CityBook (Flying Buffalo) reviews?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I see that Paizo has nearly the whole run of these up for pre-order (I guess they're waiting for a shipment of them). When we were wee brigands, my brother and I (OK, he) had the first two of these, but I've never laid hands on the rest of the series.

How are they? Are there any that stand out as particularly good or particularly bad?

My campaign group is getting excited about Ptolus, and all of their possible routes from the current campaign site to the City by the Spire will go through several other cities, and I could definitely use books to drop in bits of flavor along the way. From what I recall of the first two books, they're a great series, but it's been ... eek, 20 years or so since last I saw one.

Any opinions on them?

 

[Shadowdancer]

I own all of the original CityBooks, and they are among some of the best gaming supplements ever made. They are a must-own for anyone running an urban campaign, or a campaign that spends significant amounts of time in urban environments.

I first used them in an urban campaign I ran in the mid-80s, and the players from that campaign still talk about some of the establishments they used to frequent which were detailed in the CityBooks.

 

[andrew_kenrick]

I've heard about them before, but don't know any more - what are they? Do they cover specific cities, or aspects of cities?

 

[JoeGKushner]

They are generic locations (bars, inns, taverns, churches, gambling houses, etc...) with detailed characters using a generic set of tools to determine their abilities.

Deadly Nightshade (I think book III) was always my favorite although they all had some interesting bits to them.

It's a company that was doing 'generic' long before Green Ronin decide to make Freeport all purpose but they never sold too well. Hopefully GR can pull off a better job of it.

 

[diaglo]

I own all of the original CityBooks, and they are among some of the best gaming supplements ever made. They are a must-own for anyone running an urban campaign, or a campaign that spends significant amounts of time in urban environments.

I first used them in an urban campaign I ran in the mid-80s, and the players from that campaign still talk about some of the establishments they used to frequent which were detailed in the CityBooks.

quoted for truth and ditto the experience in using them

 

[Psion]

Any opinions on them?

I have I, III, IV, and VI. If Paizo picked up a wad, I ought to fill in my holes.

My favorites are III and IV. Some of those sites make for great adventure starters. I found some of the charaters a little too quirky, but overall it's still a good bit of inspiration... probably better than most modern city books I have seen.

 

[The_Gneech]

Deadly Nightside was awesome; the others had some good bits too.

-The Gneech

 

[neg]

I see that Paizo has nearly the whole run of these up for pre-order (I guess they're waiting for a shipment of them).

Linky linky?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Linky linky?

http://paizo.com/search?q=citybook&x.x=0&x.y=0&what=all

 

[bolen]

These were (and are) great. Packed with ideas if Pazio put in D20 stats that would be fantastic but they are very good as they are for jumping off points