The Urban Arcana book seems to leave alot of license to the GM, but is also a bit confusing because of that. I have looked at some of the downloadable modules that include Urban Arcana (actually most of the settings included more fantasy elements) and the adventures in the back of the book. The book describes the Shadow as something on the fringe that most "mundanes" are not aware of. At the same time it describes and has lots of pictures of very conspicuous Shadow creatures in Modern society, such as the Bugbear police officer.
When I try to think of ways to include these Shadow creatures it seems extremely hard to have them exist without being known to society.
Then the book goes on to describe organizations and characters including these minotaur twins that were in the juvenile justive and foster care systems. This reflects a much different theme than in the earlier parts of the books where Shadow is described.
I am interested to hear from people that have used urban Arcana. Which route did you take? Was it all Harry Potter with ignorant Muggles and aware Wizards, or was it more X-men with mutants and normies living together and aware of eachother (or at leats semi-aware)?
Most of the "monstrous" apearance descriptions are what a shadowtouched character would see.
What you have to remember, is that mundanes don't actually see a bugbear police officer, or a pair of minotaurs, they see a normal police officer, perhaps with a body hair problem, or a pair of large, beefy bidyguards, with some personal hygene issues. Shadow creatures don't look much different than anyone else to mundanes, perhaps a bit more brutish, or a bit larger perhaps, but not outside of the normal variances in human appearance.
Most of the "monstrous" apearance descriptions are what a shadowtouched character would see.
Red is correct. Mundanes don't see creatures for what they are in UA. In my Urban Arcana campaign a very rare genetic trait in humans gave them the ability to see the creature's real appearance. Without guidance most of those who have the trait end up in asylums under heavy sedation. But the few who are recruited in time by a secret organisation are trained to become shadow trakers similar to MIB. Any creature that goes rogue ro becomes harmfull to humans is to capture and detained or killed if uncontrolable.
What you have to remember, is that mundanes don't actually see a bugbear police officer, or a pair of minotaurs, they see a normal police officer, perhaps with a body hair problem, or a pair of large, beefy bidyguards, with some personal hygene issues. Shadow creatures don't look much different than anyone else to mundanes, perhaps a bit more brutish, or a bit larger perhaps, but not outside of the normal variances in human appearance.
Most of the "monstrous" apearance descriptions are what a shadowtouched character would see.
Red is correct. Mundanes don't see creatures for what they are in UA. In my Urban Arcana campaign a very rare genetic trait in humans gave them the ability to see the creature's real appearance. Without guidance most of those who have the trait end up in asylums under heavy sedation. But the few who are recruited in time by a secret organisation are trained to become shadow trakers similar to MIB. Any creature that goes rogue ro becomes harmfull to humans is to capture and detained or killed if uncontrolable.
And then, of course, there's always Special Unit 2....
What you have to remember, is that mundanes don't actually see a bugbear police officer, or a pair of minotaurs, they see a normal police officer, perhaps with a body hair problem, or a pair of large, beefy bidyguards, with some personal hygene issues. Shadow creatures don't look much different than anyone else to mundanes, perhaps a bit more brutish, or a bit larger perhaps, but not outside of the normal variances in human appearance.
Most of the "monstrous" apearance descriptions are what a shadowtouched character would see.
Red is correct. Mundanes don't see creatures for what they are in UA. In my Urban Arcana campaign a very rare genetic trait in humans gave them the ability to see the creature's real appearance. Without guidance most of those who have the trait end up in asylums under heavy sedation. But the few who are recruited in time by a secret organisation are trained to become shadow trakers similar to MIB. Any creature that goes rogue ro becomes harmfull to humans is to capture and detained or killed if uncontrolable.
And then, of course, there's always Special Unit 2....
I loved that show. I consider it a good day when the sci-fy channel chooses it for it's morning marathon. Karl the gnome is pure win.
I loved that show. I consider it a good day when the sci-fy channel chooses it for it's morning marathon. Karl the gnome is pure win.
Who knew a gnome would figure out the most spectacular way to kill a dragon? xD
How about Sanctuary?
okay! Special Unit 2, that's great one.
How about Sanctuary?
I liked it. Didn't love it, but I liked it. I should mention that I find the notion of Amanda Tapping with a british accent quite alluring; but it wasn't enough to keep bringing me back to the show.
okay! Special Unit 2, that's great one.
How about Sanctuary?
I liked it. Didn't love it, but I liked it. I should mention that I find the notion of Amanda Tapping with a british accent quite alluring; but it wasn't enough to keep bringing me back to the show.
oh my, yes, me too.Sanctuary, to me, seems like a somewhat more serious version of Special Unit 2, only focusing on saving the Links (or whatever they call them) instead of going after the Link-criminals.
Either way, those 3 shows (Dresden Files, Special Unit 2, and Sanctuary) are good references on how to handle Mundane/Shadow interaction in different campaign styles, and I'm sure there's more out there.
What you have to remember, is that mundanes don't actually see a bugbear police officer, or a pair of minotaurs, they see a normal police officer, perhaps with a body hair problem, or a pair of large, beefy bidyguards, with some personal hygene issues. Shadow creatures don't look much different than anyone else to mundanes, perhaps a bit more brutish, or a bit larger perhaps, but not outside of the normal variances in human appearance.
Most of the "monstrous" apearance descriptions are what a shadowtouched character would see.
Oh, I didn't see the difference between mundanes and the heroes as so drastic. Maybe the book and scenarios weren't as conflicting as I thought they were.
I do agree that keeping things secret from the mundanes otherwise would be quite a task, but it feels way too convenient to me still.
Sure they dissapear when they die, but what happens when they are arrested, fingerprinted, and/or DNA tested? Why do they bother with wrapping up in so much clothes in the descriptions I've read to obscure themselves? What happens if a fully undiguised orc, kobold or troll is interacting with a mundane? Wouldn't large sized trolls, ogres and etc be painfully obvious they aren't "just a little odd looking", and even if they were there would be physical limitations they couldn't hide like struggling through doorways. What happens when really mundanes see monstrous non-humanoids come into the picture such as a dragon? A castle appears out of nowhere? They interact with a bag of holding or some other strange magic object?
I agree that this premise would probably make the setting alot easier to run, but it seems a lot less plausible. yes I am aware that I am talking about a fantasy-drenched Modern game, but still.
I was toying with having this be the start of a new era of Shadow meaning that there has been spike in Shadow activity. The group comes across shadow in their normal job and are contacted by an organization that observes and regulates Shadow to recruit them. The Shadow are largely underground and on the fringwe of society. Shadow humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes and halflings (and assorted half-breeds) can live among the mundanes very easily.One of the overarching thing beyond my scenarios would be a once powerful wizard that is just beginning to reach his old limits of power within the confines of this new world. He is trying to either make it so that the era never ends and/or increase the connection from the Shadow world to ours.
But all that said their are big barriers for me right now. The Shadow creatures are noticeably genetically different from regular humans. What to do in the inevitable cases where Shadow creatures are seen (or want to be seen).
I love Dresden Files and it has tons of great ideas for an Urban Arcana setting. If you want to take Stormwrath's suggestion, you might want to check out Monte Cook's World of Darkness. His idea is pretty much the premise behind the campaign, although the supernatural still have a little more subtle presence due to government cover ups and such.
Probably my favorite idea from the Dresden Files is the pseudo-Latin used for the spells. Not because there is power in the words, but because the words help the wizard focus their power. As a writer, I find this a delicious notion that lets you liberally "borrow" from any language you want, without the constant accusations of "That's not actually Latin." I must confess great respect for those who actually do use real foreign languages as part of character's spell-work though. The author of the manga Mahou Sensei Negima, Ken Akamatsu (also wrote Love Hina), uses Japanese, Latin, Greek, and even Egyptian Hieratic for spell-work. I'd love to have that kind of reference library.