City based adventure setting?

[The Crimster]

As a change of pace, I soon may be switching off my normal "Great Heroes Who Will One Day Save The World" campaign to a "Guild Thieves Living And Working In A Single City, Striving Against Corrupt Guards, Corrupt Guilds, and Corrupt Churches".

A little bit darker than my normal campaign. Not necessarily evil - but it may brush up against the darker side once or twice.

My question is this: What would *you* recommend as a good city setting for this?

I have fond memories of the Gord the Rogue books that I read when I was much younger. The first book, primarily - when it details his rise from a street urchin to a member of a thieves guild. I want to also emulate the setting of the *great* CRPG series, 'Thief'.

The Crimster

 

[BiggusGeekus]

If you can find a copy go for "Theive's World". I have heard good things about "City State of the Invincible Overlord" but I have never read it.

... though I must confess, my favorite city setting is Glantri from the oD&D Mystara line.

 

[Desdichado]

You could always go for Sigil from Planescape: you'll probably want to either let the PCs know that as locals they don't really have a strong desire to leave the city, or restrict easy access to portals out, though.

If you've ever read the Riftwar Saga by Raymond Feist, you might want to think about something like Krondor.

 

[Dareoon Dalandrove]

One of my friends used a map of Lankmar and added all his own stuff to it. Loved the adventure. I think that all that you really need is a good city map and some cool ideas and you can have a great time. For source information I like Ravens Bluff. You can download the entire source book for free from WOTC.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Well it is not out yet but BLUFFSIDE should be released any day now. It looks like it is going to be a wonderful setting.

 

[Dispater]

My settings are also often city-based. Playing rogues in an underworld of corruption, treachery and murder is great fun.

I reccomend buying Traps & Treachery (maybe traps aren't that interesting but the first part is an interesting read).

 

[The Crimster]

Yes, I have Traps and Treachery. Nice book, helps quite a bit.

I've seen advertisements for Bluffside - but as usual, I want it *now* and it's coming out til *later*.

I have considered using maps and generating my own 'world'... But there is *so* much else that goes along with that. A lot of work. That's why I'm looking for something a little more fleshed out.

Speaking of flesh, what about one of the two city books for Scarred Lands? Mithril and Hallowfaust? I think the city of necromancers might add an interesting twist to the gritty world of thieves.

I do not have the book - how easy would it be to fit in a thieves guild war within that context?

The Crimster

 

[Desdichado]

Where's that Raven's Bluff stuff from WOTC? I'm all for a free campaign setting: I have five or six on my hard drive, even if I'll never play them.

 

[BluSponge]

city thief adventures

Troll Lord's canting crew looks like the perfect book for you. An entire city locale and loads of info on thieves and their organization.

Other than that, there are PLENTY of good city suppliments out there. You could track down older copies of Lanhkmar (sp?) or Greyhawk. Even Waterdeep and the North, if you don't mind tweaking things a bit, would work well. Bluffsides looks pretty huge.

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, check out AEG's 7th Sea and the city of Freiburg boxed set. Have the players roll up a team of Rilascre and you're in for YEARS of fun. If you don't want to learn a new system, then get the d20 adaption AEG is putting out. I think you guys will have more fun with the original system, though.

Good luck,
Tom

 

[The Crimster]

Well, I checked out Troll Lords' Canting Crew (written by The Man himself) and while it *does* look good - it doesn't come out til' November.

My group is too hungry for this to wait that long.

So perhaps I may check out Ravens Bluff and Hallowfaust...

The Crimster