Looking for suggestions.

[HDTVDinner]

Trying to get a PbP game running between a few friends, and in the sake of keeping everything simple, I think we are going with True20 as our system. I'm hoping to get a sort of low-magic x-files thing going in an all most historical setting. I want to see if anyone can suggest a city to set this in. I'd like to get something that could almost be found as ruins somewhere today, possibly even Victorian era, but not opposed to having some obligatory fantasy races and architecure thrown in if neccesary. I'm planning on gutting it and mainly just salvaging the city it's self, maybe some interesting npc's, any appropriate hooks I may find. I'd prefer it to be self contained so there is no need to go off traveling, and I'd really like it if it does not cost $100, Ptolus, and WLC I'm looking at you. Any Ideas? Thansk in advance!

 

[HDTVDinner]

Okay, I have pretty much decided on the victorian era. Now I just need to find a good city to set it in.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

If you can get your hands on the old 1e Lankhmar that's a good-un. Also quite liked Greyhawk City although not as much as the earlier and cheaper Lankhmar.

Or use the real Hong Kong. Get some maps of the net. Get some history books out of the library. PLenty of colourful characters to be had in Victorian times in the far east.

cheers!

 

[bento]

I've run a historical horror one-shot with True20 set in 1550s France. True20 works really well with genres that defy most rule sets.

As for setting, I'd search RPGNow and and SJGame's E23 e-commerce web site for discounted pdfs. On SJGame's you'll find many GURPS reference books that are great for running different genres.

Also check out NAGSociety web site. This site supports Terra Incognita, which is a Victorian- or Pulp-based mystery adventure RPG. You can even download a 90 page pdf overview of the game.

 

[SteelDraco]

What kind of a tone were you planning on having? The kinds of enemies and theme of the game can really affect where you want to set it.

London is the traditional choice for a Victorian-era game, and it's hard to go wrong with that, considering the wealth of material available. Boston and New York are pretty solid too - I've run very successful historical games in both of 'em. Those are, in my mind, fairly simple choices. You could run most kinds of games in any of those areas, or in most of the large cities in Europe or the US.

If you head much outside western Europe, you're going to start running into colonialism as a theme in your games, which could be good or bad. Hong Kong or Beijing might be an interesting place, considering all the political turmoil going on there at the time. If you start to throw mystical elements into some of that, things could get very complicated, very quickly. Cairo or Alexandria under (nominal) British rule might be interesting, too. Calcutta under British rule might be fun, too - by the time most Victorian games are set, the native people of India are starting to have somewhat more of a say in their own government. That way lies intrigue, especially if some of the councilors or British are rakshasa.

 

[HDTVDinner]

Awesome, thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm planning on having more of a horror bent to the game, and I'm really hoping to get a lot of use out of Lords of Maddness. All in all, I.m looking at a Victorian X-Files, with low magic, possibly humans only, strong horror themes. I want the encounters to be stuff like the Jersey devil, or the chupacabra, obviously not in loundon, but taking folk tales and local legends and giving them a very real and very alien face.