DELUXE CITY CAMPAIGN SET ADVENTURE BOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 2 Coney Island 36 Chapter 7: The Manhattan Social Calendar 2 The Bronx Zoo 37 Chapter 8: Telling Stories 5 The Holland Tunnel 37 Goals 12 Central Park 38 Villains 14 The Daily Bugle 39 The Adventure Hook 16 Doctor Strange's Sanctum 39 NPCs 18 The Empire State Building 40 Conditions and Dilemmas 20 Empire State University 41 Deathtraps 22 The Financial District 42 The Grand Finale 24 Four Freedoms Plaza 43 Chapter 9: Running a Campaign 26 Marvel Comics 44 Chapter 10: The Manhattan Campaign 32 Metropolitan Museum of Art 44 What City and Why? 32 SHIELD Headquarters 45 The Urban Campaign 33 United Nations 46 The Global Campaign 34 The Galactic Campaign 34 FUN CITY: Campaign Scenario 47 Chapter 11: Scenarios 35 Extending the Adventure 62 The Statue of Liberty 35 INDEX to both books 63 CREDITS Author: Allen Varney Editing: Jean Blashfield Black Graphic Design: Stephanie Tabat Typography: Gaye O'Keefe Cartography: Dennis T. Kauth, Diesel, Dave Sutherland, Stephanie Tabat, Paul Hanchette Keylining: Roy Parker Cover Art: Jeffrey Butler Interior Art: The Marvel Bullpen Thanks to Susan Poelma, Bob Quintan, and Don and Rose- mary Webb. Special thanks to Aaron Allston, whose "Adven- ture Cookbook" in TSR's Dungeon Master's Design Kit directly inspired the "Plot Ingredients" in this supplement. This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or other unauthorized use of the material or artwork con- tained herein is prohibited without the express written consent of TSR, Inc., and Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. Distributed to the book trade in the United States by Random House, Inc., and in Canada by Random House of Canada, Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors. The TSR logo and PRODUCTS OF YOUR IMAGINATION are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. All characters appearing in this gamebook and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. MARVEL SUPER HEROES, MARVEL SUPER VILLAINS and The AVENGERS are trademarks of the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. ® Copyright 1989 Marvel Entertain- ment Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Game Design K 1989 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. INTRODUCTION STOP! Have you read the Camp- perienced, can benefit from this The Point of This Book paign Sourcebook included in this chapter. This Adventure Book tries to convey set? If not, go back and look through Chapter 10 briefly discusses the that role-playing adventures work by that book first. When you're done, special requirements of a campaign the same rules as any adventure, come back here. set in a large city, especially New York whether it is a comic book, prose Now that the Sourcebook has con- City. The bibliography of useful books, story, or movie. What does this imply? jured up New York City for you, this maps, and other resources points in- 1. The scenario has a definite struc- Adventure Book describes how to use terested Judges to further reading ture and ground rules defined by its it in telling stories—that is, in prepar- about New York. story genre. ing adventure role-playing scenarios, Chapter 11, the entire last half of That doesn't mean the adventure stories starring the characters your this book, is devoted to ready-to-run proceeds in a straight plotline no mat- players want to play. scenarios, lots and lots of scenarios! ter what the characters do, but that The supplement begins with a list of First up are not one, not 10, but 15(!) the dramatic action builds toward a cli- some notable events held each year in individual mini-scenarios (in the style max, where the storyline is resolved. Manhattan. These events lend color of the Encounters in MHAC6, New 2. The scenario's characters have to a campaign and can inspire sce- York, New York). Each is keyed to one genuine functions in the narrative, nario ideas. For more explanation, of the Hotspot locations described in and they work toward real goals. Their consult Chapter 7, "The Manhattan the Campaign Sourcebook. Be famil- paths to the goals vary according to Social Calendar," starting on this iar with a given Hotspot listing before the characters' personalities. But all page. you run the mini-scenario tied to it. of them are trying to make something Chapter 8 offers a lengthy discus- Finally, the campaign scenario, definite happen in the story, not just sion of the technique of telling a single "Fun City," offers a full-length adven- throwing punches. story. This treatment, especially use- ture framework that uses as many 3. The Judge narrates the sce- ful to the beginning Judge, is followed Hotspots as you want. The scenario nario's events with a sense of tone by a series of treatises on individual works with heroes of any power level, and staging. For definitions of these plot elements, like goals, master vil- both established Marvel characters ideas, see Chapters 8 and 9. lains, and story climaxes. By picking and player-created heroes. Run it as If you have wondered how to give and combining these "plot ingredi- part of an ongoing campaign or use your scenarios greater depth, and ents," a Judge can easily design limit- the optional "Campaign Kickoff" to how to pull your players back for later less numbers of original scenarios. begin a new campaign with a ready- adventures in a broad campaign, This is, after all, a campaign set. So made background and long-term think about the advice in Chapters 8- Chapter 9 deals with the campaign, goals for your characters. 10. Note how the scenarios in Chapter the series of linked stories featuring The removable folder cover of this 11 incorporate these ideas into their the same characters. Learn how to de- booklet includes a large map of the design. When you master the art of sign a good campaign, choose PCs Manhattan subway system on the out- storytelling, your games become and villains, dangers to watch out for, side. On the inside of the folder are richer and more compelling. and a few of the many types of play- several maps used in Chapter 11 's Goto it! ers. Every Judge, no matter how ex- scenarios. CHAPTER 7: THE MANHATTAN SOCIAL CALENDAR "Hah!" Doctor Octopus cried. His tentacles lifted him away toward How do you use these events in the "You 're too late, heroes! I poisoned ten the Chase Manhattan Bank. The he- campaign? First and easiest, they pro- water cannisters along the Marathon roes gazed across cheering crowds, vide background color, scenic detail, route. In one hour the ten runners who as 50,000 runners trotted up the ave- and atmosphere important to a Man- drank them will die—unless you can lo- nue. hattan campaign. Even if you only cate them and give them this antidote" mention in passing a specific festival Extending one adamantium tentacle, This chapter lists some of the regu- or concert—perhaps as the opening the villain flung down a simple steel lar seasonal events in Manhattan and scene of an adventure that quickly vacuum bottle. greater New York City: parades, moves elsewhere—the players still "Now," Octopus continued, "I go to shows, holidays, tournaments, con- get a sense of New York's vigorous, carry out a large financial transaction. ventions, and festivals. They are cosmopolitan culture. You can follow and stop me—but then grouped according to the months in But these events can also function you allow ten innocent athletes to die. which they (usually) occur. A few nota- in more important ways. Here are a Make your choice, heroes!" ble events include brief descriptions. few suggestions. The Lure: Important NPCs might tempting than others, depending on with gallery openings, galas, concert visit Manhattan to attend one of these the bad guy's goals and methods. For tours, premieres, trade shows and events. If the campaign is based in an- instance, the Maggia would usually conventions, and one-shot spectacu- other city, an event might draw PC he- show little interest in summer con- lars. For example, in 1989, New York roes to New York, in either secret or certs in Central Park, but it might have City was the site of a huge bicenten- hero IDs. designs on the International Antiques nial celebration of George Washing- The Job: Heroes could gain Karma Show's more valuable items. On the ton's first inauguration as by appearing at some of these events, other hand, a terrorist who plans may- President—in New York. Or, in 1988 as per the "charity appearance" hem would prefer to target the park Manhattan hosted a gigantic arts festi- award. Or police might ask heroes to concerts or perhaps the Thanksgiving val featuring over 150 major events work larger events as crowd control, Day Parade. and many more lesser performances. high-profile security officers, or body- Customize the villain to the event, This, too, may become an annual guards. the event to the villain, and both to the summer event. And, above all other uses— setting and to your PCs' interests. For more information about these The Nefarious Plot: Because many That helps make your scenario an events, consult New York City news- of these events draw large crowds and event to remember. papers or magazines (available at the often involve big loot or rare trea- local library), or investigate the sures, they make fine targets for vil- This listing gives only regular an- sources in the Bibliography in the lainous mayhem.