What is the Safest, Most Promising Place in all Golarion?

Promising and safe often don't go together.

Safest place is some small, no name place far away from any dangers with abundant food and friendly people who help each other with minimal crime.

Most promising place is some huge city with lots of opportunity and all types of people and activities around with good schools, universities, and such, but likely with more poverty, crime, and attracts far more attention.

Seems almost mutually exclusive to have safe and promising in the same place.

Only if 'promising' means 'I can slake my ambitions for material gain'. I'd imagine for a fair few people, including myself, 'promising' means 'I can wake up, meaningfully contribute to the lives of those around me, and end the day at least slightly better than I started it'.

Regarding Hermea, War of the Immortals suggests they're doing well, all things considered, but they do have a faction that is developing Manifest Destiny-like aspirations, which is... concerning to the say the least.

The other major development is that the Godsrain interacted with some artefacts to cause a number of citizens to develop into dragonbloods

Deriven Firelion wrote:

Promising and safe often don't go together.

Safest place is some small, no name place far away from any dangers with abundant food and friendly people who help each other with minimal crime.

Most promising place is some huge city with lots of opportunity and all types of people and activities around with good schools, universities, and such, but likely with more poverty, crime, and attracts far more attention.

Seems almost mutually exclusive to have safe and promising in the same place.

Only if 'promising' means 'I can slake my ambitions for material gain'. I'd imagine for a fair few people, including myself, 'promising' means 'I can wake up, meaningfully contribute to the lives of those around me, and end the day at least slightly better than I started it'.

Promising has a specific meaning. It's not just about material gain. Could be anything. "Most promising" means something as well.

Could be becoming a leader that could impact on a large level to help the most people which is still the biggest city or country. Could be make the most money. Could be be the greatest actor. Could be write a play the most people see.

That's why when someone has some ambition, passion, or what not, they go to the place where they can fulfill it like an actor going to New York or London to work in the theater or L.A. where most movie business is done.

The smaller the number of lives around you, the smaller the number you can impact. Which makes it not the "most promising."

No matter what you're trying to do, going to the place where you can make the largest impact is the "most promising."

And the place you are the safest is a far different place.

Not even sure why you added most promising when you were really looking for the safest place, which is some small community where you can live in safety with abundant food and water and reasonable access to needed services like medicine or entertainment.

Now you want to change the definition of "most promising" to suit the idea you were really looking for which is the safest place.

Finoan wrote:

I'd vote Hermea.

After the events of AoA, Hermea is likely in an uncertain political state. The ideological foundations that underpin the city have been shaken, and it is difficult to know whether the city will remain stable or prosper in the future.

Hah. I haven't finished AoA yet (PbP sometimes runs a bit slow). So I was going off of just the Wiki entries and World Guide info on it.

Wherever such a place might be, it'd also be the worst place to set an adventure, so it's thus the least likely place for us to ever spend time detailing. Or even mentioning.

Agreed. It is like the 'Chinese curse': May you live in interesting times.

Yes, I know the pithy quote is not actually from China. But that is still what it is called.

I phrased it that way in order to get the most promising variety of answers. ;P

Mangaholic13 wrote:

Almas, the capital of Andoran.

Because I also despise slavery.

Unfortunately, we know they are about to be at war against Cheliax.

Cheliax is at war with everybody.

If I have the moneys, Druma sounds pretty nice for the 1% ers.

Nantambu for the rest of us. :)

In our Golarion without a doubt that new state in the Stolen Lands that recently rose to power.

Had a bit of a rough start, but now a total powerhouse with benevolent rulership. It has it all, advanced mastery of magic and academics, airships, the place to be for all things artistic and festivals/parties every month.

Pfah, Absalom, old news.

Master Han Del of the Web wrote:

Deriven Firelion wrote:

Promising and safe often don't go together.

Safest place is some small, no name place far away from any dangers with abundant food and friendly people who help each other with minimal crime.

Most promising place is some huge city with lots of opportunity and all types of people and activities around with good schools, universities, and such, but likely with more poverty, crime, and attracts far more attention.

Seems almost mutually exclusive to have safe and promising in the same place.

Only if 'promising' means 'I can slake my ambitions for material gain'. I'd imagine for a fair few people, including myself, 'promising' means 'I can wake up, meaningfully contribute to the lives of those around me, and end the day at least slightly better than I started it'.

Promising has a specific meaning. It's not just about material gain. Could be anything. "Most promising" means something as well.

Could be becoming a leader that could impact on a large level to help the most people which is still the biggest city or country. Could be make the most money. Could be be the greatest actor. Could be write a play the most people see.

That's why when someone has some ambition, passion, or what not, they go to the place where they can fulfill it like an actor going to New York or London to work in the theater or L.A. where most movie business is done.

The smaller the number of lives around you, the smaller the number you can impact. Which makes it not the "most promising."

No matter what you're trying to do, going to the place where you can make the largest impact is the "most promising."

And the place you are the safest is a far different place.

Not even sure why you added most promising when you were really looking for the safest place, which is some small community where you can live in safety with abundant food and water and reasonable access to needed services like medicine or entertainment.

Now you want to...

My dude, are you aware of the origin of the phrase 'Pull yourself up by your bootstraps'?

If they'd have me, I'd chill in a leshy village for the rest of my life.

This times a billion million.

Safest and most promising...

Ok, new idea.

Sitting on the Starstone.

Not next to it, not almost there, not in the room, not touching it for the first time.

Just sitting on the thing, enjoying having made it there.

It's over - you've won your trial. And it's pretty rare for someone at your new power level to get attacked outright. They need to publish a whole slew of books if that happens.

So for the moment, in that spot - you're really safe and full of promising potential.

Time to light up some flayleaf and enjoy the moment.

Now just... don't go anywhere. ;)

New idea, "God of Creating New Gods"

Safest and most promising...

Ok, new idea.

Sitting on the Starstone.

Not next to it, not almost there, not in the room, not touching it for the first time.

Just sitting on the thing, enjoying having made it there.

While you're there, could you please do something about the pile of skeletons? It's going to hurt your vibe, if nothing else (unless "skeletons for ambiance" are your thing now.)

Wherever such a place might be, it'd also be the worst place to set an adventure, so it's thus the least likely place for us to ever spend time detailing. Or even mentioning.

Ah, but there is one exception to this: the setting of an adventure after the bad guys have been defeated and the damage repaired.

Thus, I nominate Kasai, the capital city of Minkai in Tian Xia.

In the capital city of Kasai, life never seems to slow for a minute. A myriad of traditions, cultures, and fashions can be seen in every sector, especially now that Minkai has made an open call to any who might help with its reinvention. Typical of a metropolitan city, the diversity of residents and access to far-flung markets mean that all forms of dress and ornamentation can be found here, often blending styles from across Tian Xia. Jewelry, perfumes, and cosmetics are particularly sought after, especially for the less fashion adventurous. Recently, merchants have expanded their sales of accessories for familiars and eidolons, as such things have become surprisingly trendy.

Ten years ago, during the reign of the Jade Regent, oni ravaged the countryside of Minkai and secretly controlled the national government. But the heroes of the Jade Regent adventure path defeated the oni and re-established the traditional government with Empress Amatatsu Ameiko on the throne. The capital was not ravaged; instead, the oni kept it intact to support the Jade Regent, save for a repressive police force consisting of oni in human form. Minkai has had a decade to recover and no new major disaster has replaced the oni yet.

I want Nantambu to be the answer, but from my experience with Strength of Thousands (currently in Book 6) everyone in the University administration is incompetent, and if the PCs weren't around to fix things the city would have been subject to one disaster after another. My character is particularly disdainful of the lack of defenses.

But I don't know how representative that is of actual Nantambu.

pH unbalanced, Trip.H, and others have had this discussion with me before. pH unbalanced makes the solid point in Common Sense Versus the Plot, comment #14,

Strength of Thousands definitely requires a bit of classic YA "the adults aren't actually up to the job" energy.

I have been able to avoid that trope in my Strength of Thousands campaign, so the teachers and administration of the Magaambya School of Magic come across as competent. Nevertheless, the researchers of the Magaambya do drag dangerous magic relics and conduct dangerous experiments in the heart of Nantambu. And the Magaambya mages who travel across the world to rescue others often develop enemies who will travel to Nantambu to attack in revenge.

Forget the name of it but the island nation surrounded by fey woods, where they have the dance of four seasons.
Modestly safe, you know what the dangers around you are. Big enough to learn trades or get into politics. A good middle ground.

Hah. I haven't finished AoA yet (PbP sometimes runs a bit slow). So I was going off of just the Wiki entries and World Guide info on it.

Ah, see, I thought you were in it for the pun (because a city named "Promise" would naturally be most promising).

Does the outer sphere count as "on Golarion"?

Cause if so, one of the good aligned outer planes is probably a relatively nice place to exist, if you can get there without dying.

I wonder if there are any communities of mortals living in the good aligned planes.

Forget the name of it but the island nation surrounded by fey woods, where they have the dance of four seasons.

Modestly safe, you know what the dangers around you are. Big enough to learn trades or get into politics. A good middle ground.

Didn't a giant moth god murder their leaders forcing thousands to flee or be brainwashed?

Didn't a giant moth god murder their leaders forcing thousands to flee or be brainwashed?

Not that I know of, their biggest problem was pathfinders coming in and stealing their princess away because she fell in love with one of them or something along those lines. Well that and dealing with the fey.

I'm probably misremembering. Internet indicates it may have been Galt.

In our Golarion without a doubt that new state in the Stolen Lands that recently rose to power.

Had a bit of a rough start, but now a total powerhouse with benevolent rulership. It has it all, advanced mastery of magic and academics, airships, the place to be for all things artistic and festivals/parties every month.

Pfah, Absalom, old news.

You know, this brings up a good point. Not about the specific Stolen Lands of their campaign, but the Stolen Lands generally.

Assuming that your party makes the Stolen Lands even a half-decent place for your average citizen to live, it may be one of the safest places on the planet. It'll be hard, maybe impossible, for adventure writers to put any new adventures there, given just how differently they can turn out based on the decisions a party makes in Kingmaker, making it much less possible anything new and super dangerous is going to happen in the region. I guess that the Stolen Lands could still be swept up into the edges of a large setting event, like the Godsrain, but even then it's a nation run by an incredibly powerful and capable party of adventurers and their allies.

Also, ya know, it could potentially be very cool to hang out with your character; I wouldn't mind chilling with my skeleton cowboy and his professional wrestler best friend, for example.

I don't care how cool the quantum Kingmakers are; you couldn't pay me to live that close to Iobaria.

Or Avistan, for that matter. 'Narland' has both the mind-blowing dangers of Numeria and a Brevoy that seems prime to explode into civil war on its borders. The promise of frontier living sandwiched between a wasteland of barbarians and killer robots, a region famous for devastating plagues, and a whole bunch of bloodthirsty Swordlords... it's not for me!