Any interest in a Gotham City-set campaign?

[Mark Rand]

Deer Lakes Park is a 1,180-acre (4.8 km²) county park in Ocean County, in Sommerset Township.  It is a part of the county’s 12,000-acre (49 km²) network of nine distinct parks.

 

 

The park is sited west of downtown Gotham City.  Deer Lakes already had a large man-made lake, and during its development two other lakes were added.  The lakes are spring fed, and construction of dams and settling basins create a park ideal for fishing.  An 18-hole disc golf course with skill-respective tees is featured in the park and is one of the highest-rated courses in the United States.

 

 

Amateur Astronomers Association of Gotham City, Inc. (AAAGC)’s Wayne Observatory is in Deer Lakes Park.  It has a 24-inch Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope (a type of Cassegrain reflecting telescope) and a 10-inch refracting telescope.  The association holds star parties there. 

 

Star parties are gathering of amateur astronomers for the purpose of observing objects and events in the sky.  Participants bring telescopes and binoculars of all types and sizes and spend the nights observing astronomical objects such as planets, comets, stars, and deep-sky objects together.  Astrophotography and CCD imaging are also very popular.  Commercial vendors selling a variety of astronomical equipment may also be present.  As with other hobbyist gatherings, much camaraderie and discussion of various aspects of the hobby occurs at any star party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by Mark Rand

[Mark Rand]

Riverview Park is the fourth largest municipal park in Gotham City suburb of Sommerset Township.  The park is located four miles (6 km) west of Downtown Gotham City in the neighborhood of Victoria Place and consists of 251 acres (1.02 km²).

 

The park has a public pool, a playground, the only equestrian (bridle) path in the township’s park system, various shelters, the Gotham Observatory, and summertime concerts and movies.

Several radio, television, and cellphone towers are west of the park.

 

[Mark Rand]

Irving Grove, in the Sommerset area, is best known for its proximity to Dayton National Forest, the more infamous Slaughter Swamp State Park, and Irving Grove Airport, a general aviation airport which is home to STAT MedEvac 19, the area’s medevac helicopter, the Gotham County Sheriff’s Department’s Aero Bureau, the Gotham City Police Department’s Aero Unit, Skyhawks, Inc., an airport fire station, the Runway 5 Café located in the terminal, and the 7-Eleven and Hertz Rent-A-Car located in the parking lot.  The terminal roof serves as a viewing deck.  Smoking is only permitted there and in the parking lot.

[Mark Rand]

All airports and heliports/helipads have a rotating beacon that's active from dusk to dawn.  One with green and white lights marks a civilian land-based airport.

 

Skyhawks, the only Fixed Base Operator at the Irving Grove Airport has mostly Cessna aircraft.  It also has a twin Beechcraft, a biplane, a helicopter, a DC-3, and gliders.  A Cessna 206 Stationaire with the registration number N67832 is the main glider tow plane. 

 

Heliscort, a company that offers heli-taxi transport to high level clients, is also based at Irving Grove Airport.

 

As the airport doesn't have a control tower, most aircraft, the fire station, the Gotham City Police Aero Unit, and the Gotham County Sheriff's Department Aero Bureau monitor Skyhawks Unicom (123 MHz), which is also the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency.

 

[Mark Rand]

Many members of Batman's Rogues Gallery are still with us in the CU.  Joker, though, is a prankster, not a psycho.

[Mark Rand]

One interesting thing about the current Gotham City map was that it was created for the Clench / Earthquake / No Man's Land story line.  That's also when they named many features of Gotham City after DC Comics staffers who worked on the Batman franchise.

 

Before that, the only semi-official map of Gotham City was the one Mayfair Games created for their DC roleplaying game.

[Mark Rand]

The Joker is a clown-themed, prank-loving villain and Batman’s arch-enemy, who leaves behind jokes as clues to his next crime.

 

Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot / The Penguin is a penguin-themed gentleman thief who uses his nightclub, The Iceberg Lounge, as his cover.

 

Edward Nigma / Riddler is a criminal who leaves behind riddles as clues to his crimes.

 

Selina Kyle / Catwoman is a cat-themed jewel thief and cat burglar in a complicated love-hate relationship with Batman.

 

Jervis Lewis Tetch / Mad Hatter is inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to commit crimes.  He uses his mind control technology to bend people to his will.

 

Dr. Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze is a scientist who accidentally spilled cryogenic chemicals on himself while inventing a freeze-gun.  Now requiring subzero temperatures to survive, he uses freeze-inducing weaponry and must wear a fully contained, refrigerated ice-suit.

 

Pamela Lillian Isley / Poison Ivy, a former student of advanced botanical biochemistry, employs plants of all varieties and their derivatives in her crimes.  She has the ability to control all plant life and can create new henchmen with her mutated seeds.  She is immune to all plant-based poisons.

[Mark Rand]

The New Urbana Galleria and Memorial Park (from the 5E book Champions Battlegrounds) are located in Bristol Township, which is just north of Gotham City.

 

The city’s three main institutions of higher education are the University of Gotham, Gotham State University, and Glendale Technical Institute.  The University of Gotham is based on the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.  Gotham State University (which is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church) is based on Duquesne University (which is also affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church).  Glendale Technical University is based on Carnegie Mellon University and is in Sommerset Township, which is on the mainland.

[Mark Rand]

Instead of Batman and Robin, the team is, more or less, led by Batwoman, heiress and businesswoman Katherine "Kate" Wayne, and Batgirl, Barbara Stewart, Kate's niece and ward.  Two ladies assist them.  One, Marie, is Kate's housekeeper.  The other, April, is Kate's assistant and Batwoman's engineer.