Prepping Planescape

[Ambrus]

If you're not aware of it already I'm sure the Planewalker project would be happy to host some of your work - http://www.planewalker.com/

I am aware of the site and wouldn't mind contributing some of my material as long as it doesn't break any copyright laws. Any idea who I should contact to make such arrangements? Do any of the site reps post on these boards?

Also, I'd like to include all of the Sigilian locations and buildings mentioned in the various Planescape adventures and supplements. Anyone know where I could find or download such a list of Sigil places and/or NPCs? If it doesn't yet exist I'll end up having to compile the list myself which will slow down my progress quite a bit. :\

The starting concept for the PCs are bounty hunters, working under the office of Lei Kung, the Duke of Thunder. They'll be sent to Sigil to apprehend their first target, and then instructed to set up shop there as more work comes their way.

My starting concept is to have the players be native Cagers all having grown up in the same small Sigilian neighborhood. My plan is to have the players play a few sessions as 1st level commoner children (perhaps two sessions as nine year olds and then 2 more as twelve year olds) to let them discover their home stomping grounds over a few years while seeing what growing up in the City of Doors was like. I describe it as Sesame Street with outsiders instead of Muppets. Depending on how they play their characters, the NPCs they meet and the choices they make they'll then be able to set up their future adventuring careers. I pitched the idea to my players and they seem receptive to it.

I'm using the faction affiliation rules that were posted on these boards, modified slightly. My setting is pre-Faction War to give me the politics I want.

I'm familiar with those affiliation rules and will most likely be using them as well. I'll also be running pre-faction war as well.

A weird thing, I'm a bit nervous to start this game up. My last campaign (Scarred Lands) was very successful and had a strong epic feel to it. I want this game to be just as good, but to have a different feel. At least I'm in a setting I'm very familiar with.

Same here; hence why I'm starting my prep work a few months in advance.

 

[Shemeska]

I am aware of the site and wouldn't mind contributing some of my material as long as it doesn't break any copyright laws. Any idea who I should contact to make such arrangements? Do any of the site reps post on these boards?

*flutters fiendish eyelashes*

Unfortunately the retouched images from In the Cage are a bit out of bounds for Planewalker to host. Otherwise we'd be happy to see any material you might contribute. Clueless would be the best person to ask about where to specifically submit various things.

*grabs a little blue gem and summons PW's webmaster*

 

[Ambrus]

Unfortunately the retouched images from In the Cage are a bit out of bounds for Planewalker to host. Otherwise we'd be happy to see any material you might contribute. Clueless would be the best person to ask about where to specifically submit various things.

I figured our resident loth might be the go-to person to speak with.

If I can't host the map I end up putting together on the site I'll probably just post some Jpegs of it here so people can get an idea of what's involved and offer to email it in PDF form to interested individuals. Heh. Maybe I should just try tackling the original 1-ft. by 7-ft. monster map I was considering.

Aside from the map I'm not certain what it is I could contribute at the moment. The only thing that comes to mind is a seventeen month philosophic calendar that I worked out a few years ago to help keep track of the passage of time across the planes. Each month is based on each of the outer planes' primary philosophy (such as 'Temperance' for the Outlands and 'Despondence' for the Gray Wastes IIRC).

 

[Ripzerai]

As for sharing ressources as I'd mentioned, I thought you guys might be interested in seeing a map of the multiverse that someone called 'Zen' posted on the planewalker.com site. It's a nicely executed composite image pieced together with art from many outer-plane supplements. This is the kind of stuff I like to find; hi-res images that look good, are free to use and were done by someone else.

Zen also made a map of Sigil that's similar to what you're talking about. It's disappeared from his DeviantArt site, but I could email you a copy.

 

[Ambrus]

Zen also made a map of Sigil that's similar to what you're talking about. It's disappeared from his DeviantArt site, but I could email you a copy.

I noticed that it had gone missing and was hoping that he'd repost it. I'd love to take a look at your copy if possible. Please email it to me at 'denis dot m dot richard at gmail dot com'. Thanks!

 

[Oryan77]

The only thing that comes to mind is a seventeen month philosophic calendar that I worked out a few years ago to help keep track of the passage of time across the planes.

I created a Sigilian calendar based off of info I found online (from mimir.net I think). I also created an image of the clock that sits in Sigil. You can find it in the link in my sig.

 

[Ambrus]

After seeing Zen's map of Sigil I'm wondering if I'm not simply wasting my time with my project. So far it's the best rendition of the city that I've ever seen, all without any skateboarding punks. I have to reconsider my strategy.

I took a look at your calendar Oryan77 and am likewise impressed with your work. I was also inspired by that same calendar on mimir.net long ago. My main problem was that it was based on the factions. Factions, Sects and their philosophies come and go in Planescape. Just following the faction war the calendar would have to be completely re-thought. It also wouldn't necessarily catch on outside the city in the planes at large since it's a bit insular. That's why I took inspiration from that original calendar and in turn devised my own version based on the outer planes themselves. Since they don't change much over the eons I figured it'd be a good basis for a popular planar calendar. Each his own however.

 

[Land Outcast]

After seeing Zen's map of Sigil I'm wondering if I'm not simply wasting my time with my project. So far it's the best rendition of the city that I've ever seen, all without any skateboarding punks. I have to reconsider my strategy.

oh... can I see? (feco77 AT gmail DOT com)

 

[Ruined]

Hmm, I wouldn't mind getting a copy of said map as well. ( ruined at that gmail place )

I need to dig around for old calendar information. I know I wrote a javascript utility to determine the 'sigil date' for my website and the mimir, but it wasn't Y2K-ready, to tell you how long ago that was. The calendar we were using was based on the outer planes with matching weather in the Outlands, and I'm fairly certain it was written by Jon of mimir.net fame.

Hey, it's still posted and apparently someone cleaned up the javascript.

http://mimir.net/outlands/calendar.shtml

 

[Ambrus]

I've been working on my map and thought those interested might like to see how it's progressing. Here are a couple of screen captures showing parts of the Lady's Ward and the Market Ward.




All in all, my map file is high-resolution and 30 inches wide by 20 inches high; it's starting to slow my poor mac down.

Since I've already put so much work into it, I've decided to complete this map as I intended and use it in my upcoming campaign. I'll also eventually begin a second map showing a top-down view of the PCs' neighborhood with each building and prominent feature illustrated. If it goes well and I'm enjoying the work I may continue to expand that map until I've mapped out the entirety of Sigil as original art. No promises about that though.