How would you make an Epic city?

[Tonguez]

The Floating City of El-Damasq IMC might qualify as near-Epic. The City is inhabited by a powerful golden skinned psionic race (the Iskandrya) who are both psionically and techno-magically advanced (including the ability to have a city levitate on powerful repulsion feild which also acts as a force feild). The Iskandrya military rides Firedrakes, they possess air ships, often host dragons and Lamussa and one new technology they are testing is Warp Gates to link them to other dimensions and planes. One dimension they have contacted is the world of Talos the inhabitants of which have flesh of organic metal.

300 ft below in the shadow of Al-Damasq is the Low City of Darmeśeq. Inhabited by humans and other 'normal' races, Darmeseq benefits from the enlightened rule of the Iskandrya and the innovations they have allowed including vast Hydroponic Gardens which supply Darmeśeq all its needs. Darmeseq has Golems protectors at each of its eight corners and is famed for its Academies of Learning from which come many powerful Mages, Priests and Psychic Warriors

 

[Lord Pendragon]

For me, an epic city wouldn't be mortal. The only mortals who reach epic levels, IMC, are the PCs. At that point, an "epic city" they might encounter would be the City of Brass. Or the Seven Heavens of Mount Celestia. Where the inhabitants are djinn, angels, demons, etc.

I find the idea of an epic mortal city that works just like any other city--except that everything is +20 levels--unappealing.

 

[green slime]

Yes, in my mind, an Epic city is that because of its size, its fame, its history, rather than being entirely populated with 21st level Commoners.

Epic level challenges are found in the city, but far from all challenges are epic.

For those seeking such a city, you would have to look beyond the realms of humans. City of Brass was an excellent example. But a city full of Giants, would also be epic, with most inhabitants near epic.

 

[Quartz]

On the other hand, epic people are still people. They have wives, husbands, children friends, etc who are likely not epic. So you want a significant Epic base in your city? Simply up the expected levels. That corporal is 4th level, not 2nd, the sergeant is 8th level, not 4-6th. The King's Champion is going to be level 30+, and his sparring partners are going to be level 25+. The tutor in the school of wizardry is 15th level or so, not 9th or so and the apprentices of the master of the school are low-level epic, while the master is level 30+. Plebs are still going to be plebs, but you've just expanded the playing range.

 

[paradox42]

I sort of touched on this in said thread. As I said there, I see a city policed by Golems of great power modelled after Klatuu of "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

I'm sorry, but as a stickler for accuracy and a fan of that movie, seeing this for the second time has moved me to act. The robot's name in that movie was not Klaatu; Klaatu was the alien guy. The robot's name is Gort.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

[Psion]

I'm sorry, but as a stickler for accuracy and a fan of that movie, seeing this for the second time has moved me to act. The robot's name in that movie was not Klaatu; Klaatu was the alien guy. The robot's name is Gort.

 

[kigmatzomat]

It's epic-Mordor rather than epic-Myth Drannor.

Nice! That also nicely fits the setting into the standard D&D scheme of things: "Oh, you want to know what's the toughest stuff around to go fight? Here, on the map."

Yeah. It helps that it's a city more or less surrounded by a volcano. It's fiscally viable only because it is at one of the narrowest places between the eastern and western seas, so cargo is transported by ship to Sanction, hauled by wagons across the volcanic region, and then put in ships on the other side. It's significantly cheaper and faster than sailing all the way around the continent or transporting across land.

That's the real kicker; epic cities (all cities really) need to have a real reason to exist. No one, except the red dragons and some of the other fire-type creatures, would willingly live in Sanction if they had another choice. Because of the money to be made, however, each of the major merchant houses keeps staff there and are willing to pay the high costs for servants, various services, supplies, and all the things that make a city viable.

The fact that the air varies between unpleasant and down right toxic, the ambient temperature can far exceed 100F and I have a wonderfully viable place where 1HD creatures tend to die from the environment. It's like Dark Sun but with more opportunities to get rich.

 

[Sandain]

Imagine this if you will...

A great party of hero's travel the multi-verse fighting evil, killing things, and taking thier stuff. They get to Epic levels and now have land and unimaginable wealth.

The level 25 Fighter decides to semi retire and live in one of his many castles in some obscure and usettled part of a prime world.

His followers and cohorts (level 15-20) come with him. The party cleric summons a few things and overnight builds a temple. The Wizard does the same and creates a tower near the keep.

The rogue and ranger and bard all live in the keep for now. People come to vist the great epic hero's mainly asking for help, a few to look for work.

An army of 2000 Orc's take offence to these hero's living in thier territory and attack the keep. 18 seconds later all Orc's are dead.

Peasants the world over here about this, and knowning there is land available, and the protection of the hero's flock to move there.

In a few years there are farms and a village. The priest and cleric and bard are happy to summon elementals and control the weather to make life easier for the peasants. The Fighter is so rich he doesnt bother taxing the farmers or villagers.

Over the next few years tens of thousands of people come, including those who seek to apprectice themselves, train with, or become cohorts of the hero's.

Over the next 100 years it develops into a city, our hero's are basically immortal and leave the management of the city to thier cohorts and an army of constructs. The city is crime free, the Rogue sees to that. Any attack is met with overwhelming epic power - so even the stupid orcs dont even bother. An occasional dragon tries to take the city's wealth - but all are defeated.

The hero's regularly hold tournaments and trial of champion type events - adventurers are welcome in this city as almost everything is avilable here. Other adventurers retire here, so they arnt constantly asked for help from thier own kingdoms, and they can enjoy hanging out with like minded individuals.

This is my version of an Epic city.

 

[RisnDevil]

It's epic-Mordor rather than epic-Myth Drannor.

Nice! That also nicely fits the setting into the standard D&D scheme of things: "Oh, you want to know what's the toughest stuff around to go fight? Here, on the map."

Forgive my ignorance, but I am not sure I grasp what you mean, most specifically the first post. What do you mean by epic-Mordor as opposed to Epic-Myth Drannor?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Union is one of the many, many reasons that I have no interest in Epic games.

The Auld Grump, a city is a city, it may have one or two Epic characters, but the great bulk of the populace will be just plain folks.