Fantasy cities have always held a special allure in role-playing games (RPGs). From the sprawling metropolis of Waterdeep in the Forgotten Realms to the intrigue-laden streets of Lankhmar, these urban landscapes offer a concentrated dose of adventure, mystery, and social interaction. For many Game Masters (GMs) and players alike, cities are more than just locations; they are vibrant characters in their own right, teeming with stories waiting to be uncovered.
A bustling fantasy city street scene, reminiscent of classic RPG settings, highlighting the intricate architecture and vibrant city life that draws players into urban adventures.
The best fantasy cities transcend mere collections of buildings and NPCs. They possess a distinct personality, shaped by their history, inhabitants, and unique quirks. Think of Sigil, the City of Doors, a nexus point in the planes, or Zobeck from the Midgard setting, a city grappling with rebellion and clockwork innovation. These are not just backdrops; they are integral parts of the narrative, offering endless possibilities for campaigns and adventures. Within these urban sprawls, distinct districts, each with its own atmosphere and rules, allow for extended campaigns within a confined yet diverse setting.
The Allure of Fantasy Cities in RPGs: What Makes Them Work?
What exactly makes a fantasy city so compelling in an RPG context? Several key elements contribute to their immersive and engaging nature:
- Distinct Districts and Themes: A well-designed city is often divided into districts, each with its own flavor and purpose. These could range from bustling merchant quarters to shadowy underbellies, opulent noble districts to gritty docks. This variety provides a microcosm of the larger world, allowing players to experience diverse environments without leaving the city walls.
- Factions and Power Dynamics: Knowing who governs a city – be it a council of mages, a powerful merchant guild, or a tyrannical ruler – immediately sets the tone and provides opportunities for intrigue and conflict. Understanding the city’s power structure, including law enforcement and criminal organizations, is crucial for both players and GMs.
- Unique Rules and Quirks: The most memorable fantasy cities often have unique laws, customs, or even magical phenomena that set them apart. These quirks can be a source of both wonder and challenge, adding layers of depth and intrigue to gameplay.
These elements combined create cities that are not just places, but characters in themselves, driving narratives and providing a rich tapestry for adventure. With this in mind, let’s delve into Per-Bastet, the “City of Cats,” a fascinating urban setting detailed in Kobold Press’ Southlands Worldbook.
A majestic cat statue overlooking a fantasy city, symbolizing the unique character and hidden depths that make urban settings in role-playing games so compelling.
Per-Bastet: Diving into the “City of Cats”
Per-Bastet, as the name suggests, is a city deeply intertwined with cats. However, to dismiss it as simply a “cat-themed city” would be a disservice to its intricate design and compelling themes. This is a city of wonder and whimsy, but also of grim shadows and complex social issues, making it a rich and multifaceted setting for RPG campaigns.
A City of Contrasts: Wonder, Whimsy, and Grim Realities
Per-Bastet embraces a duality that makes it particularly captivating. While the ubiquitous presence of cats might suggest a playful or lighthearted atmosphere, the city also grapples with darker elements. Slavery, born from conflict with the Mharoti Empire, is a stark reality, with kobolds and dragonborn often facing discrimination. Furthermore, the presence of ghouls and gnolls introduces morally ambiguous themes, including the unsettling topic of sentient humanoid consumption.
This juxtaposition of light and dark, whimsical and grim, creates a city that feels both fascinating and unsettling, offering opportunities for stories that explore complex ethical dilemmas alongside fantastical adventures. The city itself is portrayed as almost sentient, reaching out to its inhabitants, imbuing them with a deep connection and sometimes even transforming those deeply devoted into “The Dead,” unliving servants of Per-Bastet. This unique element adds a layer of mystique and potential for unusual quests and character motivations.
Districts that Define: Exploring Per-Bastet’s Unique Quarters
Per-Bastet is meticulously divided into distinct districts, each contributing to the city’s overall personality:
- District of the Cat: The heart of the city, presumably overflowing with feline inhabitants and perhaps holding secrets tied to the city’s namesake.
- Guard District: The seat of law and order, offering insights into the city’s governance and potential conflicts with its underbelly.
- District of the Hyena: Home to the gnoll population, this district offers a deep dive into gnoll society, moving beyond simplistic portrayals of monstrous humanoids. The review highlights the detailed gnoll culture, including their matriarchal structure, culinary habits, and social games, presenting them as complex and nuanced inhabitants.
- Lioness District: Intriguing by name, this district likely holds its own unique character and potential power dynamics within the city.
- Monument District: A place of history and grandeur, potentially holding clues to Per-Bastet’s past and forgotten secrets.
- Palace District: The seat of power, home to rulers and political intrigue.
- Perfume District: Adding a sensory dimension to the city, this district suggests a focus on trade, artistry, and perhaps even subtle forms of influence and manipulation.
- The Hunt: A ruined district now teeming with monsters, offering a dangerous playground for adventurers and a glimpse into the city’s darker, untamed side.
- Wharf District: The lifeblood of trade and connection to the outside world, likely a melting pot of cultures and opportunities for maritime adventures.
This detailed district breakdown is a major strength of the “City of Cats” setting. It provides GMs with readily defined areas to focus on, each with its own atmosphere, challenges, and adventure hooks. The inclusion of random event tables for each district further enhances this, offering dynamic encounters and scene-setting details to enrich gameplay.
Adventures Await: Campaigns in the City of Cats
The “City of Cats” supplement doesn’t just describe the city; it provides ready-made adventures to launch campaigns within its walls. The included adventures, such as “Cat and Mouse,” “Three Little Pigs,” and “Grimalkin,” are not simply generic scenarios transplanted into Per-Bastet. They are designed to be intrinsically linked to the city’s lore, introducing key factions, cultural elements, and unique locations.
The adventures often revolve around political intrigue, hidden agendas, and moral choices. Players are frequently placed in situations where they must navigate conflicting loyalties and decide which factions to support, adding layers of complexity beyond simple dungeon crawls. The emphasis on player agency and the potential for shifting alliances makes these adventures particularly engaging and replayable.
Characters of the City: NPCs and Story Potential
Beyond locations and plots, compelling NPCs are vital for bringing a city to life. “City of Cats” delivers on this front with a diverse cast of characters, many of whom are detailed in an appendix section. These NPCs are not just stat blocks; they are individuals with their own motivations, secrets, and potential adventure hooks.
From NPCs driven to ruin by the city’s mystical call to cyborg gnolls seeking redemption and cursed assassins, the characters within Per-Bastet are brimming with story potential. Even undead figures, like the vampiric experiments mentioned, add layers of intrigue and unique challenges for players to encounter. This rich collection of NPCs provides GMs with a toolkit of personalities to weave into their campaigns, ensuring that the city feels populated and alive.
Final Verdict: Is “City of Cats” Worth Exploring?
“City of Cats” emerges as a highly recommended resource for RPG enthusiasts, particularly those who appreciate richly detailed and morally complex fantasy settings. It excels in creating a city that is both wondrous and dangerous, inviting and unsettling. The detailed districts, intriguing factions, and compelling NPCs provide a wealth of material for GMs to build campaigns that are deeply rooted in the city’s unique character.
While the review mentions a desire for more explicit discussion of sensitive themes like slavery and racism within the setting, the overall impression is overwhelmingly positive. “City of Cats” offers a unique and memorable urban environment that stands out from more generic fantasy city settings. Its blend of whimsical elements, grim realities, and abundant adventure hooks makes it a valuable addition to any GM’s toolkit.
For anyone seeking a fantasy city that is more than just a backdrop – a city that is itself a source of stories and intrigue – Per-Bastet, the “City of Cats,” is definitely worth exploring. It promises a campaign setting brimming with personality, danger, and the ever-present mystique of felines in a fantastical urban landscape.
