D&D 5E City Watch Investigator Background

[Arial Black]

I love this background from SCAG and I'm using it for my Strahd PC. I'm picturing the fantasy equivalent of a New York City police detective.


What Faerunian cities could support such a character? What cities have the kind of city watch that would work? What special name does that city give to its watch, if any?

 

[Ancalagon]

This isn't really an answer, but this just made me realize an easy-ish way to convert warhammer PCs to D&D 5e - the career is a background...

But to give you *something*, the city of Waterdeep certainly has a significant city watch.

http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rl/20050720a

 

[Arial Black]

Cheers.

 

[pukunui]

Baldur's Gate also has a City Watch (for the Upper City only; the Lower City is policed by Flaming Fist mercenaries).

 

[cheezitmojo]

Ankh-Morpork

Edit: Sorry. Missed "Faerunian."

 

[Ancalagon]

Ankh-Morpork

Edit: Sorry. Missed "Faerunian."

Best watch EVAR

 

[mach1.9pants]

Waterdeep, Skuld, Calimport, Gheldaneth , Unthalass, Suldolphor, Bezantur, Eltabbar, Athkatla, Zazesspur and Cimbar all have over 100k populations, so I guess they all could have the requisite level of Watch. But whether they have the right culture to produce 'gumshoes'....

 

[Arial Black]

Waterdeep, Skuld, Calimport, Gheldaneth , Unthalass, Suldolphor, Bezantur, Eltabbar, Athkatla, Zazesspur and Cimbar all have over 100k populations, so I guess they all could have the requisite level of Watch. But whether they have the right culture to produce 'gumshoes'....

That's my point. Only a city with a population that can sustain a large watch could afford to have permanent specialised watch detectives. In smaller watches, any investigation would be done by ordinary watch members, because those guys have to do everything, while larger watches can have various specialised roles.

Even so, as you say, the culture of the city has to be right. If it's an evil place like Westgate, does it even have an effective watch at all? Wouldn't any attempted investigation end in either bribery or murder?

On the other end of the scale, Silverymoon may be too good! There aren't that many baddies, and the city boasts an ever-present army and many spellcasters who would use magic to solve the few crimes that would require a detective anyway.

 

[Ancalagon]

Waterdeed would have the culture I think...

 

[Arial Black]

I've decided on Baldur's Gate.

The city is split into upper- and lower-city districts. The lower city is 'policed' by a mercenary company, but the upper-city (where all the 'important' people live!) have a City Watch, mainly looking after the interests of those self-described 'important' people.

A few years ago Bhaal, the god of murder, manifested in his Chosen of Bhaal, causing others to transform into monsters and starting a night of murder and general badness. He was eventually defeated, but the emotional scars took their toll on many, including the person that would become my PC a few years later; she will be driven to solve murders and protect innocents.

Can anyone provide a clickable link to a map of Baldur's Gate, even if it's just the upper city?