D&D General Favorite Iconic D&D Metropolis

[Vael]

1. Sharn. Eberron's vibe just really suits urban adventuring, and I like Sharn's verticality and size. I will say I want a better view of the city, a lot of maps and art doesn't really sell how the "city of towers" would work.

2. Sigil. I like Mos Eisley style campaigns where any PC species is an option, and Sigil really allows that. That said, this is an assumption, I've yet to play a Planescape campaign.

3. Waterdeep/Baldur's Gate/Neverwinter. Forgotten Realms has several major cities for campaigns and I think I like Waterdeep the most. Dunno, BG3 upended that and really showcased the city, but I've run Dragonheist so I got deep into Waterdeep's layout. And I ran a few Neverwinter adventures back in 4e. But I've played in all three and like them.

 

[Voadam]

I go with Freeport.

International maritime trade hub, former (and current) pirate base, mythos cult underbelly. Strongly themed plug and play city setting for a fantastic adventure trilogy I used as a campaign twice. Plus it was originally (in the Freeport module that started it all) fully OGC under the OGL so it canonicaly shows up in many cool OGL settings.

My preferred versions are the statless Pirate's Guide version and the absolutely sufficient setting info from the original modules, not the 3e setting book which leaned into too much farce silliness for my tastes.

Silver medal goes to Ptolus.

 

[Bohandas]

I mainly was curious about whether people prefer Greyhawk or Waterdeep, but threw in a couple others. I think Sigil is a whole (let alone City of Brass) would be better in a different category, as "non-terrestrial."

Also, Neverwinter isn't a "metropolis" - or at least not nearly on the same scale.

You mention not on the same scale as Sigil but in some versions of the canon Sigil isn't very big at all

 

[Imaro]

Going with Sigil.

 

[briggart]

Sigil. Among those listed, Sharn.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

My favorites are Radiant Citadel and Neverwinter

I don't know what the definition of "metropolis" is in a game where with very handwavy (at best) realism in terms of population, economy, etc, but both of these would fit the description of DnD Metropolis to me in the sense that they have basically everything that a DnD party will want to go do

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Sigil

 

[Tonguez]

Golden Huzuz, The City of Delights
The Rock of Braal
Freeport

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I assume "metropolis" to mean any place where you have had memorable urban adventures (that isn't homebrew), rather than having to have a ridiculously large population (irrelevant for adventuring purposes).

Of those listed, Sharn is the only one that is particularly memorable beyond "GenericFantasyCity". It's also the only one of those that has appeared in our games.

However, it's pipped as most memorable and flavourful city by Ank'Harel (as detailed in Call of the Netherdeap).

Honourable mention: Akharin Sangar (Radiant Citadel), Luskan, Baldur's Gate, Korranberg.

 

[Tonguez]

and I've just remembered that Lankhmar was a DnD city too!