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Rockjaw
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May 4, 2008 1:05 PM PDT
Hmmmmm.....? Intelligent Hermit, thats an excellent idea...! I really like the sound of this, someone or something that could either be a benefactor or an allied force....I would heartfully endorse this, but what I would like would be a "unique" enti
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james_gaines
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May 4, 2008 1:59 PM PDT
I don't see any reason why the water source has to be magical. It would be interesting, but we might run into some logistic problems.As for the cosmology we now have four basic 'spheres':1. The Material Plane (The World, The Shadowfell, and the Feywi
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PerennialRook
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May 4, 2008 2:18 PM PDT
His name is Lancebreaker, and was a high ranking hobgoblin sergeant in an elite ranger unit, the personal guard of the Ravfest family. When the Ravfest family fell (PM me if you're interested in knowing more), the ranger unit splintered and warred a
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Rockjaw
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May 4, 2008 5:39 PM PDT
I agree and yes Lancebreaker could and would fit that role nicely.I'm trying to remember something I saw years ago, the hermit was quite a bit larger than the characters, but stooped with age and weary, you know battered cloak and gnarled walking sta
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PerennialRook
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May 4, 2008 9:52 PM PDT
How about......a minotaur.Sorry, I was just playing around with my wacom tablet today. I thought I'd share. :D
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Rockjaw
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May 5, 2008 5:02 PM PDT
Wow, thats........different.! But this is interesting, how about it an aged minotaur, a once brutal war-band leader, with some form of nasty battle scars, deep eye-patch, missing one hand something like that.....Yeah, this has possibilities..........
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james_gaines
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May 5, 2008 6:55 PM PDT
I would not vote for a minotaur. I imagine that a tired refugee's first reaction to a minotaur appearing (or even a hob or orc) would probably be something akin to: "KILL IT!!!"I'd say that if there is a hermit, it should be a relatively common race
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PerennialRook
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May 5, 2008 7:11 PM PDT
I like this idea... I'll have to think on this one.As for the "attack on sight" reaction to an intelligent monster, remember these are not player controlled PC's, these are NPC's controlled by... us. Which means they could react better than your com
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Rizzen9
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May 5, 2008 7:46 PM PDT
Someone mentioned a group of Warforged before? What about a single Warforged? Possibly incomplete and/or no memory about his creators or why hes there. Maybe he doesnt leave the redout because he has no knowledge of the outside world and only knows t
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Rockjaw
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May 6, 2008 6:28 PM PDT
I got some time to think on it and I agree, how valuable would a journal be to the new residents. Very I think. A musted and humidity stained journal found in some hollowed out tree or in a small man sized cave, written on its aged parchament pages a
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james_gaines
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May 6, 2008 10:54 PM PDT
It could be Lancebreaker's journal. When the refugees look around the redoubt they notice that one particular area seems to have been recently used. Upon inspection they find Lancebreakers room. Lancebreaker died in this room, leaving behind a few su
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Kage_no_Neko
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May 7, 2008 7:31 AM PDT
I like the idea of an old minotaur as the hermit. Still strong enough to defend him or herself from an initial "ahh, kill it" reaction of a single individual or small group, but not so strong as to chase down the witless fool and kill him off. And wi
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james_gaines
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May 7, 2008 1:27 PM PDT
I'm a little confused. Are the dwarves are still around? Or is this a kind of mechanical trap?Also, if this river is the towns only water supply than that's really dangerous (although maybe that's the point). With roughly 70 people, even with a DC of
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Kage_no_Neko
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May 7, 2008 1:53 PM PDT
As I said, this was an idea for in the future after the town had started getting on its feet and word gets around to whatever dwarven clan originally built the retreat. It was not something I was planning on bringing up all that early on.That is exac
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james_gaines
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May 7, 2008 5:14 PM PDT
The poison thing might work if you are planning to run a campaign here (I'm becoming more and more partial to having this be my first 4e setting) but remember that we don't have any adventurers.Also, we probably won't get far enough down the timeline
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Kage_no_Neko
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May 8, 2008 6:03 AM PDT
I completely agree that this proposed hook was supposed to be several years or more down the life of the city. I only mentioned it as the reason I had been working on the grotto idea in the background.I had always assumed there would be something spe
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Rizzen9
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May 18, 2008 3:05 PM PDT
Has this thread died already? If not then this is a bump.
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PerennialRook
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May 18, 2008 3:12 PM PDT
Bumping a stickied thread? Funny.The idea isn't dead, we are just waiting on... well 4e, really.There is the little matter of the OP. Like, who is going to write it? Who will be the OP (thread lead)? Etc.It is my hope that we wait until everyone
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Dougan_Axehammer
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May 21, 2008 12:25 AM PDT
Really, I thought that perhaps we were all simply too busy with work, end of semester, whatever; so busy in fact, that we were just too burnt out to contribute anything. But I suppose that we're also waiting until 4E.P.S. Keep On The Shadowfell hit
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Rockjaw
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May 21, 2008 8:58 AM PDT
I agree thats where we are, I'm waiting to get the 4E stuff to see how it will all be orginized and weather or not some of our creative energies are being mis-guided or not.All I hope is that this latest version will allow the tools for solid role-pl
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Rockjaw
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May 23, 2008 9:33 AM PDT
BUMP :cool:
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Dougan_Axehammer
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May 23, 2008 11:40 AM PDT
To the matter of the BACT lead (read: OP):I have found myself rather busy as of late, so I'm not able to keep up with the discussion as much as I'd like. Because of that, I'm not sure how I would fare as lead for the story thread. I'll do it if tha
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james_gaines
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May 27, 2008 12:22 PM PDT
I'd vote for PerennialRook.So is there anything else we need to do before 4E comes out?The only thing I can think of is maybe an expanded map of the area, but I think we're pretty much ready.
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Dragoon1
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June 15, 2008 9:52 PM PDT
So, is this going to go anywhere now?
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james_gaines
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June 15, 2008 10:50 PM PDT
Well Dougan can't do this so someone else will need to start this. Nobody's stepping up. I've been tossing some ideas around in my head, I'd like to see this start soon.
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PerennialRook
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June 17, 2008 9:03 AM PDT
There are a few things to work out before we get this going in another thread. Like: how we are handling NPCs, what posting rules we are going to have, etc.
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PerennialRook
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June 22, 2008 10:24 PM PDT
Some NPC Statblocks I have been working on:[sblock=Moses, Level 4 Controller (Leader)]Medium natural humanoid, female tiefling cleric; XP 150Initiative +5; Senses Perception +4; low-light visionHP 43; Bloodied 21AC 16; Fortitude 13, Reflex 16, Will 1
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james_gaines
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June 22, 2008 11:14 PM PDT
My version of the Dire Snapping Tortoise[sblock]Dire Snapping Tortoise, Level 8 SoldierLarge natural beast (reptile); XP 350Initiative +2; Senses Perception +4; low-light visionHP 76; Bloodied 38AC 24; Fortitude 24, Reflex 20, Will 20Resist 5 damageS
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PerennialRook
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June 23, 2008 3:26 AM PDT
I made some changes to my own working version after seeing yours. I also made the sample encounters before the hatchling and normal dire versions.[sblock=Snapping Tortoises][sblock=Hatchling Snapping Tortoise, Level 3 Skirmisher]Small natural beast
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AriaSilverhands
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June 23, 2008 8:18 AM PDT
Yay! Someone used my statblock icons. =)
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Dougan_Axehammer
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June 23, 2008 11:38 PM PDT
Sorry I haven't been posting for a while. I have a new job, I've been spending more time with my family, and I've just started running what I hope to be my first long-running campaign.The statblocks are very nice for our first step in blending with
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PerennialRook
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June 24, 2008 1:22 PM PDT
Here is a reworked Moses. I took out all divine references and radiant powers, making her "godless" while leaving her with appropriate powers for a priestess. The incite powers, which are cool for their respecting monsters, are flavored heavily tow
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PerennialRook
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June 24, 2008 2:33 PM PDT
Hey, no one is blaming you. Spending time with your family should take priority over gaming. Good luck with the new campaign. I just started my first 4E campaing week before last, and so far it has been a blast.Speaking of my new 4E campaign, what
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PerennialRook
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June 24, 2008 4:30 PM PDT
[sblock=Jeffers, Half-Elf Bouncer, Level 2 Soldier]Medium natural humanoid; XP 125Initiative +4; Senses Perception +4; low-light visionHP 39; Bloodied 19Regeneration 5 (only when bloodied)AC 18; Fortitude 14, Reflex 12, Will 16Speed 5 Reaping Halberd
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james_gaines
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June 24, 2008 5:54 PM PDT
I like having the tortoise as elite.As to Iron Shell and Fling. I think fling fits in well with the soldier role. The soldier role is supposed to be most like the PC role of Defender (although it can work as Striker as well.) Combined with Stability
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PerennialRook
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June 24, 2008 7:11 PM PDT
I'm just not sure why a tortoise would have resistance to any of the damage types. Resistance 15 to psychic damage? The shell does warrant a high AC, but a soldier's base 16 AC is as high as it gets, combined with being level 8 and the +2 bonus for
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PerennialRook
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June 24, 2008 10:37 PM PDT
[sblock=Ariana, Human Falconer, Level 8 Artillery]Medium natural humanoid; XP 350Initiative +7; Senses Perception +12 (+14 sight based checks)HP 69; Bloodied 34; see falconAC 16; Fortitude 15, Reflex 16, Will 16Speed 6 Longbow (standard; at-will) * W
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james_gaines
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June 24, 2008 10:50 PM PDT
I still believe that the tortoise should have an ability to represent it withdrawing into the shell. I'd rather see this creature as a paragon of defensive ability rather than a run-of-the-mill soldier. I mean, other than a high constitution there is
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PerennialRook
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June 26, 2008 7:52 PM PDT
Now that I understand what you are trying to represent, what about using total defense as a framework like so?:Iron Shell (standard; recharge when first bloodied)The tortoise heals one-quarter of hit total hit points, becomes insubstantial, and gains
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james_gaines
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June 26, 2008 8:31 PM PDT
Sounds good to me, but there is one thing.As worded in the PHB "insubstantial" works perfectly for what this ability should do. However, I think it'd be a lot better to spell it out (half damage from direct, area, and ongoing attacks) simply because
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Thukad
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July 1, 2008 6:42 AM PDT
Might I introduce a family? It's a little bit out there though.A lone dwarf woodsman moves into the forests around the town with his adopted children, three Minotaurs, a Gnoll, and two young human boys.The dwarf only wants to rebuild the home he use
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Thukad
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July 10, 2008 10:40 AM PDT
dear god I killed the thread
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PerennialRook
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July 10, 2008 8:38 PM PDT
That isn't it really. A lot of us have been extremely busy lately.To comment on your suggestion: I first thought that it would be horrible, unfitting, and... ...too bizarre. Then I gave it a while to mull over the idea. I like it, and here's why:4
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Johnny_Angel
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July 20, 2008 6:37 PM PDT
It's nice to see the thread still going. I haven't had the chance to read all of the recent posts yet though. Can someone give me a brief overview of what I've missed? Has the City Building started?
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PerennialRook
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July 20, 2008 7:43 PM PDT
Some discussion needs to be had about 4e as it relates to our thread. The feel of 4e is so different, that I am not sure that our low-magic/commoner refugee group is the way to go. If everyone is okay with a high magic setting, I need to have this
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james_gaines
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July 20, 2008 10:05 PM PDT
Yeah, I'm ok with a high-magic setting. The whole no-PC-classes thing is a bit more difficult in 4E, but I believe the idea of no adventurers still works.I'm setting my campaign here too, although I'm making it 20 yrs later for various reasons.
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Valdark
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July 22, 2008 12:59 PM PDT
How about treating it as cover instead.✦ Superior Cover (–5 Penalty to Attack Rolls): Thetarget is protected by a significant terrain advantage,such as when fighting from behind a window, aportcullis, a grate, or an arrow slit.Iron Shell
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Valdark
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July 22, 2008 1:09 PM PDT
Another suggestion in keeping with the point of light idea.The Spring Thaws.Every year the spring thaw brings a surge in the rivers levels.In particularly warm years this thaw brings zombies washing down the river due to the thawing of an ancient und
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PerennialRook
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July 25, 2008 12:13 PM PDT
In short, no. You might develop that further and post it to the Points of Light (and Dark) thread which is also stickied in this forum. If you'd like to discuss the matter further, I would be more than willing to, but barring a seriously awesome ar
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PerennialRook
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July 25, 2008 12:14 PM PDT
That's an awesome idea. Good call. When I get time, I'll look at working it in.
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Valdark
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July 26, 2008 3:52 AM PDT
No worries mate, I'm actually using this in the city I'm building for my next campaign and thought I'd throw in my 2 copper.And I'm glad you like the Superior Cover idea, it seemed to fit with what you were looking for.
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PerennialRook
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July 26, 2008 1:25 PM PDT
[sblock=Hathor the Milkmaiden (WIP)][/sblock]
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james_gaines
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July 26, 2008 4:23 PM PDT
What?
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PerennialRook
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July 27, 2008 5:19 AM PDT
The OP is well underway (over 11,000 characters so far), but I ran into a minor issue. Namely, a town charter. I think that the refugees who are most affluent and educated, not to mention charismatic, will want to establish some sort of order in th
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PerennialRook
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July 27, 2008 11:22 PM PDT
Adopted from Thukad's idea for a family (sans lumberjacking), I present to you...[sblock=Residents of the Dragonbane Redoubt]From left to right: Levi & Eli (human children), Hathor, Anhur Fletchaft,Horus, Sekani (gnoll pup), Aloli (minotaur calf), an
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Dougan_Axehammer
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July 28, 2008 10:38 AM PDT
Are we making these the current inhabitants of the redoubt? I, for one, like the background and how it meshes with the story. The built in conflict could prove interesting too. I'll make my vote yes. But, I think that should do it for people for
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Dougan_Axehammer
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July 28, 2008 11:03 AM PDT
No, at present the Build A City 4.0 project is still in its discussion phase. Nothing yet has been put to story and there are still a few more things that we're trying to decide on.Unfortunately, the discussion has been interrupted by the release of
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PerennialRook
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July 28, 2008 1:30 PM PDT
I thought we were continuing as planned. In fact I have a good portion of the OP already written. As far as level of fantasy, I think that what we have is about right. We have representation of all the core races, some unique monsters, a good loca
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james_gaines
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July 28, 2008 2:03 PM PDT
The only thing I really don't like so far is the familiarity with the monstrous races. I think 4E is much more of an "Us versus Them" game.Also, you mention monstrous villains. Maybe I missed something (if I did I'd appreciate a reminder) but other t
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PerennialRook
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July 28, 2008 3:52 PM PDT
Yes, the green and gold (ohh, my old high school colors!) dragons are a couple of the villains, there is the invading force that arrives shortly after the refugees leave (IIRC) and the gnoll (?) servitors of the green dragon, and we have mentioned pl
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james_gaines
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July 28, 2008 6:01 PM PDT
Forgot about the army that actually invaded the city. Thank you for pointing that out.
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PerennialRook
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July 29, 2008 12:02 PM PDT
[sblock=Nan Kya's Orphans (WIP)]From left to right: Rat, Nan Kya, Klein "Urchin" Bandon (top), Jessie, Tam, and Silaqui (eladrin orphan).[/sblock][sblock=Helthal Family (WIP)]From left to right: son, Helthal Axebreaker, wife, daughter (bottom).[/sblo
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PerennialRook
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August 24, 2008 4:41 PM PDT
Well, my group is well on its way to setting the gold dragon free in Thorast Kax.
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Janusunaj
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August 25, 2008 11:47 PM PDT
Proposal:Tomas Renfieldlevel 7 Human Wizard.(Uh, with 11,000 characters, is 1 level 7 character o.k?)Tomas Renfield Tomas Renfield is an aspiring wizard who hopes to become a level 13 Paragon wizard someday.(In real life terms. Like, he wants to gain
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funkAchick0n
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September 12, 2008 2:12 PM PDT
is the thread dead
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PerennialRook
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September 12, 2008 3:38 PM PDT
It has been for awhile.I've been using Thorast Kax in my campaign, but the community effort has born little fruit.I would be willing to give it a go, including a detailed account of the happenings at Thorast Kax with the curse warped dragon and the s
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funkAchick0n
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September 14, 2008 8:44 AM PDT
quick question did they bring any weapons with them
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PerennialRook
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September 14, 2008 3:37 PM PDT
Did who bring any weapons with them?
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PerennialRook
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September 14, 2008 7:03 PM PDT
Bofbin Axebreaker had a great deal on his mind. Foremost on his mind was financing the trek south, which was becoming problematic with the sharp rise of prices withing the destoryed city of Thorast Kax. He, along with most of the dwarven community
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Rizzen9
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September 14, 2008 7:26 PM PDT
Awesome story!!!Is this something in your current campagn or something added to the BATC4?Either way, cant wait to read more of it. :D
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yellowdingo
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September 15, 2008 5:28 AM PDT
Perhaps this should have been offered up at some point.Towns That Were PlannedThe most famous and striking planned towns in ancient times were built between 3,000 and 2,000 years ago in the district surrounding the eastern Mediterranean, by the Creta
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funkAchick0n
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September 15, 2008 1:35 PM PDT
The Refugies who are going to start the new city
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PerennialRook
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September 15, 2008 1:42 PM PDT
I know that more than a few have weapons, like the Helthal Axebreaker, some of the dragonborn, Jeffers, etc. So, to answer your question, yes, many of the refugees brought weapons.
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funkAchick0n
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September 15, 2008 1:57 PM PDT
Thank you
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funkAchick0n
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September 15, 2008 1:59 PM PDT
Was this included in the resources list and was any money spent equiping the refuges with them
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Dougan_Axehammer
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September 15, 2008 2:02 PM PDT
Yes, and no.Most of the weaponry was already owned by the refugees (e.g. the Dragonborn, Ariana, the Dwarves, Jeffers, etc.) There are also a few smiths in the group that can make weapons in a pinch. Any materials that the smiths didn't bring, had
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PerennialRook
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September 15, 2008 2:14 PM PDT
Also, no weapons would be bought with the limited resources of the refugees. Prices on even the necessities are at a premium after the destruction of Thorast Kax.Good to see you D_A!
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funkAchick0n
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September 19, 2008 6:01 PM PDT
anything need to be decided about city
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Dougan_Axehammer
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September 20, 2008 10:27 AM PDT
To be honest I'm not entirely sure. We've been meaning to do a summary for quite sometime, and I'm pretty certain that it's time for one. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get caught up on everything (way too much to do.) But I'm slowly worki
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inheretic637
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September 23, 2008 12:11 PM PDT
Back when the Greyhawk wars left a hole in the Shield Lands, I wrote a campaign for taking it back. My brother, who likes to play Psions (Savaunt, usually), got a hold of a Griffon, found a place to for the party to hole up (high platau with artisan
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elohim1279
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September 26, 2008 9:38 PM PDT
In the DMG it says a city of 25,000 would have 1 guard per 100 people to protect it from threats within and without.That's only 250 guards,twice that in dangerous areas,thats 250 guards divided between three 8 hour shifts. WTF??? Does any one else th
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PerennialRook
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September 26, 2008 10:16 PM PDT
I think that the number is plenty high. 1% of the population are paid, full-time guards. While a militia can be called up for greater threats, a force of 250 guards is more than enough for a population of 25,000.
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Johnny_Angel
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September 29, 2008 10:37 AM PDT
I haven't been able to follow the thread for quite some time now. I'm not even quite sure what is going on.
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PerennialRook
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September 30, 2008 12:04 PM PDT
Nothing has happened for a few months now. I've been using the groundwork that was lain for my own campaign, but there hasn't been a lot of serious interest in this thread of late.To recap: One of my players (the pawn of a demon) was sent to destroy
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PerennialRook
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September 30, 2008 12:58 PM PDT
I also have this worked up:Tuesday, September 30, 2008The Build a City Thread IVA History: A long, long time ago Abbacabba started the very first Build a City thread (hereafter known as TBACT). Deanrule said of it, "(the thread) lasted for some time
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Raging_Dwarf
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October 12, 2008 4:22 PM PDT
I just wanted to say that I really like this thread, and that I'm going to steal many of these ideas for my own campaign :DOne thing I did want to add is that maybe the refugees knew that a cataclysm was coming, but discovered the cataclysm without e
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funkAchick0n
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October 19, 2008 9:14 AM PDT
I love this thread but could not join the other and am glad i can join the new one
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funkAchick0n
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November 2, 2008 10:13 AM PST
what type of gov. will they use
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Grimbus
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November 3, 2008 3:00 PM PST
Just saw this thread and I thought I'd throw my two penny's worth. None of them are particularly original, but there you go.Ok, a bunch of refugees have come into the city. The previous occupants are extremely wary/suspicious of the refugees. The Thi
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Mantid
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June 13, 2009 10:22 AM PDT
Can i create a Commoner for the city
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Rizzen9
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June 13, 2009 9:08 PM PDT
The threads been dead for awhile but go ahead and post an idea, hopefully peeps will respond and get this thread running again. I miss this thread :weep:
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Rizzen9
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July 26, 2009 2:43 AM PDT
So...since this thread is basicaly dead, anyone thought of starting a new one? Since I think we did awsome on this thread, why dont we step up the challenge and do something like oh...a dungeon, cavern system with a whole eco system or step it up fur
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Dougan_Axehammer
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July 30, 2009 11:20 AM PDT
Actually, I've returned to an active status on the forums, though I've been on vacation for the past week. I'm currently working on a summary and I'm trying to decide on the importance of PC-classes. Unfortunately, I don't know when I'll get those
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Rizzen9
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July 30, 2009 2:44 PM PDT
I was meaning to contact you or any of the others that have started the past TBAC threads to see if anyone wanted to start a new one. I still cant get the coding correct on these threads lol for some reason and with me being stationed in Korea, not s
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Rizzen9
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August 8, 2009 4:33 AM PDT
So I'm thinking of starting a TBAC thread but its going to be based around a Post-Apoc setting and was wondering if anyone here would like to be involved? I'm trying to decide if its going to be generic Post-Apoc theme or lean more towards a Zombie t
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yellowdingo
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August 27, 2009 5:46 PM PDT
Oddly, the idea of a 'point of light' is that in a city it will be individual buildings. Some are active points of light, others abandoned and shut down (awaiting reoccupation) For a part of the community to qualify as a 'point of light' you would co
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Pureheart1975
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March 23, 2010 11:23 AM PDT
I've created my own original continent - the world will be developed in my second campaign. But I've created an entire continent with a Kingdom - even including how the political system works and a list of Holidays they celebrate. I'm in the process
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Rockjaw
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July 10, 2010 1:59 PM PDT
Hey BACT Builders.....I'm back...
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Rizzen9
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July 13, 2010 5:04 PM PDT
Welcome back Rockjaw, where ya been?
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DrParadox
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August 29, 2010 1:20 AM PDT
is this thread dead? because I'd like to add a suggestion for a flavor site. Gilliad Erdfang, time traveller!well... not exactly. he's using a modified "gentle repose" to travel 1000 years into the future, in a once ornately decorated sarcoghagus. it
