Random City Plots

[Umarth]

Anyone have some ideas for randomish plots that a group of PCs could stumble across while adventuring in a city.

Looking for simple things that NPCs are doing to help make a city come alive.

[kamikasei]

Are you looking for actual adventure hooks, things where the PCs can find out about something that's going on, intervene, and get XP?

Or are you just looking for "things that might be happening", where there's no need to entice the PCs?

[Umarth]

More of the plot hook type.

[Jasdoif]

The DMG has a table of basic adventure ideas. Conveniently, it's available through open content since it's used to demonstrate one of the Unearthed Arcana variants: http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/ca...asedReputation

[kpenguin]

A group of soldiers lead by a paladin patrol the marketplace. The paladin is continually using his detect evil ability and whenever he comes upon an evil person, he yells "It seems that (evil deity) has tempted you into his ways of wickedness. In the name of (lawful good deity), turn back to the side of light!" If the evil person claims to be nonevil or refuses, the soldiers drag him off.

[Raum]

I recommend using the news for plot creation, particularly in cities. For example, local news here is warning of sever storms. Taking that and building into a plot hook isn't hard...

Severe Storms - Oracles are predicting a period of severe storms over the next few days. We need to prepare. Preparations could include warnings to outlying areas, protecting crops, preparing for floods / mud slides / wind destruction, or possibly doing something to prevent the storms. Digging deeper might even find that the storms were sent by someone opening up further plots.

[kpenguin]

Some more ideas:

a. The local graveyard has had a series of grave robbings with no apparent connection to each other. The authorities suspect a necromaner at work and want the PCs to investigate. The cause could actually be a necromancer, or could be something else, like wizard making a flesh golem or an evil cult that likes eating bodies that have been buried.

b. The local merchants have been making very strange buisiness decisions lately. The city's commerce adivisor wants the PCs to investigate.

c. A local merchant guild is sabotages a rival shipment and its agents are witnessed by the PCs.

d. A close friends child is drafted into military service and wants the PCs to negotiate with the local authorities for the child back.

e. A starving begger is caught stealing and is subjected to a public beating.

f. During a festival, control is lost over one of the animal/magical beast/vermin performers and it goes on a rampage.