Union in your game

[arntof]

I have used Union quite a bit in my epic campaign.

Yes, in some ways Union was a sub-Sigil(I also used Sigil, and most of the old Planescape), but my players seemed to like Union more, mostly. They had a house in Sigil, but they mostly preferred to go to Union for some reason. Some was the superior merchants there with epic magic(like Suplindh from ELH), but also the organisations there. The organisations(which several of my players allied somewhat with) were quite different from Sigil`s factions, as they wouldn`t oppose each other directly that much, they were far more interested in other things.

Union worked well for me, and I can`t see what the problem with it is.

 

[Mystery Man]

For adventure, I choose Sigil, but Union probably has a Orange Julius

Thier premium smoothies, I must say are fit for an epic level character.

 

[Tharian]

I never attempted to use Union in any campaign as it never really grabbed my attention the way Sigil did. Then again, I was really enamored with all the flavor text from the Planescape setting that a few short paragraphs from the ELH simply could not compete.

I think, though, like something else I just read, it might work to use it as a city at the base of the Spire (with lots of tweaking, mind you) to serve as the site where the Gods meet with little to no magic powers available. How would that affect the various abilities the different classes gather along the way, though? I'll have to ponder that one for a bit.

 

[I'm A Banana]

The organisations(which several of my players allied somewhat with) were quite different from Sigil`s factions, as they wouldn`t oppose each other directly that much, they were far more interested in other things.

Maybe you should elaborate on this point. Interested in other things? Where? How? What did they do?

The concept of an epic-level city never did gel with me, and it is, in part, due to the 25th-level poopsmiths running around doing mundane daily tasks with the wish spell. However, if those organizations provided that 25th level poopsmith with a reason for being there, I might not have such a problem with that. I didn't read the organizations in any real detail, but perhaps you could show me what I'm missing?

 

[Oryan77]

A guy my friend knew once who worked with a guy that was best friends with a woman who's daughters best friends dad's golf partner was Monte Cook said that Monte talked about how they originally had Sigil as a solid mass rather than a donut or tire shape. They decided they needed to cut out the rediculous parts of Sigil so they removed the center ward which was called the Lame Ward. Then 3e came along and wanted to put the donuts center back in Sigil but they knew we'd complain. They decided to make the Lame Ward it's own city, but figured the name wouldn't make sense so they called it Onion because the center ward was shaped like an onion. It was a typo that happened over & over again that led to the name we know it as...Union.

I believe it too; no one in their right mind would actually approve of a city like that in a planar game on purpose.

Well, you asked for my opinion of it as a setting

 

[arntof]

Union organisations

Well, these aren`t really much in opposition to each other. When the Planar Cartographic Society wants to map it all, few would argue against it, even the factions of Planescape. Granted, this might be seen as something the Guvners would want to do, but the specialised exploration-aspect of the PCS make it far more appealing. You do not have to accept a full philosophy of law as the members of that faction does, and "adopt" its enemies. Some of my players greatly enjoyed this freedom of being a Surveyor.

The Garrote appeals alot to more evil-aligned characters, as they are given access to magnificent epic-level secret "poison" like mortu, and the like.

The Gleaners are one of the best adventure hooks I have for epic-level characters. The obsession with artifacts make them very interesting in two ways:
1) Making players involved with direct artifact-hunting at many planes.
2) Allow players to actually BORROW artifacts from their Penultimate Vault.

The Godkissed are also nice for adventure ideas, but really..this is not really anything but a recipe for disaster, as the various factions here squabble so much. A society like this, with few (if any at all, that is) set goals makes it appeal little to many of my players (and I`d imagine to few others, too).

Those are just few examples, but generally it is easier to subscribe to one of these(at least for my players) than huge set (Sigil-based)factions encompassing not only most planes (which can be a good thing), but also a wide range of opinions and political sympathies, in many cases. Even a member of the freedom-loving faction Free League in Sigil can`t be said to have true freedom, as they will almost automatically become enemies of factions like the Harmonium.

Most of the organisations based in Union would even accept members from multiple other organisations.


It has been said many times that the idea of an "epic" city is ridiculous and laughable. I can`t agree with this. Yes, the vast majority of Union is still not "epic"-level, but the idea that it is a city for such characters makes it attract such characters from all worlds, making the organisations there stronger and more succesful.

The organisations of Union is what makes the city work to me. Yes, a huge marketplace is nice, but can`t cater to the needs of epic characters(or any campaign with them) by itself (even if made to be the only place in the multiverse that can potentially sell +7 swords).

And...SOME epic characters do like to work even as Union Sentinels in their time between adventures, as long as they get the flexible spare time to actually partake in such ventures. The position as a Sentinel is a truly honourable one in Union, but also potentially in many other worlds. I`ve noticed that these Sentinels are what most people vehemently attack the city for on these boards

 

[Aaron L]

Never used it, never will. I like the idea of an interplanar trading city, but Union was just ridiculous and bland.

 

[Psion]

Never used it, never will. I like the idea of an interplanar trading city, but Union was just ridiculous and bland.

Hear hear!

I knew that the book lost touch with what "Epic" means when there are characters with 18th level bards for groupies and warriors that should be at the heads of armies and nations for the town guard.

 

[I'm A Banana]

It has been said many times that the idea of an "epic" city is ridiculous and laughable. I can`t agree with this. Yes, the vast majority of Union is still not "epic"-level, but the idea that it is a city for such characters makes it attract such characters from all worlds, making the organisations there stronger and more succesful.

Part of the appeal of Epic Levels is their precieved rarity in the campaign and uniqueness, I think. If everyone is epic, then, really, no one is -- it's just like the last 20 levels, just with bigger numbers.

It turns me off in the way, say, an interplanar Hall of Justice or somesuch wouldn't. An entire town for Epic seems to mean that Epic isn't all that Epic after all.

I mean, why does the Planar Cartographic Society need Union? Why shouldn't they just be an organization in Sigil that tends to attract powerful characters?

 

[Aaron L]

Interplanar Hall of Justice?


Yeah, I've got that