Sewers and Swamps

[Gorth]

Save our wetlands!

 

Since people seems to be campaigning for just about everything else from the silly to the sensible, I thought I would strike a blow for the classic stuff. Some of my favourite crpg environments the last 28 years of gaming has been swamp and sewer levels. Things that spring to mind are the swamp lands of The Witcher (which was my absolute favourite part of that game) and a number of sewer levels in games like Baldurs Gate and a few older FPS games.

 

The slimy black mud that clings to your legs, all the way up to your armpits, the smell of rotten eggs, the "squish squish" sound of your boots slogging through waste and filth, what is there not to love?

 

Seriously, hand on your heart, would it be a role playing game if there wasn't a quest to go down in a sewer and solve the rat infestation? Come on, don't deny your roots!

 

Give me gloomy wet lands with a sense of being alone with all the dwellers in the deep, waiting to lash their rubbery tentacles around my legs and drag me to (not so) unexpected demise, the sense of relief when finally spotting a patch of dry land between the reeds with a copse of crooked and diseased trees where I can light a small campfire and chase away the darkness.

 

Just sayin', frogs and herons needs to live somewhere too!

[Sensuki]

The Witcher 1 swamp forest was awesome. +1 for an area like that.

 

I think there's going to be some bog land kind of place but I don't know if it will be in the campaign.

 

Something like The Neck from ASOIAF would be good too.

[Redwulf]

Yes, I agree, I love going down into the sewers, it really feels like I'm coming home somehow. :D Plus I always look for some mutated ninja turtles down there to eat pizza with. Cowabunga!

[Shardbearer]

It just wouldn't be right without some ROUS's. Swamps are cool.

[nikolokolus]

I love unique environments, here's a few more that could be cool:

 

Ancient impact crater (with a dungeon at the bottom!)

Grand Canyon-esque rift

Active volcanic plains/mountain

Glacial dungeon/cavern complex(es)

[RosesandAshes]

Am I the only person who would like to launch all sewer levels into the sun?

 

Swamps are okay in my book, but there's something about sewers, maybe because they're all dank and smelly and claustrophobic. On the other hand, they're so ubiquitous in RPGs that it would feel strange not to have one....

[Tuco Benedicto]

Am I the only person who would like to launch all sewer levels into the sun?

 

That's me with lava pits.

[kenup]

No, more sewers please! Swamps are fine, but sewers got old the first time I had to enter one.

[Bobby Null]

No, more sewers please! Swamps are fine, but sewers got old the first time I had to enter one.

 

Darn, there goes my ultra-original idea of, wait for it... a Thieves Guild that uses a sewer system as a hideout. Guess it's time to come up with a new idea.

[Sensuki]

I miss those really deep multi-leveled dungeons of Icewind Dale as well.

 

Dragon's Eye cave was awesome as. One of my favourites.

[Luckmann]

Yes. We need more sewers.

More sewers for everyone!

More sewers for Spoony!

[Starwars]

No, more sewers please! Swamps are fine, but sewers got old the first time I had to enter one.

 

Darn, there goes my ultra-original idea of, wait for it... a Thieves Guild that uses a sewer system as a hideout. Guess it's time to come up with a new idea.

 

Wait- whaaa... Oh I see what you did there.

 

Anyways, not a huge fan of swamps myself but eh... If there is a place for them, bring them in. Sewers are... In a way there is something appealing about having a huge sewer network to explore in *addition* to a big town that's over it. Just... please don't make it a dungeon full of dangerous hostile monsters. Make it have some sort of substance to it.

[Aedelric]

A fantasy RPG without sewers would be shocking, I hate walking through them, but not having them would not feel right.

 

Swamps are great if done well, but often they are so gloomy I just do not want to spend any time in them and get out as soon as possible.

[kenup]

No, more sewers please! Swamps are fine, but sewers got old the first time I had to enter one.

 

Darn, there goes my ultra-original idea of, wait for it... a Thieves Guild that uses a sewer system as a hideout. Guess it's time to come up with a new idea.

That.... reminds me of something recent. Like, less than a year recent. If, unlike that recent memory you uncovered, you allow us to exterminate the TG, go ahead!

Edited September 27, 2012 by kenup

[Magnum Opus]

Am I the only person who would like to launch all sewer levels into the sun?

Yes... Yes you are (and no, that other guy up there doesn't count)

 

Sewers are good. Sewers are atmospheric. Atmosphere is good. Embrace the atmosphere, embrace the dungeon sewer. Become one with the muck and the refuse and the tunnels which carry it from the light into places unknown and forgotten. Embrace it.

 

 

Sewers. Yes please. Varied environments are good. Swamps, too. Here's casting another vote in with the "The Witcher 1's swamp was awesome" crowd.

[kenup]

I don't count?

 

Anyway, I don't remember any Obsidian game that had sewer levels. Other than NV, in which they were way out of range of all but one quest and unique weapon. My nightmares come from older games. So who knows, they might make me like them!

Edited September 27, 2012 by kenup

[FlintlockJazz]

I don't recall there being a swamp in the IE games, which just makes me want one even more since it could look so cool and fairytaleesque. The ones in the Witcher games and even NWN2 were awesome I thought.

[Magnum Opus]

I don't count?

No, no you don't. I'm... I'm sorry. Life can be cruel sometimes....

 

But yes, you might like it. C'mon... give it a chance. It'll be good, I promise. All the cool kids are doing it. It'll be even better when you escape from it.

 

Embrace your inner sewer!

[kenup]

I don't count?

No, no you don't. I'm... I'm sorry. Life can be cruel sometimes....

 

But yes, you might like it. C'mon... give it a chance. It'll be good, I promise. All the cool kids are doing it. It'll be even better when you escape from it.

 

Embrace your inner sewer!

Are you saying I should do something with my intestines?

If, unlike that recent memory you uncovered, you allow us to exterminate the TG, go ahead!

That would make me luv'em(the sewers I mean)!

[Sarog]

Sewers are great. Just the cliche of associating them with smugglers and thieves is a bit too common. A couple of criminal elements in the sewers is fine, but I'm sure that actual criminals would have their headquarters above ground, in a house.

 

The sewers of Athkatla are still my favorite. I remember my first time going down there was legitimately intimidating. I kept thinking "damn how deep does this go?" There was just so much awesome adventuring down there.

[kenup]

Sewers are great. Just the cliche of associating them with smugglers and thieves is a bit too common.

There is the thing with mutant mucus creatures as well.

[Magnum Opus]

You're not prejudiced against the phlegm-peoples of the world, are you? 'cause that would be... bad... 'n stuff. I think. All they want is a quiet place where they can ooze and shlurp in peace.

 

 

Embrace the slime!

[Lysen]

Embrace your inner sewer!

 

Sewers are must have, especially for a rogue character. I loved how you were able to use them as an alternate route through the city in Baldur's Gate when the cops were looking for you. More of that stuff please!

[kenup]

You're not prejudiced against the phlegm-peoples of the world, are you? 'cause that would be... bad... 'n stuff. I think. All they want is a quiet place where they can ooze and shlurp in peace.

 

 

Embrace the slime!

WoW! hahahahahahahahahaha! I actually loled!

[Shadenuat]

I would like to see special rules when fighting in a swamp, like in some wargames.