Background: Old London Bridge was completed in 1209 AD and then demolished in 1831 AD. This was a stone bridge that crossed the River Thames. Shops were built on each side of the road deck, with homes built above the shops and over the road desk. These homes were between 2 and 6 floors above the road desk. Those structures created a series of enclosed hallways above the road deck, separated by spaces open to the outside. A drawbridge in the center of the bridge allowed ships with tall masts to pass between the two bridge sections.
Use as a party Bastion: Imagine that if a party constructed a similar structure, they could charge tolls on people and vehicles using their bridge. The PCs would also charge rent for the shops on either side of the road desk, as well as rent on apartment and hotel rooms above the road deck. Their headquarters, above the shops and road deck, would have commanding views of the river. The size of their bastion is determined by the width of the road deck along with how long the bridge is from end to end.
As a travel route, the party’s Bastion would act similar to Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Adventure possibilities would pass on the road and river of the Party’s Bastion.
One or more druids could cover the massive structure with flowers, shrubs, and trees similar to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Water for the plants could be taken up to the top floor by mechanical or magical water pumps.
Bridge Chapels: “Chapels were occasionally built on bridges to be available for the spiritual needs of travelers, who would give thanks for safe arrival in a town after a long and difficult journey.” On Old London Bridge one elongated bridge pier was constructed for the “Chapel of St Thomas on the Bridge”. This bridge chapel was built near the center of Old London Bridge, extended out from the main deck at a right angle. Medieval bridge chapels were once common for European bridges, but are now rare.
I couldn't see it being allowed in a huge city like London(The king would take it over) but in a remote area it would work fine. A village on a bridge would be a cool area to rule.
I couldn't see it being allowed in a huge city like London(The king would take it over) but in a remote area it would work fine. A village on a bridge would be a cool area to rule.
Oh no, this is the wrong line of thinking.
Rather, in one of those periods when the king has emptied the coffers of the kingdom in pursuit of either pointless wars or monuments of selfaggrandization, plans are drawn for a bridge - but there's no money. Actually, not only is there no money, the king has spent so much that he can't even get credit. I'm from Denmark - this was surprisingly common.
So in step the PC's. They have money - they just killed a dragon. They big, and famous. And they propose an even better bridge. Not just a bridge, but a bridge/market/fortress/chapel. And they'll but a giant statue of the king right in the middle.
Just .. one small condition: To ensure the validity of their investment, they need the king to sign this contract, allowing them eternal ownership of the bridge, access to toll and a small token percentage of business done there - for ... maintainance. Yea, maintainance.
And if the king doesn't leap on this .... two statues. One at either end. And we name it King's Bridge!
That would absolutely work. Might not even need for the kingdoms coffers to be empty.
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Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
There are so many opportunities for players to be creative and express their characters on a grander scale. Real history lends a ton of inspiration as well.
All of this takes the game beyond "Kill things and take their loot." play. I have nothing against that, but my games were changed by Birthright , and this is why. So cool!
Those are gorgeous buildings above the bridge. I wonder if the Lord or Lady Mayor of your party’s home town or city would jump at the chance to live rent free, in exchange for a few favors, to live in a big apartment on that bridge. What would happen if the party was the landlord for their town or city’s city hall?
A party owned bastion above a river could include one or more water wheels for creating hydropower mechanical energy for grinding grain and fulling cloth. Water wheels also power bellows at blast furnaces as well as trip hammers at the metal smith’s forge. With hydropower, these simple machines never get tired and run at a steady rate. By having NPCs process raw materials into consumer goods at the party’s bastion, it creates passive income for the party.
Bastion windmills can be located on long bridge piers or islands that the party’s bastion bridge crosses from river bank to river bank. These islands also provide more room to expand the floor surface of the party’s bastion.
Windmills are used for grinding grains, brought from farms to the windmill by ships or by wagons. Charging modest fees for local farmers for grinding their grains will create a modest amount of income and more importantly local goodwill for the party.
Also, windmills running water pumps can get water in pipes onto the upper floors of the bastion. The sight of one or more windmills, with their vanes called blades or sails turning leisurely in a gentle and refreshing wind, makes for a wonderful sight as well as local landmarks for residents and tourists alike.
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Background: Old London Bridge was completed in 1209 AD and then demolished in 1831 AD. This was a stone bridge that crossed the River Thames. Shops were built on each side of the road deck, with homes built above the shops and over the road desk. These homes were between 2 and 6 floors above the road desk. Those structures created a series of enclosed hallways above the road deck, separated by spaces open to the outside. A drawbridge in the center of the bridge allowed ships with tall masts to pass between the two bridge sections.
Use as a party Bastion: Imagine that if a party constructed a similar structure, they could charge tolls on people and vehicles using their bridge. The PCs would also charge rent for the shops on either side of the road desk, as well as rent on apartment and hotel rooms above the road deck. Their headquarters, above the shops and road deck, would have commanding views of the river. The size of their bastion is determined by the width of the road deck along with how long the bridge is from end to end.
As a travel route, the party’s Bastion would act similar to Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Adventure possibilities would pass on the road and river of the Party’s Bastion.
One or more druids could cover the massive structure with flowers, shrubs, and trees similar to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Water for the plants could be taken up to the top floor by mechanical or magical water pumps.
Bridge Chapels: “Chapels were occasionally built on bridges to be available for the spiritual needs of travelers, who would give thanks for safe arrival in a town after a long and difficult journey.” On Old London Bridge one elongated bridge pier was constructed for the “Chapel of St Thomas on the Bridge”. This bridge chapel was built near the center of Old London Bridge, extended out from the main deck at a right angle. Medieval bridge chapels were once common for European bridges, but are now rare.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_chapel
I couldn't see it being allowed in a huge city like London(The king would take it over) but in a remote area it would work fine. A village on a bridge would be a cool area to rule.
Oh no, this is the wrong line of thinking.
Rather, in one of those periods when the king has emptied the coffers of the kingdom in pursuit of either pointless wars or monuments of selfaggrandization, plans are drawn for a bridge - but there's no money. Actually, not only is there no money, the king has spent so much that he can't even get credit. I'm from Denmark - this was surprisingly common.
So in step the PC's. They have money - they just killed a dragon. They big, and famous. And they propose an even better bridge. Not just a bridge, but a bridge/market/fortress/chapel. And they'll but a giant statue of the king right in the middle.
Just .. one small condition: To ensure the validity of their investment, they need the king to sign this contract, allowing them eternal ownership of the bridge, access to toll and a small token percentage of business done there - for ... maintainance. Yea, maintainance.
And if the king doesn't leap on this .... two statues. One at either end. And we name it King's Bridge!
That would absolutely work. Might not even need for the kingdoms coffers to be empty.
Blanket disclaimer: I only ever state opinion. But I can sound terribly dogmatic - so if you feel I'm trying to tell you what to think, I'm really not, I swear. I'm telling you what I think, that's all.
This is why I loved seeing Bastions in the UA!
There are so many opportunities for players to be creative and express their characters on a grander scale. Real history lends a ton of inspiration as well.
All of this takes the game beyond "Kill things and take their loot." play. I have nothing against that, but my games were changed by Birthright , and this is why. So cool!
Not sure if you guys have been to Florence? (Firenze)
Lovely idea
RPGs from '83 - 03. A fair bit of LRP. A big gap. And now DMing again. Froth.
Those are gorgeous buildings above the bridge. I wonder if the Lord or Lady Mayor of your party’s home town or city would jump at the chance to live rent free, in exchange for a few favors, to live in a big apartment on that bridge. What would happen if the party was the landlord for their town or city’s city hall?
A party owned bastion above a river could include one or more water wheels for creating hydropower mechanical energy for grinding grain and fulling cloth. Water wheels also power bellows at blast furnaces as well as trip hammers at the metal smith’s forge. With hydropower, these simple machines never get tired and run at a steady rate. By having NPCs process raw materials into consumer goods at the party’s bastion, it creates passive income for the party.
Bastion windmills can be located on long bridge piers or islands that the party’s bastion bridge crosses from river bank to river bank. These islands also provide more room to expand the floor surface of the party’s bastion.
Windmills are used for grinding grains, brought from farms to the windmill by ships or by wagons. Charging modest fees for local farmers for grinding their grains will create a modest amount of income and more importantly local goodwill for the party.
Also, windmills running water pumps can get water in pipes onto the upper floors of the bastion. The sight of one or more windmills, with their vanes called blades or sails turning leisurely in a gentle and refreshing wind, makes for a wonderful sight as well as local landmarks for residents and tourists alike.