Is there an awesome, defining, city in The Inner Sea?

[Samurai632]

I really enjoy GM-ing in The Inner Sea. It seems to me, to have everything I ever liked about all those campaign settings that were available in the 90's. I have one question though:

Is there a product-defining city yet for Golarion? What I mean is, something on the scale of Waterdeep or (more specifically,) The Free City of Greyhawk. Something in that size and scope. Those 2nd Edition maps for those cities just would get my imagination running. If there is a city like that for Pathfinder ..... does it come with a big, beautiful map?

If I had the time ..... I would probably just convert Waterdeep or Greyhawk, but I know my players would know where I got it from. I just want something new and original. Is it out there?

(it would be neat if the city had something like the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk or Undermountain with it too)

[Otagian]

Absalom is probably the closest thing. It's huge, independent, and surrounded by massive amounts of dungeons in the form of ruined seige castles.

[John Woodford]

Magnimar is pretty cool, too, what with the old Thassilonian monuments and the <SPOILER REDACTED> under the city.

[Tinalles]

Well, Absalom is big. And it got detailed write-up in theGuide to Absalom, back in the 3.5 era.

That said, I think Magnimar is more in line with what you're looking for. It was first detailed in the second installment of the Rise of the Runelords adventure path, which makes it the oldest city in the campaign setting (in terms of date-of-introduction, and also assuming you consider Sandpoint a town rather than a city). It's also been recently revisited in Magnimar, City of Monuments, which provided maps not just of the city, but of each individual district within the city. And it not only features prominently in at least two adventure paths (Rise of the Runelords and Shattered Star), but was the setting of the novel Blood of the City, starring urban druid Luma Derexhi.

So yeah. It seems to me that the setting developers have invested a lot more time and emotion in Magnimar than in Absalom (or any other city in the setting, that I'm aware of). So if you're looking for the iconic Golarion city, that's where I'd point you.

I don't think there are full poster-size maps of either Absalom or Magnimar. Pity. That would be awesome.

[Samurai632]

I was just looking at Freeport: City of Adventure. I don't know where I'd place it on Golarion, but that looks pretty cool!

(not much of a pirate fan though .....)

[Mike Franke]

Yup Freeport is awesome and the new Freeport:city of adventure from the kickstarter should be coming out this summer. It will be bigger and better than ever most likely and I am looking forward to it. And an adventure set in Freeport by Kobold Press: Dark Deeds in Freeport will hopefully also come to like this summer so there will be a lot of Freeport goodness soon.

[Mike Franke]

In Golarion, I would go with Absalom. There might be a bit more about Magnimar in the APs but there is a lot about Absalom in Pathfinder Society.

If you are looking for Mega City with nearby mega dungeons Absalom is probably the way to go. Plus it is likely only a matter of time before Paizo does something huge with Absalom and we will get the in depth stuff that Greyhawk and Waterdeep had.

[voska66]

I like Kaer Maga, the City of Strangers book details this city and it has tons of stuff around and under it. It's not Absolom but it is quite large and about size of Greyhawk but much smaller that Waterdeep. Kaer Maga has the what I'd say as the closest equivalent to Under Mountain. Where Absolom has the siege towers which can be similar to Castle Greyhawk for adventure.

[Wrong John Silver]

Best city choices, in my opinion:

1. Absalom. The biggest, most central, most important city in the Inner Sea region. Lots of nearby dungeons. Lots of commerce. Good melting pot. The City of Greyhawk of Golarion.

2. Magnimar. Bit of a frontier region, but bustling with activity. Gateway city to Varisia, a land of lots of wilds and places to explore without running afoul of laws. The Waterdeep of Golarion.

3. Kaer Maga. Inland Varisia, anything goes. Plenty of monsters roaming the streets. Virtually anything can pass through. The Mos Eisley of Golarion.

4. Katapesh. Second largest city after Absalom. Completely mercantile. If anything can be bought or sold, it can be bought or sold in Katapesh. Monster-friendly, as long as they aren't attacking. The Grand Bazaar of Golarion.

5. Quantium. Capital of Nex, high high magic. Most cosmopolitan place in the Inner Sea. Thanks to the high magic, virtually anything can be experienced there. Agrabah meets Hogwarts.

[Gnomezrule]

Absalom seems too neutral for reality imo.

I really like Korvosa. Great feel cool history. Epic freerunning.

[John Woodford]

I thought about Katapesh, but AFAIK it doesn't have any nearby dungeons.

[Krodjin]

Gnomezrule wrote:

Absalom seems too neutral for reality imo.

I really like Korvosa. Great feel cool history. Epic freerunning.

Lots of material & maps available for Korvosa.

[Imbicatus]

Gnomezrule wrote:

Absalom seems too neutral for reality imo.

Eh, I see it as Switzerland on an island.

[Eryx_UK]

I'd recommend Magnimar or Korvosa. Varisia in general fits the old style perfectly in my mind.