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<blockquote data-quote="Warrior Poet" data-source="post: 17636" data-attributes="member: 1057">I second Barsoomcore’s suggestion about a list of NPCs.Make up a big list of names, just names, from the King (or mayor or whatever suzerain you have in place) down to a few key beggars on the street.&nbsp; The PCs will never run into everyone, but you’ll always be ready when they go off in a direction you weren’t focusing on to talk to someone you hadn’t previously detailed.&nbsp; You don’t need stats on these NPCs - how they act, their motivations, and the like, will be what you ad lib, which you will learn to do well, especially after handling a city setting for a while.To Old One’s list I would add yer basic Criminal Element™:&nbsp; a Thieves’ Guild is a marvelous thing, and a great way to generate lots of story elements:&nbsp; gambling, extortion, robbery, loansharking, smuggling, all the classics.&nbsp; Ah, there you go:&nbsp; Darklone mentioned the thieves – thumbs up.&nbsp; And maybe the Thieves’ Guild is a little miffed to find out outside agents are coming into THEIR town and putting the squeeze on someone without going through the Guild first.&nbsp; Could be an underworld rumble developing …Great city locations:Center of GovernmentWarehouse/Dock districtChurches/Temples/CathedralsSlumsMerchant rowWallsUniversity/Mage guildFavorite watering hole (let the PCs try out a few – they’ll eventually settle on one they really like)Wealthy districtTheater/Opera/AuditoriumPublic execution squareWater sourceSewersBurial areas/OssyrariumsGreat city events:Holidays/Parades/FestivalsPlague (one of the all time worst things to happen to the city)Fire (also REALLY nasty in a city, especially one where wood is the dominant building material)Economic boom and bustAnnual wererat conventionAssassinationRomanceEarthquake/Hurricane/Stunning event of natureGood luck.&nbsp; The city is an awesome adventure venue, and I mean awesome in both senses of the word:&nbsp; something inspiring awe and something very exciting.Warrior Poet</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Warrior Poet, post: 17636, member: 1057"] I second Barsoomcore’s suggestion about a list of NPCs. Make up a big list of names, just names, from the King (or mayor or whatever suzerain you have in place) down to a few key beggars on the street. The PCs will never run into everyone, but you’ll always be ready when they go off in a direction you weren’t focusing on to talk to someone you hadn’t previously detailed. You don’t need stats on these NPCs - how they act, their motivations, and the like, will be what you ad lib, which you will learn to do well, especially after handling a city setting for a while. To Old One’s list I would add yer basic Criminal Element™: a Thieves’ Guild is a marvelous thing, and a great way to generate lots of story elements: gambling, extortion, robbery, loansharking, smuggling, all the classics. Ah, there you go: Darklone mentioned the thieves – thumbs up. And maybe the Thieves’ Guild is a little miffed to find out outside agents are coming into THEIR town and putting the squeeze on someone without going through the Guild first. Could be an underworld rumble developing … Great city locations: Center of Government Warehouse/Dock district Churches/Temples/Cathedrals Slums Merchant row Walls University/Mage guild Favorite watering hole (let the PCs try out a few – they’ll eventually settle on one they really like) Wealthy district Theater/Opera/Auditorium Public execution square Water source Sewers Burial areas/Ossyrariums Great city events: Holidays/Parades/Festivals Plague (one of the all time worst things to happen to the city) Fire (also REALLY nasty in a city, especially one where wood is the dominant building material) Economic boom and bust Annual wererat convention Assassination Romance Earthquake/Hurricane/Stunning event of nature Good luck. The city is an awesome adventure venue, and I mean awesome in both senses of the word: something inspiring awe and something very exciting. Warrior Poet [/QUOTE]

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