HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

[Edsel]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

I have been searching for years -- literally' date=' [i']years[/i] -- for a book or books that would describe to me how sewer and/or subway systems are built, what has to be considered, what types there are, blah blah blah. I've looked in bookstores (of all sorts), I've talked to city planners and engineers, I've done everything short of actually suiting up and crawlin' down through a manhole cover. And I've got bupkuss. The best I've been able to come up with is a book called Underneath New York that's so old it's actually of more use for Pulp Hero than DC. If and when better information becomes available, I'll cover the subject in more detail. In the meantime, if any of you are city engineers who can point me in the right direction for reference sources, feel free.

 

I work for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and have drawn storm sewers before (CADD Specialist). I'll see if I can rustle up anything of use. However, Oklahoma is generally pretty well drained and big storm sewers are not real common here so I can't promise anything. Besides most big storm sewer projects are handled by City Engineers, not State DOTs.

 

We really need somebody who is a city engineer for one of the really big cities to have a shot at finding anything usable. I'll ask some of the Hydrology Engineers at work and see if they can point me in the right direction.

[Tom McCarthy]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

I'm hoping I'll be able to clearly find:

i) the nearest prison (because nothing says 'shooting gallery' like a big jailbreak)

ii) the municipal jails (and their capacity/capability to hold unusual foes) (because, sometimes you only want a small shooting gallery)

iii) the nearest asylum for the violent and criminally insane (because that's where the DC villains you let live to see trial frequently wind up)

 

In the spirit of Florida '04, I'd like to know what kinds of inclement weather HC gets, and what other natural disasters they might expect. I almost never ask the guys in capes to rescue people from bad weather, but see it as very cool and cnematic as a backdrop for climactic shootouts.

 

I might like having sample vigilantes from 2-3 of the neighbourhoods (maybe one DC:TAS, one heroic level, one high end heroic).

 

Maybe a bulleted profile on state and federal politicians from the city.

[Steve Long]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

I work for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and have drawn storm sewers before (CADD Specialist). I'll see if I can rustle up anything of use. However, Oklahoma is generally pretty well drained and big storm sewers are not real common here so I can't promise anything. Besides most big storm sewer projects are handled by City Engineers, not State DOTs.

 

We really need somebody who is a city engineer for one of the really big cities to have a shot at finding anything usable. I'll ask some of the Hydrology Engineers at work and see if they can point me in the right direction.

 

Thanx! Any help you can provide much appreciated. You never can tell what resources Herodom Assembled can provide 'til ya ask.

[ParitySoul]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

More than just sewers. I'd like locations for power plants, relays stations, pumping stations, and many, many warehouse zones and what logicaly would be stored there.

 

Also, a police zone juristiction map. ie. Are there 'dark' parts of the city with no coverage? Or little coverage? Think Shadowrun security ratings for each city zone. A, B, C, etc.

[PoorWandering 1]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Some semi-random ideas. I hope they will be usefull.

A bit about what is immediately outside the city.

What are the burbs like. Levittown 1950's uniformity? Armed gated communities? Or a land boom that failed leaving the city holding the bag on acers of poorly built decaying housing the heading twords ex-urb slum status.

 

What is the urban-rural interface like. Maybe something about the smaller towns near Hudson.

What is the natural environment like in the area. A bit about the weather and how the seasons effect the city will add atmosphere. :7)

 

In the city itself:

How about civic plans that failed. A 6 lane highway that goes nowhere. A nearly complete airport mired in kickback scandals and NIMBY issues. How is public housing dealt with in the city? Slums? Projects? I would love to see a photocopy ready tourist brochure. The language would be very positive but desperation would be oozing between the lines. Also how is Hudson City seen by the rest of the nation? How much of a factor is it in sate or national politics. Is it a 'safe' or a 'battleground' city in national party politics.

 

Any way that's my 2 cents.

[OddHat]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Some good ideas in this thread.

 

Is Hudson City a stronghold for any small political parties? The Libertarians or the IHA?

 

It's in NJ near the shore; any push to legalize gambling to compete with Atlantic City? Any resort projects?

 

How far exactly is it from NY and Philadelphia by train? By car?

 

Camden, NJ was the city of crime for a while, fille with burned out buildings and an insanely (Comic-bookishly) corrupt city government of petty criminals. There were small, liveable islands here and there in the city, especially around Rutgers Camden (part of the state Uni of NJ, a major employer). Fairly recent waterfront projects have done a lot for Camden. Where are the liveable islands in Hudson City? Who are the big employers? What are some reasons for hope?

[Vondy]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Oh, hey. Does Hudson City have sister cities around the world?

[keithcurtis]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Don't foget the great Fiscal Crisis of '95 between the Planning Board and the Board of Supes. You know the one that slashed all the public funding and exposed all the graft and bribes in the estimat submission process for land develpopment. You remember? It was the one that gave us:

 

The abandoned Amusement Park

The abandoned Zoo

The abandoned warehouses

The abandoned...

 

Keith "Posting with abandon" Curtis

[Sketchpad]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

I like the idea of Urban Myths of HC ... maybe even give a few oddities like Albino Alligators and a Jersey Devil for flavor

[PoorWandering 1]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Things i usually end up needing at short notice are Taxi company names and Resturant / bar names. Preferably 2-3 bars etc per neighborhood.

[OddHat]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Preferably 2-3 bars etc per neighborhood.

 

Agreed, bars are always fun. A popular sports bar chain, an "underworld" bar, a cafe and occult book store where the mystic wanabe crowd hangs out, a few good fences, places to get info...

[Eirewolf]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

In reference to the lack of four-color supers, I prefer to run DC games in which no super-powered people exist in their universe, although some people tend to slightly over-dress as far as costumes go. So, that would be very good for my group.

 

Would it be safe to assume that the book could easily be used like that?

[Starwolf]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

A brief discussion of Posse Comitatus and its implications on crime fighting in HC would be cool...how does it affect the availability/use of military class weapons by Heroes or bad guys?

 

I also like the urban legends and conspiracy plot seed ideas...

[JmOz]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

What are the views of the officials in the city on vigilantism:

I would suggest three per polititian, one the public, one the semi public the other in the GM's Vault

 

example: The Mayor makes speaches on how HC does not need masked crazies "fighting" crime that's the job for the fine men and woman of the HCPD, while behind closed doors he will help any vigilante who he beleives to be fighting crime

 

GM Vault: Unknonw to the players he is only helping them so that he knows where they are, he is constantly tipping the criminal element so that they are ready for them, plus this was his own people can comit jobs without the heroes involvment

[Vondy]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

http://ci.alexandria.va.us/city/utilities/tandesbrochure.html

--sewer system survey map at bottom of page

--primarily deals with the problem of "influx"

 

http://gis.dublin.oh.us/html/download.htm

--cad based survey maps of numerous dublin systems

--some cad wielding hero would need to convert them for steve

 

http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/i-i/Pilots/AuburnPilot/index.htm

--there is a map of mercer island's sewer system at the bottom of the home page

--there are maps of other city's systems if you click on the "pilot projects" links

 

http://www.dcwasa.com/education/css/combined_sewer.cfm

--here is a site on the washington dc system

--it explains the sewage treatment system they use

--it has several maps and diagrams that might be useful

 

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/wastewater.html

--top link shows new york city's drainage districts

 

http://www.hatchmott.com/documents/adobe/sewer%20infrastructure_w.pdf

--online flyer with pictures of sewer ducts

 

And don't forget - hudson city needs resevoirs and a watershed!

[keithcurtis]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Thanks for the cool links, Von D-Man.

 

Keith "Your Kung Fu is mighty, Old Man" Curtis

[arcady]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

My only concern is in the thread on the Harbringer. Other than that I trust that I will get a highly detailed setting.

 

A note - San Angelo was boring, Freedom City was exciting. Both were highly detailed presentations of the cities they covered.

 

The difference was in the angle they took - one was just too mundane, a city with heroes, as opposed to a city about heroes.

 

Make sure it is a city about its genre, and not a city with its genre.

[00Machado]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

I have been searching for years -- literally' date=' [i']years[/i] -- for a book or books that would describe to me how sewer and/or subway systems are built, what has to be considered, what types there are, blah blah blah.

 

Not sure if this will prove useful, but a quick search looks like it may have some promising info.

 

In general, I see terms like (urban) hydrology and urban water/urban storm systems, and Storm Water Systems/Urban Drainage and Planning thrown around, so maybe searches on those terms will turn up some useful info.

 

I searched on sewers or something (don't recall) and found the following.

 

http://epdwww.engr.wisc.edu/onsite/courses/civ06.lasso

 

urban water systems design course, with reference publications listed

http://www.soe.uoguelph.ca/webfiles/abradfor/Assets/Text/ENGG%204370%20outline2003.pdf

 

Someone's web site that looks like it has teaching notes from the class referenced above, and other things like history of sewer system links. Spot checking looks like not all links may work though. Might be a good person to email though.

http://www.soe.uoguelph.ca/webfiles/wjames/homepage/Teaching/437/wj437HomePage.html'>http://www.soe.uoguelph.ca/webfiles/wjames/homepage/Teaching/437/wj437HomePage.html

http://www.soe.uoguelph.ca/webfiles/wjames/

 

 

A quick look on Amazon, and some books turn up, some out of print. Who knows if they'll be useful?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0471317993/qid=1095916303/sr=1-14/ref=sr_1_14/103-5595350-5210207?v=glance&s=books

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0115501592/qid=1095916221/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/103-5595350-5210207?v=glance&s=books

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000107O44/qid=1095916221/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/103-5595350-5210207?v=glance&s=books

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0853347964/qid=1095916603/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5595350-5210207?v=glance&s=books

 

end

[00Machado]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

This page looks like it might have some good pointers to useful subway information

 

http://www.icivilengineer.com/Transportation_Engineering/Subway_Engineering/

 

and this site has info on underground buildings, which will probably reference some general underground construction concerns

 

http://www.subsurfacebuildings.com/

 

And, in general, Internet searches on some of these terms may turn up more info.

 

 

Transportation Engineering / Subway Engineering / Transit System Engineering - maybe throw urban or metropolitan in front of some of those terms when searching as well

 

Transportation system engineering

[Steve Long]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Thanx for all the links 'n' stuff, folx! The Internet was one place I hadn't really looked yet, since it's usually easier to research and write a book initially using hardcopy research materials (at least for me it is, anyway)... but this will certainly save me time when I do start looking. And time is definitely something I can always use more of.

[Just Joe]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Lots and lots of maps -- more than any city book we've done to date.

 

Please, please, please. Could at least some of these be Hero-scale hex maps (as opposed to just large-scale maps sans hexes)? Even if a subsequent publication provides these as well, the more, the better.

 

I like a lot of the other suggestions as well, especially the urban legends sidebar.

[Storn]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Please, please, please. Could at least some of these be Hero-scale hex maps (as opposed to just large-scale maps sans hexes)? Even if a subsequent publication provides these as well, the more, the better.

 

I like a lot of the other suggestions as well, especially the urban legends sidebar.

 

The problem with this is one of scale. It would take an entire 8.5 x 11 piece of paper to show one corner of a modern office bldg... and by modern, I mean the common structures in Chicago, NY, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh that were built in the 20s, 30s and be the majority of bldgs in the decrepit Hudson City. It would probably take 8 pages to show ONE warehouse completely... the ubiquitous place for so many firefights (anyone see the french film, The Nest?).

 

8 pages for one map? That just isn't going to give the reading public enuff bang for their buck.

 

And this is easily solvable with a bit of ingenuity. Keith Curtis does great maps. Wonderful detail, perfect for a Friday Nite Firefight (to paraphrase another game company). The scanner OR the photocopier is your friend. Go to Kinkos and simply blow up the map on one of their blueprint copiers, y'know, the ones that are like 20 x30? Sure, it will cost you a buck fifty or three (been a long time). Or shoot the map in sections. Easy with just a wee bit of practice.

 

If a map doesn't have a hex grid, find a hex grid, shoot it onto clear acetate using a photocopier (or use the one in the Forgotten Realms box set, 2nd ed). Place acetate over your map and then shoot that on the photocopier.

 

I think Louis Porter's company (dang, blanking on the name of the company, look under 2D game aids.) has hex based modern maps over on RPGNow in PDF download form. I've looked at one demo and it was pretty good... but I run fantasy. So, I have not used it.

[SuperPheemy]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

I don't know how detailed your "day in the life" section is going to get, but I'd like to see a writeup of a Hudson City Newspaper detailed similar to the HCPD. Detail some editors and their policies, a couple of investigative and/or crusading journalists, and give some ballpark rates for freelance photographers (so the "Peter Parker, Spiderman's photographer" schtick will play better.)

[Just Joe]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

The problem with this is one of scale. It would take an entire 8.5 x 11 piece of paper to show one corner of a modern office bldg...

Sorry I was unclear on this. By "Hero-scale", I meant one hex = 2 m, not one inch = 2 m. I'd be happy with small hexes. As for your suggestions, I appreciate them, and I've done something kind of like that before, but one of the main reasons I buy Hero products is to obtain quality resource material that I can use without all of that extra effort.

[WarriorKnight]

Re: HUDSON CITY: What Do *You* Want To See?

 

Steve, my character in our DC game is supposed to have been born & grew up in HC.He's from Latin City section of town.My GM & I have descussed his background but we're not certain which High School he went to.In HC:UA I'd like to see what schools cover what areas of town.One of the other characters is from Freetown & we don't know if we were rivals in HS. The only other thing is more detailed maps,which I think you said were giong to be in this ed..