A pair of city questions... [Incl. Bluffside.]

[Terraism]

Two questions here, that are somewhat related, but... I'm going to be starting a city-based campaign with a single player sometime soon; he'll be playing some type of thief, likely a rogue/psion, and I'm looking for campaign ideas. The starting direction will be just being a thief, but as he begins gaining levels (by sixth or seventh, at the latest,) I'd like to begin involving him in more reaching events. Now, here's the questions...

First off, and less specific - does anyone know much about Bluffside, aside from what's on the reviews page? I'm really looking into ordering it for this campaign specifically - do you think it'd lend itself well? The goal is definitely 'high-magic,' and not really gritty as I understand Freeport is, so I'm thinking this is the best idea, short of making a huge city on my own over the next two weeks... I've checked the review, but I'm looking for some more 'hands on' experience... anyone?

Now, for the second point, as far as the campaign direction... what I'm hoping to do is establish a group of plotlines that are somewhat related - at least, in that they vaguely effect one another - that the player can chose to act on as he sees fit. Meaning, know ahead of time that at point "A", such a thing will happen, and if he wants to involve himself, great. Same for point "B" and "C," etc. I'm thinking some guild struggles, some political manuevering... know, once (well, if,) I get Bluffside I'll probably come up with more specifics, with more information, but for now I'm just looking for some broad arc ideas I can be dwelling on for a while. So, that said (this got longer than I'd thought, really,) I'm going to sit back and wait for the replies to roll in.

 

[Adlon]

Alritey then...

First off: GET Bluffside. Its one of the best city books I have ever seen.

What you get, besides a ton of city campaign needs, are many little plot hooks, which can and do tie together. Not all the plot hooks are what I'd call terrific, but most are very good, and useable.

I like cities. They can entwine a campaign for years, if you let it happen.

Bluffside can be as gritty, or 'clean' as you want it to be. There are different sections of the city that lend towards slightly different play. Theres also a floating city called Sordadon, which can be your 'pirate port' if you so choose.

As far as intrigue, just by reading it, you'll see lots of room for intrigue.

As for part two:
Have your rogue come from a different area, a land far off. He got caught with several other comrades, and only he got away, with the 'victim' swearing at his back that he'll get revenge.

Your rogue fenced the booty, and got passage that night on a schooner heading east, to Bluffside.

He gets off the boat, and spends several days getting to know the city (he thinks).

After a few weeks of scouting out the city, perhaps he starts his 'trade' by making night excursions.

Only problem, is, one of the local rogue guilds have taken notice of his practices, having the home field advantage.
Perhaps, they watch him, to see if he has any promise, or to see if he is a threat, as in so powerful, so as to start his own guild.

One of the guild may befriend him by day, to get his outlook on things, not revealing his true trade to your PC.

This befriending, however, is by a rogue who has successfully infiltrated one guild, while being loyal to another. This NPC is befriending your PC on behalf of one guild, all the while working for yet another guild. He's a spy. By his befriending your PC (checking him out), he looks good to the original guild, but has possibly made an ally or foe out of YOUR PC.

Acting on behalf of guild 1, he invites the PC to a 'meeting'. The NPC speaks for his coming into the guild. Now, the NPC has a friend in the guild #1, yet still, has an ally when guild #2 should call on him.

Guild #2 KNOWS of their member infiltrating Guild #1, and condoned it. After all, they want control too.

NPC asks the Guild #1 if he can work closely with the recruit, and permission is granted.

Now, the NPC has a potential front man, or lackey, and as they work together, NPC has a guy who can help him for Guild #2 business as well, while keeping the recruit in the dark about Guild #2.

Problem. Guild 1 has as well infiltrated Guild 2. They too have their spy in the 'enemy guild.

May the Guild 1 spy see the recruit doing the bidding for Guild #2?

Of course, the NPC is not around when this possibility pops up.

Hope that helped some. And thats just 2 rogue guilds. BLuffside offers SO MUCH more to use in your city campaign.

 

[Terraism]

Alritey then...

First off: GET Bluffside. Its one of the best city books I have ever seen. ...

Alright - right there is what I call a ringing declaration of the worth of a product. Anytime someone uses all caps, then it's got to be good, right? I'm definitely looking at it, and I think that from the information you've given - similar to what's in the review index on the main site, but more direct, I guess - it sounds like it'd be a good buy. Well, then, we'll just have to see.

Now, as for the rest of it - I like the idea, a great deal - I just wonder if he'd prefer his PC to come from 'outside' or be a native. Outside would be easier, I'll admit - a native should know most of the basic stuff already, I'd think. Hmm... hadn't even really thought of that, just made an assumption. Shouldn't do that, huh? Alright - so then, that's one idea, and now I've got a few more things to develop. Mainly, what I was saying earlier - 'static' events that are going on and not waiting around for the PC to trigger 'em... I think I might need to wait 'till I read the book for those, though. Thanks for some great info...

 

[annadobritt]

From Bluffside's one-person cheering section:

A top notch, number one product for city campaigns. With 7 different types of districts to choose from, not to mention Undercity, each with their own distinct personality, Bluffside: City on the Edge Sourcebook is just the product any gamer would need.

You could have your character come from one of the other locales in the Bluffside region, or come by ship to Sordadon and from there go to one of the other city districts.

Like High magic, use the Wizard's district.


You'll find plenty of hooks for the various POIs (Points of Interest) in Bluffside.

A truely excellent product.

 

[Crothian]

Bluffside is a great book and has a lot of information in it. It has a ruich history with a mystery. There are places that the city is built around, old building and haunted sites. There used to be a civilization here, but no one knows what happened to them. Currently there are many archeoligist searching and trying to solve the many mysteries.

That is just one of the many great things in this book. Another great thing is Thunderhead Games has a Vault on their web page that has maps and additional Bluffside information in it like maps and such.

And if you get this gem you can get the soon (Maybe soon I don't think we have a date set) Bluffside Netbook. It will include many new POIs of places and interesting NPCs for people to use. I'm part of the team and I can tell you that a lot of effort is being put into this. That should again be a good testimate to how good the product is. A few people are willing to give up some of their free time (and many of us have very little) to volunteer to help flesh out Bluffside.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Have to say Bluffside is the way to go. The city setting is basicly neutral so it can be dark and gritty as you want it to be or clean as you see fit, it all comes down to how you play it.

The city is broke down into 7 districts that have tons of locations and NPCs. The plus for doing this is that you can place the PC (s) in a home district based on the type of game you want to play, giving each a different flavor.

Some things to note. NPCs, Bluffsides has a lot of them. Ruins, the city is built around them. Hooks, just little notes to get the creative juices flowing, most locations have two!

At this time I am running an artifact scam game. A group of thievies have been 'seeding' the ruins with very good fake goods and gathering investors. Other games I see in Bluffside, wiz/soc war or difficulties, smuggling, and a cult.

 

[Warchild]

Two questions here, that are somewhat related, but... I'm going to be starting a city-based campaign with a single player sometime soon; he'll be playing some type of thief, likely a rogue/psion, and I'm looking for campaign ideas. The starting direction will be just being a thief, but as he begins gaining levels (by sixth or seventh, at the latest,) I'd like to begin involving him in more reaching events. Now, here's the questions...

What!!?? My review ain't enough for ya!!!?? Don't you know that i am the 400th most respected reviewer on ENWorld!!!!???

First off, and less specific - does anyone know much about Bluffside, aside from what's on the reviews page? I'm really looking into ordering it for this campaign specifically - do you think it'd lend itself well? The goal is definitely 'high-magic,' and not really gritty as I understand Freeport is, so I'm thinking this is the best idea, short of making a huge city on my own over the next two weeks... I've checked the review, but I'm looking for some more 'hands on' experience... anyone?

Seriously, folks, i really think this setting will lend itself to exactly what you are looking for. I'd say the setting fits the high-magic quite well, maybe even a bit better than my gritty preference. It really IS modular that way.
As for plug-in plots/adventure hooks that may or not interest the player, or may or may not connect to each other....well thats probably Bluffside's strongest asset! The adventure hooks that accompany each location/store/npc are so myriad its great. there a tone of one shot adventure hooks and a ton of them that can be strung together. Your only real problem is the sheer number of options the book presents. But then, thats a "happy" problem.

Ok, enough but kissing!!

 

[Hand of Evil]

Also forgot (to plug) the Vault at ThunderHead games web site. You can download maps of Bluffside, plus a few other goodies.

The maps are wonderful for importing into MS-Word and adding locations too.

 

[David Argall]

City

I doubt you can find it, but if you run into Cities, by Midkemia, and later by Chaosium, you will have a full system for running your one PC. Actually, the player hardly needs you.

 

[Terraism]

Re: City

I doubt you can find it, but if you run into Cities, by Midkemia, and later by Chaosium, you will have a full system for running your one PC. Actually, the player hardly needs you.

I've seen a copy of Cities, but it was a looong time ago (in the mind of an eighteen year old... ). I think they might have it available via their website, though... I'll take a look. Thanks.

As far as everyone elses' comments, I think I've found what I'm looking for. Bluffside it will be! Oh, and Crothian - do you guys have a website up anywhere? I think that sounds like it'd be almost as interesting...