What Should a Large City Have?
Harlequin
First Post
...
I N T R I G U E
Ive always thought that when characters walk into a city there should be a sense of Mystery and History and a sense of wonder...
If im just going to walk into a city and use it to cash in magic items, covert my gems to cold hard cash, have an ale at the local inn and maybe a brawl or too before getting kicked out of the city would kind of cheapen the experience...
When i walk into a city i want to know its history, why its here, who is in power (how i can get my hands on some
) who to make alliances with, who to be wary of, etc etc
I like the politics and power stuggles of officials running a city, i like the characters to be involved in that (leads to many possible adventure scenarios) i like the city to be a wonderous place where no matter how many times the characters return, there is always something different, some new political struggle going on that the characters always manage to get intangled in
Harlequin
I N T R I G U E
Ive always thought that when characters walk into a city there should be a sense of Mystery and History and a sense of wonder...
If im just going to walk into a city and use it to cash in magic items, covert my gems to cold hard cash, have an ale at the local inn and maybe a brawl or too before getting kicked out of the city would kind of cheapen the experience...
When i walk into a city i want to know its history, why its here, who is in power (how i can get my hands on some
) who to make alliances with, who to be wary of, etc etcI like the politics and power stuggles of officials running a city, i like the characters to be involved in that (leads to many possible adventure scenarios) i like the city to be a wonderous place where no matter how many times the characters return, there is always something different, some new political struggle going on that the characters always manage to get intangled in
Harlequin
Haggar the Horrible
First Post
Posters be warned! The size each segment is not the feint of heart (or the feint of internet connectivity as well).
Deadguy
First Post
City as a Character
I will agree with Harlequin that, if a city is to become a long term element of the campaign, then it needs a good background story. In many ways you need to treat the city as though it were an important NPC.
- It needs a History. It needn't be a blow by blow account of every event ever, but at least a broad sweep of its role. Why was it first built? Has it ever been conquered? Has its role changed over the years (e.g. a market town developing into an industrial centre, or a port dominating the locality and becoming a de facto regional capital)? What races have been involved in the history of the city? What landmarks are a result of that history (c.f. Arc de Triomphe in Paris, a victory marker, or Colosseum in Rome)? What are the local land features (c.f. the Seven Hills of Rome, or the Castle Rock in Edinburgh)?
- Current Attributes: Who appears to control it and who really controls it? What are its interests? Do its activities mark the city (a port is obvious, but an industrial town might need a special layout)? What races now live there and how do they relate (this links back to their history)? What religious groups are represented in the city, and how do they influenced it? Likewise what role does arcane magic and its practitioners have? How is the underworld organised (there doesn't have to be a single, monolithic Thieves' Guild, there can be many different gangs, or something in-between, or even a totally fractured structure)? What forms of entertainment are available (from the usual, to fantastical things like hippogriff racing or skyship battles!)? What materials is the city built from (very much a function of the local area - it doesn't just have to be wood and stone; brick or even something stranger like a magical plant or natural caves)?
- Quirks: these are the things that help set the city apart when describing it to players. Things like a peculiar dress code (e.g. people wear masks when outside their own homes), city festivals (marking significant events in the history or role of the place), peculair odours (e.g. the prevalence of perfumers means the air smells of roses), regular activities that are noticeable (e.g. regular chiming of a gong in honour of the king), peculiar locales (e.g. a blood fountain, or a haunted gallows), unusual folk (e.g. a guild of beast-blooded streetsweepers). These are definitely worth working on, as they will stick in your players' minds.
It sounds like a lot of work! But the xity can grow organically as you use it (don't be afraid to make things up - just note them down and work them into the setting formally between times!). And, of course, real world history is replete with colour that can be added to your own cities (just think of an event like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, or the history of the Christian Church in Rome). Never forget that even in a gritty, low fantasy setting, that it is still fantasy, so don't sweat oddities and remember to include the fantastical, otherwise you're really just playing Mediaeval Ages: the Sickness!
And, of course, have fun...
I will agree with Harlequin that, if a city is to become a long term element of the campaign, then it needs a good background story. In many ways you need to treat the city as though it were an important NPC.
- It needs a History. It needn't be a blow by blow account of every event ever, but at least a broad sweep of its role. Why was it first built? Has it ever been conquered? Has its role changed over the years (e.g. a market town developing into an industrial centre, or a port dominating the locality and becoming a de facto regional capital)? What races have been involved in the history of the city? What landmarks are a result of that history (c.f. Arc de Triomphe in Paris, a victory marker, or Colosseum in Rome)? What are the local land features (c.f. the Seven Hills of Rome, or the Castle Rock in Edinburgh)?
- Current Attributes: Who appears to control it and who really controls it? What are its interests? Do its activities mark the city (a port is obvious, but an industrial town might need a special layout)? What races now live there and how do they relate (this links back to their history)? What religious groups are represented in the city, and how do they influenced it? Likewise what role does arcane magic and its practitioners have? How is the underworld organised (there doesn't have to be a single, monolithic Thieves' Guild, there can be many different gangs, or something in-between, or even a totally fractured structure)? What forms of entertainment are available (from the usual, to fantastical things like hippogriff racing or skyship battles!)? What materials is the city built from (very much a function of the local area - it doesn't just have to be wood and stone; brick or even something stranger like a magical plant or natural caves)?
- Quirks: these are the things that help set the city apart when describing it to players. Things like a peculiar dress code (e.g. people wear masks when outside their own homes), city festivals (marking significant events in the history or role of the place), peculair odours (e.g. the prevalence of perfumers means the air smells of roses), regular activities that are noticeable (e.g. regular chiming of a gong in honour of the king), peculiar locales (e.g. a blood fountain, or a haunted gallows), unusual folk (e.g. a guild of beast-blooded streetsweepers). These are definitely worth working on, as they will stick in your players' minds.
It sounds like a lot of work! But the xity can grow organically as you use it (don't be afraid to make things up - just note them down and work them into the setting formally between times!). And, of course, real world history is replete with colour that can be added to your own cities (just think of an event like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, or the history of the Christian Church in Rome). Never forget that even in a gritty, low fantasy setting, that it is still fantasy, so don't sweat oddities and remember to include the fantastical, otherwise you're really just playing Mediaeval Ages: the Sickness!
And, of course, have fun...
This is why I wish I could find my Raymond Fiest city generation book! It had all the table you could possible want.
It had all the table you could possible want.
ninthcouncil
First Post
Don't forget - your big city should also smell really BAD.
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