I have discovered that building a city based on the ideals and adventures of my past characters. For example.
A city that I have begun using in games I run and as my backstory is a small city named "Gnil Feit." It's lord is the old Tiefling Paladin of Illmaeter, Quin Gygax, and his wife Melisandra the Wizard. He has three sons and two daughters. Quaylan the Tiefling Cleric, Katonic the Tiefling Monk of Selûne, Davorick the Tiefling Sorcerer, Virtue the Tiefling Fighter, and Maximus(who hasn't yet become an adventurer).
The city has lots of surrounding farm land and a river called "Strahds Fall" runs through the city just west of the center of city. There is a small island in the river that has Melisandra's school of magic built on it. In the center of the city are two temples one to Illmater, the other to the goddess Ambrosia (Chaotic Good goddess of Wolves).
The city of Gnil Feit is mainly populated by tiefling and other races that are generally outcast by society, such as half-elf, half-orc, and even several Drow and Lizardfolk. Every year there is at least one celebration a moon. The greatest of which is The Day of The Triumph in which they celebrate the defeat of Strahd and the destruction of castle Ravenloft.
There are plenty of shops for people to stop by but one of the most prestigious is a crossbow store ran by barbarians. They craft excellent crossbows and bolts far above the quality of most. They also have pretty good prices.
Attempts made to speak with Quin Gygax are generally accepted usually he will meet you in a Tavern in the city. However it's a 30/70 chance wether or not he will meet with a dwarf. He is not overly fond of them after his time as an adventurer. If a fiend pact warlock tries to meet with him there is a very good chance that he will do all in his power to turn the warlock into a sorcerer or at least a different pact He is lawful good.
My ideas are still in the prototype phase, but the gist is tweaking the racial stereotypes. Dwarves in a volcano they've converted into a city is standard. But what if it's a tropical volcano on an island, and the dwarves are not surly but rather happy?! The tropical location makes their town a resort destination, and hundreds of dwarves have become bards, crafting their own steel drums of course. (Essentially, I wanted to graft a Carribean feel onto a Dwarven culture.) I just really like the idea of dwarves enjoying watersports and various warm weather leisure activities. :)
Another idea I had was to rip off Midian from Nightbreed. Halforcs, tieflings, tabaxi, arakocra, and kenkus (the 'monstrous races') have formed a secret underground city as a refuge from their evil human, elven, halfling, gnomish oppressors.
I would also refer people to Miss Clicks on YouTube, specifically the first episode of Nimmorgeist. Now that is a city with ideosynchrocies!
I've always loved the idea of flipping the stereotypes around! Seafaring dwarves, desert and mountain dwelling elves, those are the kinds of things that are interesting to me!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
After being inspired by an old Matt Colville video. The dragonborn of my world have magnificent empire that a majority of it is desert. They use their built in furnaces to turn the sand into exotic magical glass for weapons, armor and architecture. Considering 3 out of the 10 dragonborn types are fire, and you could argue that the 2 lightning types could do precision work, it makes a lot of sense. So you have these cities built out of marble and turquoise glass that is lighter than steel. Every major dragonborn city has an arena where personal and clan disputes are settled without mass bloodshed. The dragonborn are also the creators of a transport system heavily inspired by the lightning rails of the Eberron setting. Also their culture has the tenets of bushido built into it. Any of the noble lords by law can challenge the emperor to personal combat if they are unsatisfied with their rule. When the emperor dies, and there is no valid heir, all the lords of the different territories convene and hold a tournament to decide who shall rule next.
I Have spent the last few months developing this dragonborn culture and country, and I am excited for my players to get to it in the next few sessions. Sorry if I went a bit off topic from what you were asking for originally.
My world currently doesn't have a ton of cities, but here's two:
The Iron Hills: This coast-side city in the foothills is mostly populated by Dwarves, and is enclosed by a 30' high wall made of iron. In my world, Dwarves don't live in the mountains as much as they used to. Their ancestors, the Deep Dwarves, dug so far that they disappeared. Their artefacts and great works live on. Dwarves love to trade and build, and the Iron Hills is a great place for them to do this. Fires and smelting are very common here, so the city is pretty dirty from the black smoke that drifts across it, but the Dwarves don't seem to mind it very much. At the start of the campaign, the city was controlled by King Ironbeard the 9th, descendant of the first king (though this was a lie, and his Captain of the Guard, Lady Redrock, was the true descendant).
The City of Wizards: An ancient city built at the entrance to a ruin of magical studies that was sealed off during The Fall, the City of Wizards is controlled by the Quell Wizards. Highly valuing their solitary ways, this city is built on an artificial island, and is surrounded by a great waterfall on all sides (think Niagara Falls, but all around). In my campaign, the Quell Wizards were being divided. After decades of only interfering with the world at arm's reach, the Gith have been trying to convince them to join their cause, offering rare magical items for study in return.
In my world, the dwarves are fighting a losing battle in the remnants of their once-great city. The duergar (deep dwarves) are the main race of dwarves due to their ways of adapting and their flexibility.
I have a city built around where a "meteor" fell. Inside the crater that was left behind was all sorts of wild growth that isn't local to that region. The vegetation there has been used and adapted to make more advanced healing potions/salves/etc... The city started out as a small research town that eventually blossomed onto a large metropolis (eventually spanning all the way to the ocean), complete with a mage/research academy, fighter's guild, and all the other bells and whistles that come with a thriving coastal city.
What the people (and the PCs) don't know is that the "meteor" that fell was actually a Nautiloid vessel that crashed there from the Astral Plane and then dug its way into the Underdark, where the Elder Brain remains in stasis (until an event occurs which causes the stasis to end).
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
My world has a country called Pengeta that is a confederation of islands that are each their own country, but tied together in a series of complicated alliances. For example, the islands of Yu and Mei are allied into a small alliance within the larger alliance of Pengeta. The whole things is a balance that has withstood hundreds of years. Until my party came along of course...
That is incredible. I LOVE the idea. Already figuring out how I can work it into my campaign. Maybe as a constant source of trouble for my party? Muahaha!
So after almost a year, I feel pretty good about the fleshing out of the world that I've been building for my players. There's a floating city that is chock full of Bahamut worshippers; aptly nicknamed the Platinum Island. There's a the dwarven city built over the ruins of where a giant meteor smashed into the mountains, Starfall. I have Bristran, a city constantly on the cutting edge of technology (think steampunk/ Eberron, with warforged, flying ships, and things of that sort) and a lot more. I even incorporated a lot of ideas written here, so thanks for your suggestions and ideas! They were all inspiring
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I can't believe it's almost been a year since this thread was made lol But I agree, let's get a tour! :)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Well if you guys want to see it, then I'll throw together a new post at some point detailing the world that I've made so far (and I'll even include which person here inspired which part of the world; that could be cool)
I may even include a MAP
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
Cultural dferences between races can be interesting too.
For example the dwarves in my campaigns calculate in base 5, instead of the base 10 humans use. Dwarves are master builders and their system of calculating has become the standard for building designers of many races. leading to many buildings having hallways 5 feet wide and rooms layed out in multiples of 5 or 25 feet.
Thats so good, i'm stealing it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I have discovered that building a city based on the ideals and adventures of my past characters. For example.
A city that I have begun using in games I run and as my backstory is a small city named "Gnil Feit." It's lord is the old Tiefling Paladin of Illmaeter, Quin Gygax, and his wife Melisandra the Wizard. He has three sons and two daughters. Quaylan the Tiefling Cleric, Katonic the Tiefling Monk of Selûne, Davorick the Tiefling Sorcerer, Virtue the Tiefling Fighter, and Maximus(who hasn't yet become an adventurer).
The city has lots of surrounding farm land and a river called "Strahds Fall" runs through the city just west of the center of city. There is a small island in the river that has Melisandra's school of magic built on it. In the center of the city are two temples one to Illmater, the other to the goddess Ambrosia (Chaotic Good goddess of Wolves).
The city of Gnil Feit is mainly populated by tiefling and other races that are generally outcast by society, such as half-elf, half-orc, and even several Drow and Lizardfolk. Every year there is at least one celebration a moon. The greatest of which is The Day of The Triumph in which they celebrate the defeat of Strahd and the destruction of castle Ravenloft.
There are plenty of shops for people to stop by but one of the most prestigious is a crossbow store ran by barbarians. They craft excellent crossbows and bolts far above the quality of most. They also have pretty good prices.
Attempts made to speak with Quin Gygax are generally accepted usually he will meet you in a Tavern in the city. However it's a 30/70 chance wether or not he will meet with a dwarf. He is not overly fond of them after his time as an adventurer. If a fiend pact warlock tries to meet with him there is a very good chance that he will do all in his power to turn the warlock into a sorcerer or at least a different pact He is lawful good.
Hope that wasn't too long of a description.
This.
Just an average metalhead who plays DnD in his spare time.
PbP Character: Roberta Thalan, Void Beyond the Stars Otherside
PbP Character: Primus Eidolon, Eotha 2
PbP Character: Usmor Illiqai, Tomb of Corrosion
PbP Character: "Templar" Danver, You're the Villains
Homebrew stuff
This is an absolutely incredible idea
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
That's actually a super cool idea!
"WHAT" how about that huh?
My ideas are still in the prototype phase, but the gist is tweaking the racial stereotypes. Dwarves in a volcano they've converted into a city is standard. But what if it's a tropical volcano on an island, and the dwarves are not surly but rather happy?! The tropical location makes their town a resort destination, and hundreds of dwarves have become bards, crafting their own steel drums of course. (Essentially, I wanted to graft a Carribean feel onto a Dwarven culture.) I just really like the idea of dwarves enjoying watersports and various warm weather leisure activities. :)
Another idea I had was to rip off Midian from Nightbreed. Halforcs, tieflings, tabaxi, arakocra, and kenkus (the 'monstrous races') have formed a secret underground city as a refuge from their evil human, elven, halfling, gnomish oppressors.
I would also refer people to Miss Clicks on YouTube, specifically the first episode of Nimmorgeist. Now that is a city with ideosynchrocies!
I've always loved the idea of flipping the stereotypes around! Seafaring dwarves, desert and mountain dwelling elves, those are the kinds of things that are interesting to me!
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
After being inspired by an old Matt Colville video. The dragonborn of my world have magnificent empire that a majority of it is desert. They use their built in furnaces to turn the sand into exotic magical glass for weapons, armor and architecture. Considering 3 out of the 10 dragonborn types are fire, and you could argue that the 2 lightning types could do precision work, it makes a lot of sense. So you have these cities built out of marble and turquoise glass that is lighter than steel. Every major dragonborn city has an arena where personal and clan disputes are settled without mass bloodshed. The dragonborn are also the creators of a transport system heavily inspired by the lightning rails of the Eberron setting. Also their culture has the tenets of bushido built into it. Any of the noble lords by law can challenge the emperor to personal combat if they are unsatisfied with their rule. When the emperor dies, and there is no valid heir, all the lords of the different territories convene and hold a tournament to decide who shall rule next.
I Have spent the last few months developing this dragonborn culture and country, and I am excited for my players to get to it in the next few sessions. Sorry if I went a bit off topic from what you were asking for originally.
My world currently doesn't have a ton of cities, but here's two:
The Iron Hills:
This coast-side city in the foothills is mostly populated by Dwarves, and is enclosed by a 30' high wall made of iron. In my world, Dwarves don't live in the mountains as much as they used to. Their ancestors, the Deep Dwarves, dug so far that they disappeared. Their artefacts and great works live on. Dwarves love to trade and build, and the Iron Hills is a great place for them to do this. Fires and smelting are very common here, so the city is pretty dirty from the black smoke that drifts across it, but the Dwarves don't seem to mind it very much. At the start of the campaign, the city was controlled by King Ironbeard the 9th, descendant of the first king (though this was a lie, and his Captain of the Guard, Lady Redrock, was the true descendant).
The City of Wizards:
An ancient city built at the entrance to a ruin of magical studies that was sealed off during The Fall, the City of Wizards is controlled by the Quell Wizards. Highly valuing their solitary ways, this city is built on an artificial island, and is surrounded by a great waterfall on all sides (think Niagara Falls, but all around). In my campaign, the Quell Wizards were being divided. After decades of only interfering with the world at arm's reach, the Gith have been trying to convince them to join their cause, offering rare magical items for study in return.
In my world, the dwarves are fighting a losing battle in the remnants of their once-great city. The duergar (deep dwarves) are the main race of dwarves due to their ways of adapting and their flexibility.
Just an average metalhead who plays DnD in his spare time.
PbP Character: Roberta Thalan, Void Beyond the Stars Otherside
PbP Character: Primus Eidolon, Eotha 2
PbP Character: Usmor Illiqai, Tomb of Corrosion
PbP Character: "Templar" Danver, You're the Villains
Homebrew stuff
I have a city built around where a "meteor" fell. Inside the crater that was left behind was all sorts of wild growth that isn't local to that region. The vegetation there has been used and adapted to make more advanced healing potions/salves/etc... The city started out as a small research town that eventually blossomed onto a large metropolis (eventually spanning all the way to the ocean), complete with a mage/research academy, fighter's guild, and all the other bells and whistles that come with a thriving coastal city.
What the people (and the PCs) don't know is that the "meteor" that fell was actually a Nautiloid vessel that crashed there from the Astral Plane and then dug its way into the Underdark, where the Elder Brain remains in stasis (until an event occurs which causes the stasis to end).
Click Here to Download my Lancer Class w/ Dragoon and Legionnaire Archetypes via DM's Guild - Pay What You Want
Click Here to Download the Mind Flayer: Thoon Hulk converted from 4e via DM's Guild
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
There's a giant rat jerky stand on every other corner.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Love it. It's the little things like this that make it great
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
My world has a country called Pengeta that is a confederation of islands that are each their own country, but tied together in a series of complicated alliances. For example, the islands of Yu and Mei are allied into a small alliance within the larger alliance of Pengeta. The whole things is a balance that has withstood hundreds of years. Until my party came along of course...
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Shavarathspawn,
That is incredible. I LOVE the idea. Already figuring out how I can work it into my campaign. Maybe as a constant source of trouble for my party? Muahaha!
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
So after almost a year, I feel pretty good about the fleshing out of the world that I've been building for my players. There's a floating city that is chock full of Bahamut worshippers; aptly nicknamed the Platinum Island. There's a the dwarven city built over the ruins of where a giant meteor smashed into the mountains, Starfall. I have Bristran, a city constantly on the cutting edge of technology (think steampunk/ Eberron, with warforged, flying ships, and things of that sort) and a lot more. I even incorporated a lot of ideas written here, so thanks for your suggestions and ideas! They were all inspiring
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
Well, inquiring minds want to know! Do we get to see a map? Do we get a tour guide summary? I'd certainly be fascinated to see it all!
I can't believe it's almost been a year since this thread was made lol But I agree, let's get a tour! :)
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
I agree. Tour!
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Well if you guys want to see it, then I'll throw together a new post at some point detailing the world that I've made so far (and I'll even include which person here inspired which part of the world; that could be cool)
I may even include a MAP
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
Thats so good, i'm stealing it.