use. The city is made up of 40 districts. I need ideas for a former park or residential housing area. Not sure what I'm looking for I suppose...a dungeon, a place to colonize, a unique culture or such that has 'evolved' there in reclusion? I'm shot for anything, hopefully someone can encourage my imagination with ideas I can steal >.>

smerg

Apr 13, 2008 18:29:05

Gamma World and Metamorphis Alpha are good places to start with the idea of the cut off colony.

If different blocks of the city have different ideas and themes then you could look at some of the shows that feature world hopping themes like;

Sliders
SG-1 (including things like Atlantis)
Sci-Fi shows like Star Trek (and derivatives) have usually a new idea featured every week.

You can also open the Atlas or look up some news stories and find some fun ideas.

The world is filled with countries of various types and manerisms. Choose one as the base and apply a thin veneer of fantasy paint to adapt to the new world.

Many groups in the real world would make fantastic ideas for odd societies in a 'block'.

Furries - people that try to imitate animal behaviours and dress as animals.

I saw a CSI episode on people that like being dressed up and treated as horses by others that keep them as stables.

News of the Utah group that is polygamist could make for an interesting fantasy society.

Consider the Society for Creative Anachornism which in a fantasy society could be a group that regularly practices at beating each other up with play swords but actually posses no real weapons that do damage.

Murder Myster Theatre could be the source of an idea for a group of people that like to solve murder mysteries. They compete among themselves to develop the best mystery. The hook is that they like using real people for the corpses and need to collect people for 'stiffs'.

Lovecraft has plenty of good societies that you might choose to lift. Innswich is a town that harbours a secret cult that has for many years been mating with monsters (the movie Dagon is a good way to get the feel).

Another way to think of things is to look at a big major city and choose a piece of it to 'go rogue' and figure out what might happen.

A city zoo would become a minature culture of animals hunting and killing (see Jurasic Park for the dino version).

A prison would become a very depraved society (see Prison Break second season). Escape from New York and L.A., along with Block 13, are also good movie material of this sort.

Jonney Mnemonic has a society living in a bridge that they have fortified like a castle.

Okay, I hope these suggestions help get you started.

VampyresThrenody

Apr 13, 2008 18:40:43

I could only wish that I had enough city to use more of these!

I think I'll have to write up a few and then figure out which one to choose, may allow the PCs to make the choice.

Murder Myster Theatre could be the source of an idea for a group of people that like to solve murder mysteries. They compete among themselves to develop the best mystery. The hook is that they like using real people for the corpses and need to collect people for 'stiffs'.

This actually fits quite well into one of the factions of the city. They are degenerate nobles who regularly perform strange sexual acts, drug use and assassination. A 'club' like this would fit in very well.

Also, the idea on the city zoo I will most likely use for the mysterious District 11.

I suppose I was looking less for culture and more for geography/building/etc but whatever I was looking for I believe I found it..will edit this later to include what I come up with.

Here's the start:
Cevilla Park
A weed covered arch covers the entranceway into this once gentle park. It states Cevilla Park in the ancient language of the city. Within the now barricaded doors lies a land that no one wants to walk through. Unfortunately, it lies between one faction and an important resource.

Last Thoughts of the Famed Hunter Gygin Vance:

Show

A quivering in the bushes to my left was the only warning before a large, furry creature of fangs and claws jumped out and tackled me to the ground. I could hear the shouts of the other huntsmen with me as our prey finally surfaced. Unfortunately, this cat was currently trying to disembowel me.

I rolled with the tackle and tossed the beast onto its back, drawing my sabre as I did so. “A thousand gold for this skin, they say!” I shouted these words as I rushed at the creature, swinging my blade left then right hoping to distract it. It wasn’t interested. I swear it even smiled at my shout as if it knew what I was saying, but that isn’t possible, is it? Is it?

With a sound like a dog being burnt alive by malicious children the beast let forth a chilling roar and ran at me. It leapt over my head and crashed into the men I had brought along, tearing them apart. I turned to engage it only to see the last wisp of its tail disappear into the brush once again. Six men lay in a large pile before me. Three seconds, that was all it had taken. Three damned seconds.

I walked over to Phil, or maybe it was Jack? I’ wasn’t quite sure anymore. His face was gone, replaced with seeping claw wounds that made you realize how easily flesh peeled from muscle. ****. I moved past their bodies and walked into the brush. Death embrace me or grant me reprieve. I wonder if I’d ever make it out?

sigil_beguiler

Apr 13, 2008 20:07:21

Once we get Druids in PHB2 I could see them playing a important role within Cevilla Park.

I could see a secretive society of Druids who embellish both the aspect of wilderness ferocity but also human control that once existed over this wilderness in the form of the zoo.

They would be a force feared by both animals and men, these Druids seem inhuman as they always seem to shift and warp slightly; their animalistic side bubbling too the surface.

The animals fear them, for these Druids do not see themselves as living in-tune with nature, no rather they wish to dominate and control nature. Experimentation, mutilation, and animal sacrifices on the creatures that now inhabit Cevilla Park (perhaps they are the reason behind some of the more unusual animals to inhabit it).

They have lost most of their humanity and act out violently to any parties of humans that tread into their territory.

gaelic_hero

Apr 13, 2008 21:41:08

Once we get Druids in PHB2

Once we get them in PHB2? Why don't they put that stuff in the PHB1 and make life easy? Fricken WOTC, planning PHB2 before PHB1 is even out....

sigil_beguiler

Apr 13, 2008 21:47:21

Once we get them in PHB2? Why don't they put that stuff in the PHB1 and make life easy? Fricken WOTC, planning PHB2 before PHB1 is even out....

Well don't want to go too off-topic, but I actually prefer them dividing it up. It means each class, race, etc. has more time and pages devoted to it so they can be more balanced, more thought out, have more powers, options, etc. in it then if they were all thrown into one book. Quality vs. Quantity as it were.

Back to Topic:

With the park, have you considered having sewers play a role. While you do say the park is walled off, are the sewers also? You could have all manner of creatures running around in the sewers (as well as foliage) that could randomly pop-up in the city itself.

bad_mike

Apr 13, 2008 22:53:46

This actually fits quite well into one of the factions of the city. They are degenerate nobles who regularly perform strange sexual acts, drug use and assassination. A 'club' like this would fit in very well.

I suppose I was looking less for culture and more for geography/building/etc but whatever I was looking for I believe I found it..will edit this later to include what I come up with.

If you're looking for more city geography/buildings, then one idea that might fit in well with your faction of degenerate nobles would be a gladiatorial arena.

Picture a sprawling, open stadium constructed with raised levels of seats from which the nobles watch the fights in comfort. On the ground level (and on a lower catacomb level) are kept slaves and monsters, along with the trainers' quarters and various equipment rooms. The shape of the stadium is semi-circular, and the flat side of this half-moon shape is actually an outer wall of a massive palace belonging to one of the wealthiest noble families. They and their honored guests watch the fights from the best seats in the house: an overhanging terrace jutting out over the floor of the arena.

VampyresThrenody

Apr 14, 2008 16:24:29

Sigil: The bit about the druids is interesting, and I may have to use it come PHB2. I actually completely forgot about the sewers and so, most likely, would the nearby factions. I could make that a good plot hook. "Well four people died from a strange plant thing again...can you look into this?"

Mike: The gladiator arena would work well. Not only would they be using slaves, but duels could be held there since it is both legal and a highly public event.

Thanks for the ideas guys!