I've flipped through tons of stuff like Frommers, but they are really aimed at tourists. Most of them don't even have a section like "Stay out of Alphabet City or you'll die" (no longer accurate, I know). Actually, a book on early 80's NYC would be awesome, as the city was still pretty dangerous, but getting better. I have to say modern NYC is kind of lame, at least for adventures.
I'm guessing White Wolf did something for it, but I bet it was mainly just vampire stuff.
I'd love a more general book, but with a nice array of NPC's (especially stuff like mobsters and street gangs).
The old TSR Marvel Superhero game had a cute guide to Manhattan in the Judges Screen. Granted it includes places like the Baxter Building (home of the Fantastic Four) and Avengers Mansion.
What period/genre ?
Digging round Amazon some of these migth be useful even if they are not exactly what you are after
Ghostly Gotham (http://www.amazon.com/Ghostly-Gotham-Citys-Haunted-History/dp/0970071841) - a numbe rof 2 page descriptions of ghostly locations in NY
Some walking guides which are often useful
15 New York Walking tours (http://www.amazon.com/New-York-Walking-Architectural-Metropolis/dp/0071411852/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330002627&sr=1-2)
New York Theatre Walks (http://www.amazon.com/New-York-Theatre-Walks-Historical/dp/1557836132/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330002741&sr=1-5)
Then for Crime stuff
Goodfella's Guide to New York (http://www.amazon.com/Goodfellas-Guide-New-York-Hair-Raising/dp/0761515380/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330002816&sr=1-1)
Five Points (http://www.amazon.com/Five-Points-19th-Century-Neighborhood-Elections/dp/0452283612/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330002920&sr=1-6) - for your gangs of new york fix without actually naming Gangs of New York
If you want actual gaming stuff then you have
New York by Night (http://whitewolf.wikia.com/wiki/New_York_by_Night)
AADA Road atlas : East Coast (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/AADATheEastCoast/) - kind of more abotu Car Wars than New York....
Gurps : Metro of Madness (http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/locations/metroofmadness/) - not specifically NY but it coudl be a subway station anywhere....
I was looking to see if Dogtown (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php?manufacturers_id=78) had a write-up on NYC, but I'm not seeing one. Too bad cuz that would have been perfect. I know Mean Streets (http://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=83) has a section on NYC, but it's not the same era as you're looking for. It might be helpful though.
Edit: Actually, Dogtown has info on part of NYC anyway, and also has a decent criminal history of the era.
Coincidentally, does anyone know whether Secrets of New York for CoC is any good?
Don't know, but if it's like their other books, it's probably really good. Too bad it's set in the 20's and not in modern times, or I'd buy it.
Quote from: danbuter;516135I've flipped through tons of stuff like Frommers, but they are really aimed at tourists. Most of them don't even have a section like "Stay out of Alphabet City or you'll die" (no longer accurate, I know). Actually, a book on early 80's NYC would be awesome, as the city was still pretty dangerous, but getting better. I have to say modern NYC is kind of lame, at least for adventures.
I'm guessing White Wolf did something for it, but I bet it was mainly just vampire stuff.
I'd love a more general book, but with a nice array of NPC's (especially stuff like mobsters and street gangs).
For mobsters i recommend the five families by Selwyn Raab. Great history of the mafia in new york, and has a lot of material on recent years. It is huge but a real page turner. Also recommend the american mafia website (http://www.americanmafia.com/), it is a great resource for crime rpgs.
Just want to repeat the Dogtown core book might be worth the download for ya Dan. It's free, so not much to lose, and after looking it over it does have some good, if not entirely complete info, and is the right era for ya.
They have a book of NPCs as well that might be helpful. Heck, if what you want is a '70s crime game, ya might wanna check out the whole thing, core and supps.
Quote from: Sigmund;516460J
They have a book of NPCs as well that might be helpful. Heck, if what you want is a '70s crime game, ya might wanna check out the whole thing, core and supps.
Dog Town + Black Dynamite is a winning combo
BTW Brendan, what is Black Dynamite? Also, what era is Crime Network set in? the Network system is awesome, so Brendan's Crime Network would probably also be a good resource, although I don't yet have it so I can't say first hand. I know I really like Terror Network, and SoG is turning out to be very cool as well.
Quote from: Sigmund;516541BTW Brendan, what is Black Dynamite? Also, what era is Crime Network set in? the Network system is awesome, so Brendan's Crime Network would probably also be a good resource, although I don't yet have it so I can't say first hand. I know I really like Terror Network, and SoG is turning out to be very cool as well.
Black Dynamite is a blaxploitation parody. Very funny: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Dynamite
Crime Network is modern, but is good for any american mafia campaign. Basically meant to play like goodfellas or sopranos. It is not our most popular game (mafia rpgs are a hard sell I think) but it is my personal favorite. Have had some serious fun running my crime network campaigns.
I am actually sitting on a supplement for it called Orlando's guide to organized crime. It goes into a lot of detail and is meant for crime network (it fell by the wayside last year when I got sick and I just need to revamp it a touch and get an editor--already have the art). I have been meaning to put out a source book for the 30s at some point.
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;516544Black Dynamite is a blaxploitation parody. Very funny: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Dynamite
Crime Network is modern, but is good for any american mafia campaign. Basically meant to play like goodfellas or sopranos. It is not our most popular game (mafia rpgs are a hard sell I think) but it is my personal favorite. Have had some serious fun running my crime network campaigns.
I am actually sitting on a supplement for it called Orlando's guide to organized crime. It goes into a lot of detail and is meant for crime network (it fell by the wayside last year when I got sick and I just need to revamp it a touch and get an editor--already have the art). I have been meaning to put out a source book for the 30s at some point.
Would love to play it in the 30's. That would be loads of fun. look forward to that supp. Anything coming out for Terror Network soon?
Quote from: Sigmund;516551Would love to play it in the 30's. That would be loads of fun. look forward to that supp. Anything coming out for Terror Network soon?
We just released Average Joes in January. So right now that makes four modules and an agency guide. Would like to put out another module for it, but will need to find the time to work on that. At some point we will put out a terror network revision. Not a major overhaul or anything. This will simply be to clean it up a bit (since it was our first book), update (to account for developments like the death of Bin Laden), fix accuracy issues (a couple of things with agencies need a fix) and add in some gm material to address questions we've received about running TN campaigns.
Quote from: Sigmund;516551Would love to play it in the 30's.
The book I had in mind would be a castellammarese war(1929-1931) source book. So very ambitious with background and stats for all the the major figures, but it would allow the pcs to be involved in a majr way and potentially change the historical outcome. Would need to find the right writer a I am spread pretty thin at the moment
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;516557The book I had in mind would be a castellammarese war(1929-1931) source book. So very ambitious with background and stats for all the the major figures, but it would allow the pcs to be involved in a majr way and potentially change the historical outcome. Would need to find the right writer a I am spread pretty thin at the moment
Wish I had the time to give it a shot for ya, but school has me too busy myself. Plus, not being experienced I'd probably screw it up anyway ;D