Are There Any Other Commonly Used Cities?

[Nohwear]

I am thinking of making an Alley Witch. They start with the ability to bond with a city. Are there any commonly used cities besides Absalom?

[BigNorseWolf]

Magnimar

[Allerum]

Absalom is the most common by far I would say. However if you really want one that isn't Absalom there are a few choices.

Katapesh -South of most civilized lands, sprawling across a valley of blazing-hot sand, is one of the most incredible and wondrous cities in all of Golarion: the great desert metropolis of Katapesh

Kaer Maga -Standing atop the Storval Rise, the cliff-top city of Kaer Maga is built inside the ruins of an ancient fortress: a six-sided ring of 80-foot-high seamless stone, stretching more than a half mile in diameter and topped with towers of every shape and design. Also known as the Asylum Stone, Kaer Maga has served as a refuge for exiles, misfits, and ne'er-do-wells fleeing persecution and prosecution for thousands of years, and is known throughout Golarion as a place where anyone can fit in, and where anything can be bought and sold.

Magnimar- stands as one of the two major city-states of southern Varisia. Founded by Korvosan dissenters in 4608 AR, the City of Monuments now stands as a rival to Korvosa in an open war of coin and words.

Korvosa -the largest city found in the wilderness area known as Varisia, and serves as the seat of one of three city-states that claim independent authority over their individual holdings in the region. Though its citizens and traditions have strong ties to the nation of Cheliax, with many of its people tracing their ancestry directly to servants of the Empire, the city's location at the mouth of the Jeggare River and the presence of a highly-defensible harbor have contributed to the establishment of Korvosa as a primary hub for trade; various cultures and peoples can be found within the city's walls as goods move in and out of its gates.

There are likely others, but if you want your bond to be used most often Absalom is your best bet. However if you want a something to build a story around, that will come up at some point the above choices are excellent ones.

As a personal choice I like story. My Half-orc Cleric knows Kelish based on that his human parent is Kelshite. Has he ever used it? No, but it's never hurt him either.

[Nohwear]

Thank you everyone.

[The Fox]

I would go with Magnimar or Absalom. The other cities mentioned I haven't really seen come up more than once or twice.

[Damanta]

I would select Absalom and then find the post with the themed paths, if I recall correctly there is a list of scenarios that almost all play in Absalom or the Isle of Kortos.

Edit: it appears it is Absalom, Isle of Kortos and Hao Jin Tapestry:
Link to the specific post

[Jayson MF Kip]

You could do Goka- -it's like Absalom with style. Especially if your Alley Witch knows kung-fu.

[Imbicatus]

Sothis in Osirion comes up somewhat often as well.

[Ascalaphus]

There are lots of cool cities with much to recommend them, but if you're wondering which cities actually get visited a lot in adventures, Absalom is lightyears ahead of all others. Distant second is Magnimar, and after that it's really a matter of 0-2 visits.

Magnimar happens to be a focal point in season 4, establishing and protecting the lodge there is sort of a theme.

[kinevon]

Almas in Andor and Oppara in Taldor get some visits, IIRC.

[Curaigh]

Adventure finder will help, though you may have to sort/search for PFS specifics.

[Muser]

Here you go.

Absalom: 39
Almas: 2
Bloodcove: 2
Cassomir: 4
Diobel: 2
Karcau: 2
Kaer Maga: 4
Katheer: 2
Korvosa: 2
Magnimar: 6
Nerosyan: 2
Oppara: 4
Rachikan: 3
Riddleport: 3
Sothis: 2

I left out the stuff where you just get briefed in a particular place and then travel somewhere else far away(otherwise Trollhem woul get in), but kept in the scenarios where you walk a mile or two outside the city. If you feel unconvinced, just remove 2-3 from Absalom and ne from Oppara.

I also included season enders such as Blood Under. If I'd add in modules, Tamran and Katapesh would get a section, Kaer Maga and Korvosa would gain some, maybe a section for Goka. Ruby Phoenix kinda happens there.

[Ascalaphus]

Looking at this, I feel a bit sore about the Exchange faction journal card for which you have to visit (and shop in) two of Katheer, Kerse, Goka and Kataphesh.

[GM Lari]

Well one of those cities has already been featured this season. I'd guess they're intending to have at least one more appear.

[GreySector]

Ascalaphus wrote:

Looking at this, I feel a bit sore about the Exchange faction journal card for which you have to visit (and shop in) two of Katheer, Kerse, Goka and Kataphesh.

There are more cities you visit during scenarios with enough time that your character could shop, but none of the scenario's action takes place there. For example a season 5 scenario start off in Kerse but none of the action takes place there.

[Jayson MF Kip]

This happens a reasonable amount in Goka, as well. It's sort of a hub to do anything in Tian Xia.

Not to suggest badwrongfun or anything, but why not just pick a city because it's awesome, (instead of mechanically superior) and if you chance on it being where you're at, bonus?

[Muser]

Whatever you do, pick Oppara. Well, because Oppara.

[WalterGM]

Ascalaphus wrote:

Looking at this, I feel a bit sore about the Exchange faction journal card for which you have to visit (and shop in) two of Katheer, Kerse, Goka and Kataphesh.

I don't know if that list includes adventures where you start at location X, but the only way to get there would have been by passing through location Y. I imagine any reasonable GM (not me of course, I'm a loose cannon) would allow you to purchase stuff in location Y and check off a box.

[Imbicatus]

Huh, I could have sworn there were more scenarios than that in Sothis. Maybe it's just briefing and leave.

[UndeadMitch]

Imbicatus wrote:

Huh, I could have sworn there were more scenarios than that in Sothis. Maybe it's just briefing and leave.

I'm pretty sure that list is just scenarios that actually have encounters in the listed cities. I know of two 7-11's that take place in Sothis, along with a 1-5 where the briefing is in Sothis and then the party leaves for elsewhere. Same goes for Goka, and I'm pretty sure Katapesh shows up a couple of times, if only in a "just passing through" sense.

[Muser]

I wanted to include Eto too but as I wrote, a briefing wasn't enough. And there were so many, oh so many scenarios which start in Absalom but only in medias res. Involving briefins would've made that city's bloc even more bloared.

Personally, I could do with more Goka.

[kinevon]

Muser wrote:

I wanted to include Eto too but as I wrote, a briefing wasn't enough. And there were so many, oh so many scenarios which start in Absalom but only in medias res. Involving briefins would've made that city's bloc even more bloared.

Personally, I could do with more Goka.

Yes, there is a scenario where you get briefed in Eto, and go elsewhere, but there is one scenario where you do adventure in Eto.

Scenario name:

Destiny of the Sands, Part 1: A Bitter Bargain, where the PCs run some errands in Eto for GMT, to find out where Seeker's Folly is located.

[Muser]

I know, that's why I wanted to include it. But a briefing and one scenario didn't fit the parameters.

Wanted Crystalcrag, Sedeq, Sauerton, Dawnton, Greydirge, Escadar, Nesting Swallow, Uringen, etc. Maybe not Whitethrone though. blegh.

[Jayson MF Kip]

And Tymon!

You get to hang out in Tymon for at least one scenario- -you get sent out to "Go Be Pathfinders" out of the city in at least one more.