d20: Bard's Gate, I have it

[Treebore]

The Tent City map is in the book itself, but nothing to keep you from using other stuff. Heck, it is small enough that it could use dome expanding. In fact, think about putting your stuff into a word.doc and submit it for a fan download for expanding th fun to be had in the tent city.

Also remember that the 25,000 population is at the peak of trading season, I think. If I remember correctly the "constant" population of the city is 15,000. Still a little large for what the map looks like, but if I imagine them as multi-story buildings it gets believeable. I also make the assunption that Tent City gets HUGE during the peak flow periods of trade. I also assume there is a lot of population in the surroundig, city controlled, lands, such as Manors/Plantations of the rich and large/small farms.

 

[Odhanan]

Also remember that the 25,000 population is at the peak of trading season, I think. If I remember correctly the "constant" population of the city is 15,000. Still a little large for what the map looks like, but if I imagine them as multi-story buildings it gets believeable. I also make the assunption that Tent City gets HUGE during the peak flow periods of trade. I also assume there is a lot of population in the surroundig, city controlled, lands, such as Manors/Plantations of the rich and large/small farms.

Yes. I mostly agree with these assumptions. You see, I come from a universitary city called "Nancy" in Lorraine, France, and it is a bit more than 50,000 inhabitants. The city as shown on the map makes me think of less than 10,000 inhabitants, according to the maps I know of this real city and other French cities. But still, I must repeat, that doesn't affect my suspension of disbelief like it would for other readers.

 

[catsclaw227]

Also remember that the 25,000 population is at the peak of trading season, I think. If I remember correctly the "constant" population of the city is 15,000. Still a little large for what the map looks like, but if I imagine them as multi-story buildings it gets believeable. I also make the assunption that Tent City gets HUGE during the peak flow periods of trade. I also assume there is a lot of population in the surroundig, city controlled, lands, such as Manors/Plantations of the rich and large/small farms.

From the introduction on Page 5:

[sblock]Bard's Gate (Large City or Metropolis)
Conventional, Nonstandard and Magical; AL CG; 80,000 gp limit; Assets 10,000,000 gp; Population 25,000; Integrated (human 39%, halfling 8%, elf 12%, dwarf 12%, gnome 5%, half-elf 20%, half-orc 3%, other 1%).[/sblock]

Also it says the population averages 20,000 in winter and up to 35,000 in the summer when merchant caravans, adventurers, traders, mercenaries, travellers, etc visit. The average population over the whole year is 25,000.

I thought the key NPCs' class levels were a bit low, but that's easily remedied and works well for those that like low-mid level gaming (3-10).

I really liked the art, and the picture of the Bridge District on page 67 was awesome. It's an A-quality purchase, in my opinion. Now... where to put it in my Wilderlands campaign???

 

[SSquirrel]

It stacks up to being about 1/5 the price of Ptolus. Other than that I don't see how they can even be compared. Totally different "scales" of product.

$35 vs $120. Less than 1/4 actually I just asked cuz Ptolus started being kicked around in vague reference.

 

[Odhanan]

$35 vs $120. Less than 1/4 actually I just asked cuz Ptolus started being kicked around in vague reference.

This is really not in the same ball bark. I really don't want to start comparisons. Please, keep it out of comparisons.

 

[SSquirrel]

This is really not in the same ball bark. I really don't want to start comparisons. Please, keep it out of comparisons.

Hi Odhanan. Are you Nightfall? Was I asking you? No. Thanks for playing.

Ptolus is also a city book, Nightfall is the one who mentioned it in passing along with Freeport. SOMEONE out there (besides me) will always be comparing city books like this w/City State, Ptolus, Freeport, whatever b/c at their core, they are all books about a city.

I really don't care if you want comparisons or not. I'm not suggesting that a $35 product will have the same level of information etc. I was asking, if what Nightfall has seen to date for Ptolus seems worth the $120, was there an equivalent ratio of relevant info and goodes in Bard's Gate.

 

[vic20]

Nightf-

Who does the cartography?

 

[Treebore]

I don't have the book, but I believe it is Ed Bourelle.

Is Ptolus worth $120.00? Considering the page count, the full color treatment, the maps, etc... It probably is worth a $120.00. Could someone like WOTC do it cheaper? Probably, simply because they would do a larger print run and get a larger price break because of it.

All I can say is between the product itself and all the posts on Monte's boards a DM could run a campaign in and around Ptolus for years. There is a ton of fan contributions and other downloads and such, created over the last several years. Ptolus is probably going to have the deepest and richest history of any city product ever done before.

If something like that appeals to you, you'll get it if you can afford it. Me? I'm in no big hurry to get it, so if I find it somewhere at a substantial discount I'll buy it. Otherwise I'll just live with the regrets. Why am I in no big hurry to get it? Because the detailed histories of the Forgotten Realms turned me off to such detail.

Which is why I like the Wilderlands, Bards Gate, City State of the Invincible Overlord, Lost City of Barakus, etc... Material with broad brush strokes with some detail, but plenty left "open" for me to add the details I want.

I'm sure that even with all the detail I could run stuff in Ptolus that is largely "my own". Which is why I will buy it if I ever find it at a reduced price, but I am not going to rush out and pre-order or buy it immediately after it is released.

 

[vic20]

I don't have the book, but I believe it is Ed Bourelle.

Excellent! That man's work alone will make me consider a project.

 

[Treebore]

I just want to clarify I do own the book, I just don't have it in front of/with me.