The amount of Greyhawk lore in this adventure is amazing.
We were really trying to create a mini campaign setting with the article. Leaving hooks and adventuring opportunities through out the backdrop article.
One of the things I am working on is improving the map to start.
And then on to the Keep?
-Gary
Last edited by PSmedger on Thu Apr 23, 2020 6:42 pm; edited 1 time in total
The amount of Greyhawk lore in this adventure is amazing.
We were really trying to create a mini campaign setting with the article. Leaving hooks and adventuring opportunities through out the backdrop article.
One of the things I am working on is improving the map to start.
The maps in the adventure were ok, but unfortunately, I think the map of the city was subpar in many respects:
1) It didn't do a good job of representing the scale of the Keep in the northwest corner relative to the rest of the city. This is one of the biggest castles in the Flanaess, rivalled only by Irongate and few other places. That was our fault, since we should have provided the detail, instead of saving it for later and leaving any doubt.
2) The city once housed a population of 20,000 and that size/density is not well represented by the number of buildings. A few thousand more visitors might be found south of the city gates in temporary locations. And even though the city is now closer to 7,000 the map doesn't convey the sense of destruction and depopulation that has occurred.
3) The map seems to show only two major roads on what was a very well planned city that needed to man its walls and gates at a moment's notice. There should be numerous east-west arteries and more branches. And they would have been paved in stone. The city took decades to complete and that includes some magic in its defense and creation.
4) The whisper stream should be bridged in numerous places. And buildings on the east side would have hugged the shore to harness the force of the river to power wheels.
5) The Victory Gardens are a travesty. There is no garden at all, just a label on top of a jumble of buildings. This would have been a large parkland at the center of the city, full of trees, a grove of Phostwood, and impressive statuary that glorified the history of the Aerdi people and their gods. Though now largely burnt and blackened and littered with fighting pits, there should be hints of its former glory, including the statute of Hextor which is largely untouched.
6) Similar problem with the Civic Halls. These should be impressive permanent buildings made of stone. Arranged to impress with wide streets and plazas.
Other more minor things, but overall, would like to get a second attempt at it and bring it closer to the vision.
The maps in the adventure were ok, but unfortunately, I think the map of the city was subpar in many respects:
1) It didn't do a good job of representing the scale of the Keep in the northwest corner relative to the rest of the city. This is one of the biggest castles in the Flanaess, rivalled only by Irongate and few other places. That was our fault, since we should have provided the detail, instead of saving it for later and leaving any doubt.
2) The city once housed a population of 20,000 and that size/density is not well represented by the number of buildings. A few thousand more visitors might be found south of the city gates in temporary locations. And even though the city is now closer to 7,000 the map doesn't convey the sense of destruction and depopulation that has occurred.
3) The map seems to show only two major roads on what was a very well planned city that needed to man its walls and gates at a moment's notice. There should be numerous east-west arteries and more branches. And they would have been paved in stone. The city took decades to complete and that includes some magic in its defense and creation.
4) The whisper stream should be bridged in numerous places. And buildings on the east side would have hugged the shore to harness the force of the river to power wheels.
5) The Victory Gardens are a travesty. There is no garden at all, just a label on top of a jumble of buildings. This would have been a large parkland at the center of the city, full of trees, a grove of Phostwood, and impressive statuary that glorified the history of the Aerdi people and their gods. Though now largely burnt and blackened and littered with fighting pits, there should be hints of its former glory, including the statute of Hextor which is largely untouched.
6) Similar problem with the Civic Halls. These should be impressive permanent buildings made of stone. Arranged to impress with wide streets and plazas.
Other more minor things, but overall, would like to get a second attempt at it and bring it closer to the vision.
-Gary
1) Thats meant to be Spinekeep? I thought it was a fortified gatehouse leading to Spinekeep
2) the city should show widespread destruction and the walls should show breaches and damage
3) There needs to be a road between the interior wall and buildings as well. A city that was built with defense in mind should also have defense in depth, with interior walls, fortified barracks and strong-points within the city. A double-wall, such as Greyhawk is said in City of Hawks to have possessed wouldnt be out of order.
4) The stream should at least show the ruins of bridges
Yes that's just a gatehouse. Though a massive one that houses the main gates to the Kalmar Pass and onward to Ratikhill.
But I totally understand why some people were confused. I aim to fix that.
Your other points are correct. The city was sacked, should like look it. Wooden structures would have been burned in many parts of the city, though humanoids lacked for siege engines, they did have ogres and trolls.
Points in 3) are well taken and will be incorporated into the design, thanks.
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