Play By Chat: The Black Pyramid: Location

So after I pitched two games to my online group last time, they chose the Black Pyramid. The next step in the process of launching this game is to decide on where and when it begins. We'll be following the mummies and vampires across history from the early 19th century to modern day so the location had better be interesting.

Time & Place Options

London, 1840

Change is in the air. Mummies flock to London as the British Empire continues to dominate the world. Vampires swarm in numbers not seen since the fall of Rome. The millions of mortals pouring into the city represent both a resource to exploit and threat to control.

Characters: PC mummies might be new arrivals or long time residents. The same is true for vampires. There are many other competing immortals. As the population explodes the local Prince has his or her hands full.

This is the second time I've tried to pitch a game in London (the other being the last Changeling: the Lost game that became the Price). For some reason it doesn't resonate with my players. Of course given London's long history, the British Museum, one of Cleopatra's Needles and other artifacts in the area it would work great for a Mummy game. Plus I could have included Roman era vampires as locals.

Washington D.C., 1820

A powerful meret (group) of Mummies seeks to turn the capital into a new Irem. News of their goal and the cover given by the resconstruction after the War of 1812 lead other mummies to establish themselves in the city. Meanwhile opportunistic vampires seek to get in the ground floor of this young nation.

Characters: PC mummies represent the second wave in an effort to guide the destiny of the city. PC vampires meanwhile struggle with limited prey but few Kindred distractions in this Prince-less city (or subjectless Princedom). With few mortals (and fewer still that remain year round), everyone soon knows the other players in town.

This is the setting presented in Cursed Necropolis: D.C or at least the historic version of it. It was also my least favorite. My players of course liked it best. At least I have a lot of future historical details to include and the vampire situation will be interesting.

Another interesting element is that my first Chronicle of Darkness game was set near here in Norfolk. Some of the vampires from that game were old enough to make an appearance in this one.

New York City, 1845

Egyptian Revival Architecture has swept into the city in the past decade, concealing the tombs of a wave of mummies. Why are they here, now?

Characters: PCs are among the first wave of Mummies to reside in the city. Vampires have been here longer and may or may not be founding members of the well developed Princedom currently in place.

My favorite of the three. I keep pitching New York and keep losing the vote. Well until I didn't pitch it. I'll talk about that game (my new Mage: the Awakening game) in a few weeks.

This option included the other of Cleopatra's Needles, more museums, mobsters, and in the future a whole transported temple. I also planned to start off with the mummies being uncertain why they moved here (Memory is a tricky thing).

I originally planned to include Chicago as a potential location but on further examination I found that the Egyptian elements arrive far too late for my desired timeline.