Rifts Citybooks

Hystrix · Unread post by **Hystrix** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:21 pm

OK here is the conscept:

A "Citybook" (I'm open to a better name if anyone has one) is a book (or series of books) that detail 5 or 6 cities. The usuall format would be one large (or even MEGA) city (like Quebec City, New Berlin, New Waukeegan), a mid-sized city (Like Kingsdale, or Cuidad Jarez ---yes, I know these have been done), and 3 or 4 small cities or towns (ranging in size from 10,000 to as little as 100). Now here is the catch: the cities will be taken from everwhere. For example, Rifts Citybook 1 might include:

1.) New Waukeegan (CS Mega-city)
2.) New Nurenburg (mid-sized NGR city)
3.) Negromeurte ("Black Death" a small vampire controlled town in Mexico)
4.) Johnsonville (a tiny wilderness town in Kansas, little more than a large trading post)
5.) Axon-gog (a small costal town on Atlantis, used primarily as a port for slave runs)
6.) Vodka (a small Russian town under the control of Warlord Romanov [sp?])

Something like that. There could be a series of them. Or they could even be in themes where every town descibed is in the same region. The point is that every town with be mapped (even the mega cities), described, given a regional map showing the cities location, population estimates, breakdowns, and adventure ideas.

What'd ya think?

Mech-Viper Prime · Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:24 pm

need something to replace the old soucrebooks(which were nice)

Sentinel · Unread post by **Sentinel** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:34 pm

I voted for Hystrix to get back in the box.

In all seriousness, I think the idea of a Citybook isn't bad, but I just don't feel there needs to be yet another format of book: we have the Sourcebook, Megasourcebook, Worldbook, Dimension Book, Adventure Book, and that really ought to do the trick.
I would rather the Worldbooks give a good overview, focus on key points and places, and give us a little bit about a lot (in terms of cities).

Vinny · Unread post by **Vinny** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:34 pm

I was going to say come out with a companion world books that flush out the cities in the original worldbooks but that's stupid. Maybe something like "The Cities of the New West" type thing.

Danger · Unread post by **Danger** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:46 pm

I voted for Worldbooks instead. I have to agree, you could focus on cities within a worldbook...

But the concept is great. I'd love to see more info on the cities, whatever you call the books.

Preacher · Unread post by **Preacher** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:06 pm

Yes, city books would be cool as long as we get them a good while before they are destroyed.

Mech-Viper Prime · Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:27 pm

Reverend wrote:Yes, city books would be cool as long as we get them a good while before they are destroyed.

yeah the here's tolkeen with the coalition attacking was a like mess up but since the coalition/tolkeen war hasnt started yet in my adventures it still good

Temporalmage · Fri Mar 25, 2005 12:15 am

I've been drawn several times to World Book 1 just for it's map of Ciudad Juarez and highlights of important places. Having somthing similar for other cities in Rifts would ROCK!!

Kalinda · Unread post by **Kalinda** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 12:21 am

I would not say no to a few books like that...

Dead Boy · Unread post by **Dead Boy** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 6:28 am

Actually, after just skimming through Hudson City (got it just yesterday), I think City Books for the Rifts setting would be a great idea. Especially since it would allow for campaigns more easily set in a particular city. I think that this is an idea who's time has come... Now if only someone could talk Kev into doint this.

Comrade Corsarius · Fri Mar 25, 2005 11:13 am

City books could be like the adventure books. After all, there have been a few (such as Kingsdale) that are well fleshed out and have not been destroyed.

Why not freeze the timeline at 109pa or whatever it is now, and work on fleshing out what is there? I'd like to see the capital cities of the Colorado Baronies (someone mentioned a New West city book), as well as geographic-specific stuff? You can play without it, if you like, but the info, NPCs, characters, places, streets, etc would really give a 'living' feeling to the place. Also, it would make it good if you ever went to another gaming group because then you'd say 'oh, well, we were in New Rome last week and were fighting in the battles at the coleseum' and everyone would know what you meant, instead of 'you were where? doing what?'

Hystrix · Unread post by **Hystrix** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 7:51 pm

Zylo wrote:Isn't Merc Town essentially a city/adventure book? Or the 'Burbs books? I guess Palladium is already on the road to doing those City books is what I'm saying. Now, back in the box!

Not quite! While Merc Town is close, even that only describes one city! The Adventure books took 3 of 4 to describe only one burb. I'm talking about books that outline about 5 or 6 cities including at least one large city...

Hystrix · Unread post by **Hystrix** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:34 pm

Atramentus wrote:Chi-Town! Chi-Town! Chi-Town! Chi-Town! Chi-Town!

Actually I'd like to see something for the bulk of the state as well as the Fortress City itself. At one point I had myself convinced that there were 12 fortress cities in the state but only one was so famous, perhaps being the newest, best.

That's what these books would do. They'd describe major cities (along with minor ones) like New Waukegan...

Jmur · Unread post by **Jmur** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:48 pm

Citybooks sounds good. Although you should've added an option in your poll. "Yes for citybooks, but, Hystrix get back in your box." :lol:

Hystrix · Unread post by **Hystrix** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:50 pm

Jmur wrote:Citybooks sounds good. Although you should've added an option in your poll. "Yes for citybooks, but, Hystrix get back in your box."

Mmm, yes, but I was hpeing that if it was a good idea the box wouldn't be an option!

Hystrix · Unread post by **Hystrix** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:13 pm

*bump*

Sentinel · Unread post by **Sentinel** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:22 pm

Temporalmage wrote:I've been drawn several times to World Book 1 just for it's map of Ciudad Juarez and highlights of important places. Having somthing similar for other cities in Rifts would ROCK!!

World Book one was pretty well put together, whether or not you like vampires.

Hystrix · Unread post by **Hystrix** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 1:39 pm

Sentinel wrote:
Temporalmage wrote:I've been drawn several times to World Book 1 just for it's map of Ciudad Juarez and highlights of important places. Having somthing similar for other cities in Rifts would ROCK!!

World Book one was pretty well put together, whether or not you like vampires.

That's because of the detailed world information. That and Cuidad Jarez was a very well thought out and designed city... WE NEED CITY BOOKS!!!!

Hystrix · Unread post by **Hystrix** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 12:59 pm

So 33 of 47 said they'd want City Books. Cool. I hope some PB staff sees this,

Also only 5 of 47 told me to get back in my box. That's better than last time

Sentinel · Unread post by **Sentinel** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 1:50 pm

Hystrix wrote:
Sentinel wrote:
Temporalmage wrote:I've been drawn several times to World Book 1 just for it's map of Ciudad Juarez and highlights of important places. Having somthing similar for other cities in Rifts would ROCK!!

World Book one was pretty well put together, whether or not you like vampires.

That's because of the detailed world information. That and Cuidad Jarez was a very well thought out and designed city... WE NEED CITY BOOKS!!!!

I liked these things about World Book One:
No new OCCs. No "Vampire Hunter OCC" or any such nonsense.
The feeling of wilderness, frontier and undeveloped area was still there. It made it seem logical for the average person to stay put: there wasn't anywhere safe to go.
Good artwork.
Lots of details on vampires (which there should have been. Unlike the Old Ones with it's lack of info on the Old Ones).

Josh Sinsapaugh · Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:22 pm

If done similar to the Adventure Books, the city book concept could work.

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