Game Concept: Factions of Abrana

[iisbroke]

I have done a few forum games (see signature) but have been inactive lately. I do like GMing and want to start up a game once this current semester of school I have ends. Before I do that I'd like to get an idea of what game people would want to play.Now I have had some time and made a map, and from this map I think we could come up with a good game.

Note: this isn't a sign up thread it is a discussion thread for this game. Any calls to play won't matter until the actual signup thread which we'll go over later on. Also I have an irc for games, yet I'm not on it very often and it would be better to have people discuss things here were everyone can go back an read it anyway. So please feel free to tell me your thoughts.

With that out the way the map!

Spoiler: direct link

Warning it's massive
http://i.imgur.com/pyfPpR9.jpg

With AutoRealm, the program used to make this. I was limited to less a modern setting, in terms of buildings anyway. Now I really wanted to make a map where people could fight for control of a city, then I felt it was lacking and added countryside. Here we are Abrana a large urban center with a lot of internal and possibly external strife.

Originally I consider a mobster game, and thus went to make a city. As stated I could only do so much, even combining icons couldn't make a nice looking modern city, without it being nothing but vacant squares everywhere which looks bleh.

Yet maybe the gang angle could work, or even factions in general. Merchant families? Criminal syndicates? Ambitious lords? I'm not sure.

Same goes for the setting. Now this could easily be some sort of medieval fictional city, with or without magic. We could also set it in a little more modern time and the city is just old and those castles are aged remnants of long gone era. Heck if we tried we could make it a scifi setting I'm sure.

What type of game would you want to play? Setting, playstyle? Please let me know in the comments below

 

[Rovsea]

I like teh idea of factions. Clearly, you've named some of these settlements, and established a bit of a style for each of them. If you could run through them and list what your thought was in creating them, that would be cool. For instance, are those tents and boats at Merholm significant of a Viking incursion?

 

[BlackBishop]

That map is epic. The Autorealm is strong with you, young Iisbroke.

 

[iisbroke]

I like teh idea of factions. Clearly, you've named some of these settlements, and established a bit of a style for each of them. If you could run through them and list what your thought was in creating them, that would be cool. For instance, are those tents and boats at Merholm significant of a Viking incursion?

Of course Do note that the below is subject to change

City of Arbana

• Adwick Hold - On the bones of an old ruin fort Adwick was built. It is a powerful and imposing citadel whose control of the river fork has allowed Abrana to dominate trade.
• River Garde - A recently constructed fort controling the Main Street Bridge.
• Oakville - the oldest part of town. As wealthier families moved away from the docks immigrants moved into the run down structures. It has since become a confusing maze of crime ridden paths. Even proper soldiers avoid this area.
• Eastbale - the far eastern part of the city. Originally meant to be Eastvale it gained the current name from the thick accents of its residents.
• Partrician Plaza - this it the current center of Arbana. Here is where many of the more prominent merchant families and offices can be found.
• Harbor - This is the life blood of the city. Here ships from the far flung reaches of the world arrive to buy and sell.
  
• Fort Hull - this place is less a castle and more a prison. The old cathedral was transformed into a military structure a few centuries ago (after its religion was outlawed), and then later a prison. Its vast network of catacombs turned into a dungeon complex.
• Market Row - given the name of a large series of businesses it has expanded over time to become the whole southeastern district of the city. Here is where most goods brought in from the harbor, or outside are manufactured and sold to the citizenry.

Fields of Scorn

• No Man's Land - just outside the bulwark is a kill zone. Here many who have sought to take Arbana lay in a scarred landscape. There are still bodies leftover from the most recent would be warlord.
• The Bulwark - this is a collection of ramparts and barricade just outside the main wall. Here is where most soldiers and militia forces congregate in times of war to defend their city.
  
• Physt - an old villa gifted to one of the newer religions in the region, Hissos. Physt has become a mission for this cult, which has been attempting to convert people in mass.
• Varham - during an historic siege in 1124 the attackers built this fort as a forward position. Originally made entirely of wood, recurring attackers have added on to it in various sieges creating a small castle. Currently Varham is the first line of defense for Arbana from the south.

Fenaria Forest

• Shrine of Edona - the goddess of nature her shrine was made by the original settlers of Abrana but has since fallen into disrepair. As the influence of other religions spread her secluded enclave gets more at risk.
  
• Olo Monastery - Olo is the god of trade/luck and thus he is quite popular. He the second oldest religion in the city.
  
• Melbarrow - a large collection of farms and a major supply of food for the city.
• Lanberg - Abrana has a curfew so people attempting to enter the city at night must wait. On the northern side is small congregation of fishers and trappers who live in a tiny palisade. In it is a large bustling tavern for travelers.
• Furrier Post - off in the woods is a common stopping ground for fur traders coming from the dense north forest.
• Birchwood - a woodcutter's camp.
• Merholm - is a war camp filled with mercenaries. Once raiders these people have simply been hired to hold back their kinsmen in exchange for some land, food, and most importantly gold. Yet, what will happen when Arbana can no longer pay them?

Erie Marsh

• Cwynburgh - slightly isolated the hamlet of is situated in the Eerie Marsh. They are often left to their own devices so long as they pay taxes. Whenever they enter the city proper they come into conflict due to their radically different culture.
• Disj Hall - the estate of a powerful yet somewhat reclusive baroness. She only makes appearances in her annual celebrations, her source of income is unknown.

Talon Foothills

• Ruins of Falco - once home to a powerful family they were driven out by a bloody coup which forced them to leave behind their fortified manor in the mountains.
  
• Silverton - buttressed against the mountains and thinly spread out. It is a collection of mining communities and quarrys. As the name suggests the major export is silver, followed in quantity by tin, marble, and copper.
• Tula - is a minor barony which was gifted to the Knights of Zuna, God of War.

Kart Dale

• Blackborough - small village along the western Kart Bay.
• Poorton - Recent wars have caused many refugees to slowly trickle into the countryside. They have formed a hodge podge of tents along the Fenier River on the outskirts of the city.
• Tolly Manor - the home of a powerful landowner in the western region.

 

[iisbroke]

That map is epic. The Autorealm is strong with you, young Iisbroke.

Yeaahhhh it took some time. Needless to say I am going to reuse this map to death after all the effort put into it XD Especially after having to make an a bunch of colored shapes to form a palisade wall and gate to copy past all over the place. Oh Cwynburgh I hate you.

Thanks btw.

 

[BlackBishop]

I like the idea of a low-fantasy setting cause I'm a junkie like that and the map seems about right for that. But I could take it or leave it - what really interests me is playing a focused game in small scale setting such as a city - perhaps sprinkled in with some war and diplomacy with foreign powers. It would be neat if the city had some sort of elected leadership - like an elected lord-mayor and council giving players each a prospect at influencing major decisions in the game. That being said, I'm not totally sure I could make a meaningful contribution, being spread thin as it is, but it might be fun to try.

 

[oxfordroyale]

Very, very interested. A game set within a low-fantasy medieval city is one of my favorite concepts, so that's what I would advocate for.

 

[iisbroke]

I like the idea of a low-fantasy setting cause I'm a junkie like that and the map seems about right for that. But I could take it or leave it - what really interests me is playing a focused game in small scale setting such as a city - perhaps sprinkled in with some war and diplomacy with foreign powers. It would be neat if the city had some sort of elected leadership - like an elected lord-mayor and council giving players each a prospect at influencing major decisions in the game. That being said, I'm not totally sure I could make a meaningful contribution, being spread thin as it is, but it might be fun to try.

Maybe medium fantasy? So there's more magic than in low fantasy, yet less than high :3 Or one concept I've considered there is no actual magic except superstitions and what people believe to to be magic. There are still the classic fantasy races, and maybe some of the creatures. Would that be mid fantasy. . . hmmm I must research. Still we'll see what other people think for a while. My semester is only half way in so there's plenty of time to work out the right setting.

When it comes to elected officials, to be honest part of the idea came from playing Venice in CKII. Perhaps merchant families or even a Guildcracy, so the guilds run the government. Sometimes the merchants' guild is in charge, other times the fighters', the mages', thieves', and etcetera. Just a thought. I feel a game like this should strive for a lot of intrigue between the factions.

 

[BlackBishop]

Maybe medium fantasy? So there's more magic than in low fantasy, yet less than high :3 Or one concept I've considered there is no actual magic except superstitions and what people believe to to be magic. There are still the classic fantasy races, and maybe some of the creatures. Would that be mid fantasy. . . hmmm I must research. Still we'll see what other people think for a while. My semester is only half way in so there's plenty of time to work out the right setting.

When it comes to elected officials, to be honest part of the idea came from playing Venice in CKII. Perhaps merchant families or even a Guildcracy, so the guilds run the government. Sometimes the merchants' guild is in charge, other times the fighters', the mages', thieves', and etcetera. Just a thought. I feel a game like this should strive for a lot of intrigue between the factions.

Low to high, I'd still play. I like the guild idea - seems the problems facing the city might dictate who runs the show, such as the fighters guild in times of war, the merchants in peace, the mages when a magical portal to hell incarnate opens outside the walls, spewing out demon babies set to devour us all, and so on and so forth.

 

[alexander23]

i like the idea of a maybe mid level fantasy, but instead of medieval what about Renaissance era so we have early muskets or pistols..and maybe some cannons, plus make more sense for guolds and criminal gangs etc

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

If I play this.. will I help summoning Landfallen 3? I'm in! Also, I like the ideas of factions and mid-fantasy.

 

[iisbroke]

Low to high, I'd still play. I like the guild idea - seems the problems facing the city might dictate who runs the show, such as the fighters guild in times of war, the merchants in peace, the mages when a magical portal to hell incarnate opens outside the walls, spewing out demon babies set to devour us all, and so on and so forth.

And thus comes the conflict. Though I'd probably allow players to be other more miscellaneous factions. Like a baron, a commander, bandit lord, cult leader, etcetera.

i like the idea of a maybe mid level fantasy, but instead of medieval what about Renaissance era so we have early muskets or pistols..and maybe some cannons, plus make more sense for guolds and criminal gangs etc

I'm quite open to allowing those types of weapons. I'm even adding this to my list of things to do with it.

If I play this.. will I help summoning Landfallen 3? I'm in! Also, I like the ideas of factions and mid-fantasy.

Thanks for the input. When it comes to L3 well. . . sit down. Let me tell you a story of uhhh. . . theyarerich so theyarerich was folding laundry one early morning. Next to him was a cup of delicious coffee, and beyond that a laptop who all of landfallen laid within. Theyarerich was almost done with their folding and was quite proud of their work. Yet, in their hubris they erred. The cup was struck and coffee rained down upon the laptop. Searing hot coffee spewed into the world of landfallen the Golden Kingdom, the 12 Peers, Meridianus, Aerworuld, and all else was consumed. Nothing more than a memory.

 

[BlackBishop]

I'm wondering Iis, how did you get such a big map, if I may ask? The most I can muster is the res of my computer screen. Typically using ShareX, or good ol fashoined print screen and paint and uploading on Imgur to get my purty pictures.

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

Thanks for the input. When it comes to L3 well. . . sit down. Let me tell you a story of uhhh. . . theyarerich so theyarerich was folding laundry one early morning. Next to him was a cup of delicious coffee, and beyond that a laptop who all of landfallen laid within. Theyarerich was almost done with their folding and was quite proud of their work. Yet, in their hubris they erred. The cup was struck and coffee rained down upon the laptop. Searing hot coffee spewed into the world of landfallen the Golden Kingdom, the 12 Peers, Meridianus, Aerworuld, and all else was consumed. Nothing more than a memory.

Wew....

 

[iisbroke]

I'm wondering Iis, how did you get such a big map, if I may ask? The most I can muster is the res of my computer screen. Typically using ShareX, or good ol fashoined print screen and paint and uploading on Imgur to get my purty pictures.

In auto realm I pick a spot zoom in to what I want the max zoom in to be, and then I go to save as. In save as I make it .jpeg and set the custom size, and just play with that until it works. Then in photos, I used photo preview on the old computer, I crop it. It takes a lot of finagling to get it right but pays off. Then I NEVER try to edit in imgur because when I do it automaticly reduces the size. Yet, if I don't edit it the image will stay the same size I uploaded it as.

Edit: I had this map zoomed in to 400% in autorealm and saved it at size 12000 x 12000 then cropped it.

 

[BlackBishop]

In auto realm I pick a spot zoom in to what I want the max zoom in to be, and then I go to save as. In save as I make it .jpeg and set the custom size, and just play with that until it works. Then in photos, I used photo preview on the old computer, I crop it. It takes a lot of finagling to get it right but pays off. Then I NEVER try to edit in imgur because when I do it automaticly reduces the size. Yet, if I don't edit it the image will stay the same size I uploaded it as.

Edit: I had this map zoomed in to 400% in autorealm and saved it at size 12000 x 12000 then cropped it.

Beauty. Thanks. I'll see if I can play around with mine.

 

[Captain Ozwin]

*I wish i was this good with Autorealm XD
*I love fantasy, my preference is low I really don't care much for magic but fantasy creatures and races definitely,even if its not a low fantasy I'd still join, just prefer low
*As far as game play mechanics go I feel this game would be awesome to have individual player stats, I know a lot of games shy away from it to not "over complicate things" but this map would be perfect for individual characters, their stories and personal battles
*Inspiration Idea what if we say Arbana is a fully functional city state but 3 other countries, one to the North , West and East all share borders with Arbana and want to annex it they can't decide who gets it so they leave it up to Arbana to decide however it votes to remain Neutral, one of the other countries tries to take it by force and fails this sparks a cold war where all three nations prepare for war over the fate of Arbana, all three counties have agreed to not forcibly take the city yet each country doesn't trust the other and is ready to defend Arbana from the others while trying to persuade Arbana to join them. Just a little idea ^-^

 

[aedan777]

Renaissance setting sounds excellent. My 2 cents is also on no magic, because I find it trite and boring. And I think the city's internal politics should be a democracy ala ancient Athens, but combined with guilds and merchants competing for influence.

 

[Deaghaidh]

I entirely endorse this endeavour. An internal city-state politics game sounds fun.

I'd be into a historical (ancient greek, Italian renaissance) or pseudo historical setting. Low fantasy is always fun, and I'd be down for that as well (if we do that, obviously the dwarven House of Deagrin will lead us to glory!), but it's something we see more often.

I'd throw out a bit of a dark horse candidate: Steampunk! Because I'm always trying to make Steampunk games work out, but I never manage it on my own.

A while back I tried a Steampunk London game that was about players competing for social, political and economic influence. It petered out due to my usual issues of biting off more than I can chew. But I think the structure would work.

 

[Captain Ozwin]

Renaissance setting sounds excellent. My 2 cents is also on no magic, because I find it trite and boring. And I think the city's internal politics should be a democracy ala ancient Athens, but combined with guilds and merchants competing for influence.

With ya on magic , that time period also nice

But yeah the game could be about internal factions or even my idea with external factions and the fate of the city choosing what faction to join or remain a neutral faction of Its on the game could easily support diplomatic players , solider based players and spy based players as well as your merchants selling or buying arms as well as information they could also try to sway the city to joining the side that most profits them