Considering we're going with Placeable cities..

The questions(2) on my mind now.. are

1. How weird should city layout be?


2. Should Cities have multiple exteriors?


3. How do I want to tackle this beast?

Really, this is where things get strange. I think the answer's oughta be..

1. No more than required.


2. God no, just.. please.. No.


3. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.

Now.. Multi-area city exteriors can be done well. They can, it happens. Its been my experience however that this is a 1/10 shot and it usually only happens by accident. Could just be me, but every transition it takes me to leave the city leaves me with 2 reactions.

1. Why is the city this big?
• Are there 20-30 different taverns I can enter until I find one of my liking?
• If no, then it doesn't need to lend that impression.


2. How many more area's must I jog through before I can finally have an adventure?
• Or is leaving the city itself suppose to be an adventure?

OK, I'm ranting now, and I realize it, but this is one of those places that Pencil and paper translate horribly to digital format. A DM can take a worn-out-sock, wave it around like its a magic wand, and describe the atmosphere of the 2nd, or 3rd, or 12th Tavern/Inn/Brothel that the party/player(s) enter, and Poof! Its there and works.

Worn-out-sock or not.. this is no more arcane than how Hugh Hefner can keep it up long enough to do anything with it at his age. DM say's its there, and within 15 minutes.. It is. Now when you have to construct one bit by bit in the toolset.. try an hour or two unless your just slapping something together. While I can't do that and be happy with the end result, I suppose it is possible to do.


But anyway.. rant aside.. I'm thinking 18 X 18 for cities. I know.. Massive.. But by the same token.. I'd rather have that sort of room, and scale it down if needed. Considering the overland map's are 14X14, I think the different of 4 in either direction will make cities feel quite large, all the more so as I don't plan to have excess/pointless doors and the like.

Anyway, Rant over....




For now.