City Supplements - What do we like?

[Fenris-77]

Which brings up where the upper limits are for the PC’s.

< rambling thoughts >
How much is that is determined by the genre of the urban setting?

(D&D frame of reference)
So, if “Urbanite” were a character class, what are the class features available to the character? How do those class features interact with the urban setting in a way that makes the class worth bothering with?
Likewise with a “Builder” character class.

Any specialized downtime options available for the character classes?

If becoming Mayor is a possibility, what’s that worth in the game’s setting?

Which iconic NPC’s have impenetrable plot armor?
< /rambling thoughts >

I think backgrounds are a much better design space to connect PCs to the urban environment. It doesn't take much, just a few connections to the factions and setting stuff and some evocative gear. Here's one I did for my new book. This is for Shadowdark, so I'm going a fair bit beyond the backgrounds in the core book (which are just one word), but the details and connections matter for urban play.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Which brings up where the upper limits are for the PC’s.

< rambling thoughts >
How much is that is determined by the genre of the urban setting?

(D&D frame of reference)
So, if “Urbanite” were a character class, what are the class features available to the character? How do those class features interact with the urban setting in a way that makes the class worth bothering with?
Likewise with a “Builder” character class.

Any specialized downtime options available for the character classes?

If becoming Mayor is a possibility, what’s that worth in the game’s setting?

Which iconic NPC’s have impenetrable plot armor?
< /rambling thoughts >

I think all that's the determination of the GM and the style of game everyone wants to play. Is replacing the mayor an achievable goal? Would the rest of the group be okay with one of the PCs suddenly having that degree of authority and responsibilty?

I've moved away from D&D and its published campaigns, so I have fewer, if any, "load-bearing NPCs" to worry about, and that's very freeing. I don't believe in plot armor. If someone in my Cyberpunk Red campaign decides they want to off a particular NPC, they're welcome to try. Now, whether that NPC has the resources to make that a virtual impossibility is another question.

 

[Brendan Byrd]

I think backgrounds are a much better design space to connect PCs to the urban environment. It doesn't take much, just a few connections to the factions and setting stuff and some evocative gear. Here's one I did for my new book. This is for Shadowdark, so I'm going a fair bit beyond the backgrounds in the core book (which are just one word), but the details and connections matter for urban play.

View attachment 430289

I like it.
Specific to your Ink Maker: is there Tattoo artist background?

Humour alert:
If there are Forgers, add that in 5pt. text?

 

[Fenris-77]

I like it.
Specific to your Ink Maker: is there Tattoo artist background?

No, but that's a great idea.

 

[Voadam]

Making space for the PC's actions to matter is an important part of a setting book. Having dozens of plots and schemes without the ability for the PCs to get involved is just as bad as just having nothing to do there.

I'd say it is more to have things that can involve the PCs rather than to necessarily have the PCs' actions matter to the things. Being a soldier in a big war involves a PC even if the PCs might not be able to be determinative to the course of the war.

I agree you generally want to avoid things where NPCs are the big damn heroes and the PCs just watch as the climax of an adventure, but I think the setting material focus should be more on what would be fun for the players to be involved in or to have as a backdrop than to focus principally on what they can change through their actions.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think backgrounds are a much better design space to connect PCs to the urban environment. It doesn't take much, just a few connections to the factions and setting stuff and some evocative gear.

I really lean on character backgrounds in my Shadowdark games. Adding more of those is a great way to customize a setting.

 

[darkbard]

I think backgrounds are a much better design space to connect PCs to the urban environment. It doesn't take much, just a few connections to the factions and setting stuff and some evocative gear. Here's one I did for my new book. This is for Shadowdark, so I'm going a fair bit beyond the backgrounds in the core book (which are just one word), but the details and connections matter for urban play.

View attachment 430289

I like it. Pretty much the Stonetop approach to Gear.