[UA] Dueling Banjos

[Mark Fender]

RPGs have always focussed on cities.  (Except FRPGs, which always seem 
focussed on unexplored ruins and wilderness.  Odd, that.)  I think there's 
just an unspoken expectation that a contemporary paranormal game will be 
set in a city -- probably a leftover from V:tM (if you're coming at it from 
the mainstream)

I think it's odder that a game about vampires is the mainstream. Our 
world's weird.

or OTE (if you're approaching from the lunatic fringe).  Do y'all think 
there's a good reason for this?  Or should UA shift its focus away from 
cities?

I think it's easier to run a city-based game than a suburb-based game, in 
general. You can introduce a thousand NPCs without having to know their 
relationship with each other. You can have the city commissioner taken over 
by a demon with less people recognizing the change. Not to mention there's 
plenty of varying neighborhoods in a city, from Little Italy to Chinatown 
to Cabrini Green for a different spin on the city's 'culture'. In addition, 
a city is usually the center of power for a realm. Governors, presidents, 
and dictators-for-life live in cities and these types of people naturally 
up the importance of any adventure.

On the other hand, a suburban game would be cool. For the GMs with the time 
on their hands, NPC relationships can be plotted out, giving a depth to 
NPC-PC relationships that's normally not found in the city. It's one thing 
if the Carnal attacks the homeless guy outside your building. It's quite 
another if it's your neighbor who coaches your kid in softball.

Personally, I like the idea of the non-urban shift.  (1) It's different, 
and all other things being equal, I think it's more fun to try something 
new than try the same old thing.  (2) Most people in the world don't live 
in cities -- right?  (IS that right?)  Certainly that's true historically. 
 Ergo, the Statosphere is probably more loaded with rural archetypes than 
urban ones.  (Though, in all honesty, the Farmer is probably not going to 
be a significant archetype for most games.)  (Someone want to prove me 
wrong?)

Well maybe not wrong, but I think that has more to do with the current 
Statosphere make-up. If enough 'city folk' ascend, the next universe may 
start with cities.

(3) Given that there's so much more to DO in a city, I'd think it would be 
harder to develop an obsession on the occult.  But that's also debatable...

Again, I don't know. I'm a RPG whore (which certainly gives me an obsession 
skill, but so far, no weird archetype that I know of). I currently live in 
a medium-size city with a fair amount of things to do. However, I hardly 
ever do any of those things. I'm kept busy inside with my obsession, 
reading books, plotting adventures, etc. It was the same way when I lived 
in the suburbs. I think it'd be the same thing with adepts and avatars. 
Certain avatar/archetypes fit in better in a city. I imagine every 
Infomancer wants a T1 line, which won't be getting to the countryside 
anytime soon. And Urbanmancy is just obvious. The Executioner would have a 
harder time finding clients (let alone getting away with his crimes) in the 
suburbs.

Of course, with enough work, any of these avater/adepts mentioned could 
certainly work in a suburban game. They just naturally present themselves 
as being city-based.

And speaking of cities, why exactly is the CotNG located in Chicago? 
Doesn't all the porn shoots take place out in LA? Wouldn't logic dictate 
that the NG ascend out in California? Or is it just because that's where 
Daphne Lee lives?

_______________________________________________
UA mailing list
UA at lists.uchicago.edu
http://lists.uchicago.edu/mailman/listinfo/ua