Lists
These tables give players and the Magistrate the tools for building the connective tissue of the city – the factions that exert control, the neighborhoods that form the topography, and the rumors that fuel the entire contraption.
Backdrops
To set up your campaign, it may be useful to identify a backdrop, a recent event or happening that frames the action and position of the city.
Either before you create the city or afterward, roll a d8 three times, combining one word from each list. Discuss the resulting phrase and tease out what it means for your campaign.
If you’ve already created the city, go around the table and have each person suggest one change or addition based on the backdrop.
If you haven’t yet created the city, as you add elements, have the Magistrate ask what effect the backdrop has on the element you add.
d8 |
A |
B |
C |
1 |
Emerging |
Political |
Conflict |
2 |
Simmering |
Social |
Upheaval |
3 |
Widespread |
Magical |
Transition |
4 |
Secret |
Criminal |
Invasion |
5 |
Waning |
Military |
Disaster |
6 |
Recovering from |
Commercial |
Stagnation |
7 |
Reversing |
Natural |
Collapse |
8 |
Devastating |
Religious |
Boom |
Beliefs
d12 |
I believe… |
1 |
My faction |
2 |
Another faction |
3 |
The nobility or aristocracy |
4 |
Local law enforcement |
5 |
The legal system |
6 |
Trade and commerce |
7 |
The municipal government |
8 |
The entire population of the city |
9 |
A force outside the city |
10 |
A particular divinity |
11 |
Magic or technology |
12 |
A particular famous or wealthy person |
d12 |
is… |
1 |
Corrupted (by what?) |
2 |
Infiltrated (by whom?) |
3 |
Sympathetic (to whom?) |
4 |
Deceiving (whom?) |
5 |
Antagonistic (to what or to whom?) |
6 |
Seditious |
7 |
Supportive (of what or of whom?) |
8 |
Influencing (whom?) |
9 |
Conspiring (with/to what?) |
10 |
Harmful (to whom or to what?) |
11 |
Revealing (what to whom?) |
12 |
Stealing (what from whom?) |
Secrets
Every “secret” consists of a Tie (a person the character knows) and an area of insight – what they know about that person. When using a secret about a person, it must relate to the area of insight.
Area of Insight (d10)
d10 |
Area of Insight |
1 |
Romantic liaisons |
2 |
Family circumstances |
3 |
Criminal connections |
4 |
Professional dealings |
5 |
Political alliances |
6 |
Immoral activities |
7 |
Illicit past |
8 |
Vices |
9 |
Beliefs outside mainstream |
10 |
Corrupt influences |
Factions
Every character belongs to a faction. The nature of that connection can be strong or tenuous. Regardless, the player decides the actions of that faction using Faction Moves.
Factions are described with a Type, a Status, and a Complication. These descriptors influence the fiction, but have no mechanical bearing. Factions also have one or more Aspects that describe advantages or assets. These aspects may be used when rolling Faction Moves.
Type (d10)
d10 |
Type of Faction |
1 |
Sect - United by religion or creed |
2 |
Family - United by familial commitments |
3 |
Enclave - United by ethnic or cultural commonalities |
4 |
Cabal - United by political views |
5 |
Company - Partnership in a commercial enterprise |
6 |
Guild - United by a craft |
7 |
Mission - United by a cause or calling |
8 |
Rank - United by common station or position |
9 |
Syndicate - Allied through corrupt business interest |
10 |
Union - United by common occupation |
Status (d10)
d10 |
Faction Status |
1 |
Fragmenting or Splintering |
2 |
Dissolving or Shrinking |
3 |
Shifting or Redefining |
4 |
Consolidating or Fortifying |
5 |
Expanding or Acquiring |
6 |
Fronting or Imploding |
7 |
Stagnating or Becoming Irrelevant |
8 |
Unfocusing or Dispersing |
9 |
Strengthening or Emerging |
10 |
Settling or Stabilizing |
Complications (d10)
d10 |
Complications |
1 |
Influence is dwindling |
2 |
Membership is dwindling |
3 |
Losing confidence in leadership |
4 |
Infighting among leadership |
5 |
Threatened by rival |
6 |
Membership unaware of true intent |
7 |
Regimented bureaucracy |
8 |
Overwhelming demand for services |
9 |
Held knowledge is out of date or incorrect |
10 |
Loss of control over resource |
Aspects (d6 + d10)
|
1-2 |
3-4 |
5-6 |
1 |
Command of esoteric magic |
Access to a deity |
Command of unique or powerful technology |
2 |
Government placements or influence |
Popular among the people |
Backed by nobility |
3 |
Backed by aristocracy |
Charismatic leader |
Command of information |
4 |
Loyal membership |
Channels of communication |
Trained guards, soldiers, or mercenaries |
5 |
Wealth |
Well-fortified headquarters |
Offices distributed throughout the city |
6 |
Beasts of burden |
Abundant commodity |
Armaments |
7 |
Anonymous leadership |
Hierarchical command structure |
Loosely-organized cells |
8 |
Anonymous membership |
Long history |
Secretive |
9 |
Unique information |
Traditional |
Meritocracy |
10 |
Dogmatic |
Sectarian |
Authoritarian |
Neighborhoods
Type
A neighborhood may have multiple functions but generally only one Standing. Roll up to three times on the table to determine the various functions of the neighborhood. The Standing indicates the majority social class in the neighborhood, though the Status might indicate transitioning.
d10 |
Function |
Standing |
1-2 |
Residential |
Nobility / Aristocracy |
3-4 |
Commercial |
Owners and Professionals |
5-6 |
Industrial |
Crafters and Traders |
7-8 |
Religious |
Working Class |
9-10 |
Government |
Working Class |
Status (d10)
d10 |
Neighborhood Status |
1-3 |
Thriving and bustling |
4-5 |
Gentrifying and shifting |
6 |
Recovering |
7-8 |
Declining |
9 |
Depressed or Decaying |
10 |
Derelict or Ruined |
Aspects (d6 + d10)
|
1-2 |
3-4 |
5-6 |
1 |
Narrow alleyways |
Converted buildings |
Circles |
2 |
Tunnels |
Surrounded by walls |
Tall buildings |
3 |
Large main thoroughfare |
Pubic works |
Stadium or theater |
4 |
Vehicles and mounts prohibited |
Ruins |
Critters and pests |
5 |
Integrated with natural surroundings |
Twisty streets |
Greenery |
6 |
Layered and terraced |
Organized around landmark or monument |
Plaza or courtyard |
7 |
Outdoor public spaces |
Surrounded by water |
Stairs or ramps |
8 |
Large park or garden |
Recently flooded |
Bridges or overpasses |
9 |
Two parallel arteries with park in between |
Museum or library |
Aqueduct |
10 |
Local public transportation system |
Dead-end streets |
Fortifications |
Rumors
If you need a rumor, roll 2d20 and 2d6. The d20s describe the actor and their action. The d6s indicate the position of the actor – whether the action is done or will be done or might be done. The second d6 adds detail to the action.
Who or what is the rumor about? (d20)
d20 |
Who |
1 |
Your faction |
2 |
A rival faction |
3 |
A friendly faction |
4 |
A neutral faction |
5 |
An unknown group |
6 |
A religious group |
7 |
A mercenary group |
8 |
A friend |
9 |
An enemy |
10 |
A rival |
11 |
Another faction member |
12 |
An anonymous person |
13 |
A stranger |
14 |
A masked vigilante |
15 |
An anonymous official |
16 |
A force outside the city |
17 |
The city guard/government |
18 |
An intelligent monster |
19 |
A magical force |
20 |
A natural force |
What did/will/might they do? (d6 + d20 + d6)
d6 |
Mood |
1-2 |
Did |
3-4 |
Will |
5-6 |
Might |
d20 |
Action (d6) |
1 |
Steal (Item) |
2 |
Study (1-3 Item) (4-5 Location) (6 Event) |
3 |
Infiltrate (1-3 Location) (4 Group) (5-6 Event) |
4 |
Attack (1-2 Location) (3-5 Group) (6 Person) |
5 |
Destroy (1-2 Location) (3-6 Item) |
6 |
Capture (Person) |
7 |
Assassinate (Person) |
8 |
Challenge (1-4 Person) (5-6 Group) |
9 |
Blackmail (1-3 Person) (4-6 Group) |
10 |
Seek (1 Location) (2-3 Item) (4-5 Person) (6 Group) |
11 |
Arrive at (1-4 Location) (5-6 Event) |
12 |
Depart from (1-4 Location) (5-6 Event) |
13 |
Disappear to (Location) |
14 |
Acquire (Item) |
15 |
Join (1-3 Group) (4 Person) (5-6 Event) |
16 |
Sabotage (Event) |
17 |
Discover (1-3 Item) (4-5 Location) (6 Person) |
18 |
Ally with (1-3 Person) (4-6 Group) |
19 |
Hide in/a (1-3 Item) (4-5 Location) (6 Person) |
20 |
Guard (1-2 Item) (3 Location) (4-6 Person) |
Details (d6)
d6 |
Item |
Person |
Group |
1 |
Magic artifact |
Yourself |
Your faction |
2 |
Royal object |
A family member |
A splinter group from your faction |
3 |
Mystic weapon |
A disgraced noble |
The Assassins’ Guild |
4 |
Sacred scroll |
A mysterious merchant |
The Thieves’ Guild |
5 |
Ancient idol |
An innocent foundling |
The Merchant’s Collective |
6 |
Mundane goblet |
A rebellious aristocrat |
The Bureaucracy |
d6 |
Location |
Event |
1 |
A secret entrance |
A disgraced aristocrat’s wedding |
2 |
A well-traveled public garden |
A noble’s coming-of-age ceremony |
3 |
A hero’s monument |
A sit-down between competing crime lords |
4 |
A bustling marketplace |
A corrupt politician’s rally |
5 |
A government building |
A festival parade |
6 |
A noble’s house |
The arrival of an important personage |
100 Things on City Streets
- One lit doorway on a street of otherwise darkened doorways
- Fog-filled alleyways
- Faint whistling sound from just up ahead
- The smell of rat poison and sewage
- Religious graffiti on the side of a church
- Cart blocking the street
- Overflowing trashcan
- Street hustlers scamming tourists
- Someone peering at a map, looking lost
- Steam rising from a grill in the ground
- Boarded up window with placards pasted on
- Stray domestic pet scavenging for food
- Abandoned wagon, one wheel missing
- Narrow patch of greenery, lovingly maintained by neighbors
- Storefront with signs indicating going out of business
- A bird wrestling scraps from a group of rodents
- Rain-slicked street reflecting lamplight
- Traffic jam caused by unruly domestic beasts
- Baker offering samples of a new treat
- Kids rushing through a crowded street, a grocer chasing after them
- Tiered walkways spanning a corrupted site
- Workers clearing up a burnt-out building
- A walled-off construction site reeking with magic
- A canal spanned by a footbridge with a reputation for ruining relationships
- Statue of a long-forgotten war hero, crammed with slips of paper
- A woman selling exotic coffee out of a pushcart
- Four people cornering an escaped beast of burden
- A lone street performer asking for a volunteer from the audience
- A crowd emptying out from a theater after a performance
- The sounds of cheers from a nearby sporting venue
- A crowd gathered around a street performer
- A few people gathered around a hustler taking money from tourists
- Kids rolling a trash receptacle down the street
- A dozen stray domestic animals emerging suddenly from a sewer grate
- Clotheslines hung over an alley with beautiful, multicolored robes draped over them
- The sound of a distant busker in an otherwise quiet neighborhood
- A collapsed area filled with water, being used as a swimming pool
- A stone marker, memorializing a forgotten event
- Fungus growing along the stone wall of an alley
- A shrine embedded in the street dedicated to the god of the gutters