Idea for an Open City

[Loswaith]

Quite possible, and given the tendancy for for the island to have the family groups, thus succession going to an heir, reasonably likely. Though given the heir would likely be human, the issue comes up with how often does the Carta use non dwarves in promenent positions, because in this case it's most likely a human leader for the Thieves guild (using that for lack of a better term).

The other aspect is there is an oppertunity to develop another strong criminal organisation/faction within the DA world, away from the Carta, typically with Human or even Elvish leadership. Throwing away such a prime location for what could be a further reaching organisation to use on the Carta seems a bit of a waste to me, since we are going to the trouble of creating an entirely new independant city state anyway.

A possibility with something new too, is that it could be a base for a far more expansive underlying web. If we wanted to go quite large with it and have the new organisation have fingers in allot of other organisations all over the DA world.

This is not to say the Carta doesn't have any presence in the city either, it's quite possible they would. Though they may have to be a bit more low key with their activities.

Whatever the case, we dont need to decide on it at this point as we dont realy even have a city proper yet.

[ColdSteel1]

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[Bardwulf]

Hah, yeah I like Freeport.

[shonuff]

A possibility with something new too, is that it could be a base for a far more expansive underlying web. If we wanted to go quite large with it and have the new organisation have fingers in allot of other organisations all over the DA world.

This is not to say the Carta doesn't have any presence in the city either, it's quite possible they would. Though they may have to be a bit more low key with their activities.

Whatever the case, we dont need to decide on it at this point as we dont realy even have a city proper yet.

Right... I'm thinking something like an Antivan Crows, except for smugglers. Possibly slave-trading, as well. Maybe expanding into magical archeology, as the independent crowns would want the items recovered in their territories.

[Ghostdanser]

The reason I haven't recommended Freeport is exactly because it is a GR product. Not that I have anything against Freeport...I am actually hoping that they will release an AGE adaptation of the setting...which could then pose a problem of having to change the name for one of the cities. I'd rather make this open city have an independent name from the start.

Given that several of the names appear to have been lifted from the British Isles (Kirkwall, Cumberland, Kinloch...) I am reviewing some maps for names of smaller cities/villages that might do the job.

If you want to pay homage to Green Ronin or for that matter EA/Bioware, we can always incorporate names into the terrain features or businesses. Pramas Point for the location of the Keep/Lighthouse is the kind of thing that is easily done. Sister Garotte might be a tad less lore friendly...but then again an Antivan Crow named Nicole could always use Sister Garotte as their street name...unfortunatley I can't do much about a church of warm humanitarianism...the Chantry would frown on that.

[Ghostdanser]

So here are a bunch of actual place names from the British Isles...the spelling is how they were on the map I was using. We'll see if any of these are winners...I can always dig up more...or if one is close we can play around with it.

Banbury
Blackpool
Dunsfold
Flamborough
Folkestone
Galashiels
Hyskeir
Lowestoft
Penrith
Portadown
Skegness
Stornoway
Stranraer
Taransay
Tiree

[ColdSteel1]

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[shonuff]

Makes sense that so much of it would be consolidated on one street.

[Ghostdanser]

The Street of Metals

Sounds reasonable to have most of the smiths in one area. I imagine there would be one down on the docks that specializes in ship fittings...and then there's the one Loswaith recommended for a smith...but their locations would be the exception, not the rule. Works for me.

[shonuff]

Yeah, I was thinking that the description that Loswaith provided doesn't really fit this street.

[Loswaith]

Sounds good to me, I can already hear the plinks, tinks and thunks that mix into a bizarre tune when one wanders down the street of metals.
I do agree Ryella likely wouldn't be part of that. My intent more with her business is she is likely to work more on commision or specialised goods, kind of a similar role Wade plays for the PCs in DA: Oragins one could say, though Ryella definatly has a far better business sence than wade does.

[Ghostdanser]

I do agree Ryella likely wouldn't be part of that. My intent more with her business is she is likely to work more on commision or specialised goods, kind of a similar role Wade plays for the PCs in DA: Oragins one could say, though Ryella definatly has a far better business sence than wade does.

I kinda figured you were going for a commission style business, the description seemed to indicate she'd be a bit off the beaten path. So being in an area with a bunch of other smiths didn't seem to fit. Glad I got it right.

[shonuff]

But does she have a desire demon lackey running her shop?

[Loswaith]

Natively I wasnt thinking that way (though she likely would have some lackeys/assiatants/employees), though it doesn't stop GMs from adding one if they so wish it. Or for that matter even making Ryella one too.

For me the talented and driven non-mystical humans are fancy enough.

[shonuff]

Gaider made a comment somewhere about thinking it would be interesting to include a demon in the PC's party. I always found Justice to be one of the more interesting characters. I think that was in the same post that he said that Herren wasn't actually a demon in the canon timeline....

[ColdSteel1]

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[ColdSteel1]

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[shonuff]

I don't see the Bilge Rat really happening -- sailors will be berthing on their own ships. I don't know if the city would be large enough to have that many unemployed seamen waiting for a break, either. The poorer passengers would probably also stay on their ships while they were resupplied, whereas wealthier passengers would stay in finer inns.

The fisheries I definitely see as a part of the city, especially with the reliance on the sea. I'd also throw in something about kelp-harvesting.

[ColdSteel1]

This thread is rather pointless then, because basically all of you want a watered down version of Kirkwall rather than accept any ideas on how to make a city more interesting than any other city in Thedas. I don't give a crap about DA2 nor have i ever read the novels or seen the videos nor will i want to.

The players in my own campaign are going to come here and yawn while buying their supplies then leave without a second thought.

Welcome to Dullscrag.

[shonuff]

Then you have seriously missed the point.

[ColdSteel1]

Then you have seriously missed the point.

Did i? Then explain it to me and all those who brought Set 1 and 2. Those who want to run a Dragon Age campaign without playing DA2 or want to kick start a new campaign in a new town other than Denerim.

If i miss the point, then tell me.

[shonuff]

The obvious point is to add additional content to the game, keeping it as close to canon as possible (to make it more universal in possible use). One of the first priorities is to obviously establish the basis for territory: government, economy, geography, etc. Overall, it should be relatively generic... ghostdanser's campaign is different from loswaith's is different from yours etc. The point is that any GM should be able to plug 'n' play with little modification.

Because of this, it functions as a base moreso than a destination. IMO, with the more people working on a project, it should be easier to come up with detailed NPCs, which I have always found more interesting about locations than gimmicks. A gimmick in a location might make me think "well, that's neat" but it wouldn't make me stay in one place any more than "Dullscrag" (as you put it) would. For me, a base was a location that I made, and I kept going back to the places with NPCs that I liked.

[Bardwulf]

The ghost ship of Barnabas Blackhaul.

Each year, at around the anniversary time of the good captain's untimely disappearance, it is said that when the fogs just off the coast draw in and the driving rains pour relentlessly, conditions so similar to that fateful night, that all sea farers who have better sense, those who know the local stories stay on solid ground amongst the rest of the landlubbers. For nights such as these, those nearby could swear they hear the sound of aged rigging strain against unnatural winds, or see a glimpse of dilapidated sails through the haze about the water.
On such nights, inbound ships lose their course, ending up way off of their plotted mark or perhaps never arriving at all. It is said that captain Barnabas and his crew still haunt the seas in their ship, 'The Sanguine Splicer', said to freshly raise from the water once again to haunt those still living, to haunt those blamed for their demise. For he and his men were betrayed by the council so many years ago, driven from the island on a stormy foggy night. The captain's seat of power on the council had been usurped by a corrupt push from the majority of backstabbing council members, not liking the direction his ideas were taking the city, or the power and influence he was personally gaining over the finances of the island's exportation services.
They were forced to set sail that night or be put to death, driven into harm, their ship disappeared and never navigated through the fog. None have ever found the wreckage, but it is thought that this curse continues and will forever more, unless there were some way to break the cycle...But at what cost?

[Bardwulf]

Come on guys, don't let this one die! This is a great idea that we can all use in our games.

[ColdSteel1]

Give it up then Bardwulf, an open city is not what they want here (esp. Ghostdanser and Shonuff in their warped up DA 2 and spin offs tie ins ) . Which was why i deleted much of my previous posts in the first place.