Ok, NY is out because its just too fucking obvious. So would any thinly-veiled NY-substitute (Metropolis and Gotham included).
So aside from those, and in the vein of my earlier "which city is best for a horror campaign" question, where would you think would be the coolest place to have a supers campaign set in, and why?
RPGPundit
My answer is the same as before- San Francisco.
I just started a pulp/supers game based in 1930's SF.
It's compact, densely populated, has a ton of crazy history (and people!) has ocean access.
- near the center of the high tech industry and has a pretty crazy occult scene (both of which are good spawning grounds for super villains).
- suitably dramatic weather- especially the ever present fog.
- lots of expat communities from very different parts of the world.
Moscow.
It strikes me as a very "shades of grey" kinda city, so a straight-up four-color approach might be out - then again, four-color heroes dealing with the sordid underworld and the corrupt system with which it's intertwined could be interesting in and of itself.
Once again, Washington DC. Halls of power and all, plus ya'd get to wreck some nifty monuments and beat the crap out of uppity government agents.
Coruscant from Star Wars.
I'd suggest Chicago, because of its location and size. However, it might be interesting to set it somewhere NOT in the United States. Somewhere with a lot of tourists and wealth? Rio? Hong Kong? Paris? One of the interesting issues is how different laws might be than standard U.S or Canada. (Although I think Vancouver, BC would be a nifty spot to set one too since I lived there for a bit.) Also the wealth is attractive for supervillains and its easier to move around because of the tourism industry.
I typically like using cities I have been to and my most favourite (and successful) has been Singapore. It had it all for me, massive transport hub, very rich, densely populated, super high tech, interesting history, etc...
Anyway, it worked for me!
Philadelphia! You can have a whole America/Liberty theme thing going on with corny old-timers running around.
I agree that somke cities in countries other than the US might be cool. Hong Kong for sure, Rio would also be cool. Also Bangkok.
Rio seems like it would be interesting as hell place to host a modern supers game.
And Pundit probably knows the city better than me, also a plus!
I'll pimp Baltimore (again and always). Decent size, some interesting long-standing ethnic groups (you need a mafia for a supers game), it's a port city (anything landlocked is right out - you need docks and a warehouse district, and a body of water for the giant squid to surface from). It's run-down in many parts, and relatively shiny/affluent in others, but with an industrial vibe throughout. Plenty of museums, colleges and defense contractors. And you can hop over to Philly or DC for adventures without stretching credulity or having it feel like mandatory globetrotting; you also have other 'adventure sites that write themselves' nearby, like Gettysburg (ghosts and such). Plus, Poe's grave!
I'd pick a palce with high skyscaper, density and high population density. I don't know about the former for Rio but I like the idea of some latin inspired Super Heros with machismo. Others top on my list Shanghai, Hong Kong, and for some reason Tokyo.
I like Portland or Seattle for supers... lots of quaint neighborhoods, and plenty of skyscrapers, too. And Portland has lots of tree-lined neighborhoods, perfect for hiding in. And both have some decent "gang turf", plus extensive underground tunnel systems without subways.
Quote from: VectorSigma;316009I'll pimp Baltimore
Superheroes meet The Wire!
The Punisher takes out the Barksdale gang while detective McNulty turns a bind eye. Meanwhile Stringer Bell hires Bullseye to kill Omar...
I would use the M&M city of Freedom. But for a real world choice I think Chicago is good.
I think Berlin during the Cold War would be pretty awesome too.
Paradise - A free city on the border of the United States and Canada, Paradise is home to the massive Paradise Generator that produces two thirds of the world's electrical energy by tapping an interdimensional gate. The city draws its fair share of heroes though the official team, The Guardians, is down and out due to lack of funding, while state sponsored teams, in particular Sweden and Norway's are loved by the public and saving the world on a monthly basis.
I use fictional cities a lot--mostly due toe the need to have specific geographic features/buildings that don't actually appear in the real world, together.
However, I'm currently using Austin write now for my superhero game. Most notably because most of the culture of that city is understandable to my players, yet it has quite a bit of things my small city in Texas doesn't that makes it appealing and interesting.
Quote from: RPGObjects_chuck;316007Rio seems like it would be interesting as hell place to host a modern supers game.
And Pundit probably knows the city better than me, also a plus!
Only by reputatyion; I've never actually been to Rio.
RPGPundit
My First Choice is San Francisco Bay Area
That gives you San Francisco (mecca for the unique with a strong occult community), San Jose (10th largest city in the US and the home of Hypertech of all types (electronics, bio, energy, etc), and Oakland (a large city with more than its share of big city problems). All of these are within 40 miles of each other. The locals around here don't think twice about making a quick drive between them. And there are all those other smaller cities and big towns between them. The Bay Area has Universities, Museaums, Indians, Spanish Mysteries, a rich history, and enough diversity to keep it lively.
My second choice is Seattle/ Tacoma. A very different vibe from most super cities. You get most of the advantages of The Bay Area with a much small population.
Personally, Austin kicks ass. I've always kind of treated San Antonio and Austin as one huge metroplex for my games, though. For cities both well over 1 million souls that are only 80-90 miles apart in a state where all the rest of them are at least 150-200 miles apart...
It makes for interesting dynamics. We had a champions game where the hero group was SASH, that was fun.
Quote from: Silverlion;316082I use fictional cities a lot--mostly due toe the need to have specific geographic features/buildings that don't actually appear in the real world, together.
However, I'm currently using Austin write now for my superhero game. Most notably because most of the culture of that city is understandable to my players, yet it has quite a bit of things my small city in Texas doesn't that makes it appealing and interesting.
San Francisco. Iconic structures, great geography, big port, multi-ethnic, alcatraz, on a fault line. Just so many great ingredients.
For me, it really seems hard to separate Superheros from New York-style cities (NY, Metropolis, Gotham). I'm not really sure there is a substitute.
RPGPundit
Chicago.
DEfinitely Chicago.
For many decades it had the world's busiest airport. There are still commuter trains going in and out of the city that could be used for major rescues or hostage taking by bad guys.
More than two dozen great landmarks are in or near that town for superhero fights. at least a dozen great Museums with unusual and well-known exhibits for backgrounds and McGuffins.
Its also close enough to rural farmland so you can get that "Near Smallville-like hometown feel" to the place.
Its on a major HUGE lakefront that has commercial shipping - great for doewn by the docks warehouses and criminial activitiesd that need disrupting.
Oh - and it also doubled for Gotham Citry quite convincingly for at least two movies now.
- Ed C.
London.
Sure, being a Brit I'm a bit biased, but just think of the locations ... Big Ben, Tower Of London, Tower Bridge, Thames Barrier, Madame Tussauds, 221 Baker Street, the underground ...
Great places to blow up, all :D
Besides which, how cool would it be to have a secret HQ underneath the Tower Of London? :)
Quote from: kaemaril;319164Besides which, how cool would it be to have a secret HQ underneath the Tower Of London? :)
It's really cool . . . uh . . . I mean, that
would be really cool, if I like, y'know,
had a secret base under the Tower of London, which of course I don't. Really. So don't go looking. Nothing to see there.
And don't go looking under Isaac Newton's crypt, either.