WFRP: The Reiksport Bezirk

A view over the Reiksport Bezirk, as seen 

entering from the north.

The Reiksport Bezirk, which lies just outside the northeast walls of Altdorf, is the newest part of the city. It has grown from being a humble gathering of sheds and jetties, to become one of the capitals most important defenses against invaders, smugglers and Marien-burgers. The district has benefited greatly from the military prescence of the Imperial Navy, and the fact that the Emperor raised funds to extend the walls of the city to encompass most of Reiksport.

It is a rough and tumble area, and one has to keep a sharp eye out for thugs and cutthroats. The district is made up mostly of docks, warehouses, barracks and living quarters for the navy and those civilians who make their living off servicing the large merchant and army vessels that moor there.

Adolphus Altdorfer

Konistag, Sigmarzeit 2

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!

/Magnus

WFRP: iAltdorf update 1.2

Today one of the most significant updates to the iAltdorf map is revealed to the public! I've gone out on a limb here and added a completely new layer called Elevation. My hope is that this will add a new dimension to the map and encourage people to look at Altdorf as being a three dimensional place rather than a flat surface.

I've also revised the Reiksport area so take a look at that. Please note that I am still operatin under the WFRpv2 assumptions on population. I don't know if that will change as more info is gathered, but I suspect that some changes will be made ... such as removing the refugee camp outside the North Gate, or at least turning it into a market of some sort.

Again thanks to Alexander Bateman, and also to Jackdays who runs the excellent Kalevala Hammer site. I also would like to extend a thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the map, and if you are expecting a reply, please get back to me again! My mailbox is stuffed with mail from work, so I might miss a mail, or forget about replying!

Especially nagging is a mail I can't find offering advice on what's beneath the sewers! Please get back to me, if you recognise that.

Now go check out the new version of the map!

Go here for the download page!

Magnus

WFRP: Gossip (18)

"Feh, the weather is foul. We haven't had a summer this cold since ... since ever! It's that Storm of Chaos, that's what it is! It's blowing foul winds from the north, filled with ice and death! I swear I saw ice floating down the Reik this morning!"

- Owner of a vegetable stall at the Marktplatz by the Mourner's Bridge, trying to keep warm in the cold drizzle of the coldest summer in 50 years

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!


/Magnus

WFRP: iAltdorf update 1.11

After a good long while I've done some work on the iAltdorf map and I hereby release version 1.11 of the iAltdorf map. This time, I have mostly added new stuff from various sources, and made some tweakings to the spreadsheet. Explore and give me feedback!

One thing I especially want feedback on is the placement of Reiksport. I'm not entirely happy with my choice, but see it as a logical place for a port to grow up outside of Altdorf, close to the protection of the walls. Comments on that?

This release also has Alexander Bateman, a.k.a Jadrax, to thank for many of the locations. He's supplied me with even more locations, and there are plenty still to be extacted from Shades of Empire, so the next release should not have to wait another year or so!

Now go check out the new version of the map!

Go here for the download page!

Magnus

WFRP: Gossip (17)

"The Emperor has decided to ban the written word! His Witchhunters are poised to strike against all printing houses and bookstores in Altdorf, to stop them from copying and selling blasphemous texts!"

- The owner of the bookstore Die Motte, confiding in a customer from the University

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!


/Magnus

WFRP: Help wanted (17)

"Guards needed for transport of 10 barrels of Imperial Stout from the Moot. Oxen and carts provided, applicants must bring own weapons and armor. No alcoholics!"

- Bruno's Brewhouse gearing up for a halfling festival. Note pinned to their door and distributed at the tables.

The competition for this job is going to be frantic, but most of those who feel called will not make the cut. Bruno's Brewhouse is looking for serious applicants only, so a good reputation is a must. Which might be difficult for many groups, actually ...

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!


/Magnus

WFRP: Gossip (16)

"The Emperor is sick! He has Neiglish Rot, and will die before the winter's end! The court physicians are doing all they can, but there's no stopping the corruption of the flesh! So they've locked the Emperor in one of the dungeons under the palace, and a look alike has taken his place!"

- By the Kaiserplatz I overheard a Palace Guard whispering traitorous gossip to a City Watchman

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!


/Magnus

WFRP: Gossip (15)

"Did you hear about that barge that was found adrift in the Altdorf fog last week? Maria's Heaven, that's what it's called. Right down by the Fork Wharf it was. Bloodied sails and all! The Hafenmeisterei sent out a team to investigate ... not a single soul alive was found ... the captain was a veteran of the Storm of Chaos they say, and several of his men able-bodied warriors ... so whatever killed them, was not of this world! And now ... now it is loose in Altdorf! Sigmar save us all!"

- By the Fischmarkt, overhearing an elderly cook talking to a fisherman hawking his wares

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!


/Magnus

WFRP: A View from a Pram

It is all so easy to forget that Altdorf is a city divided by the broad River Reik. In the summer, when I walk about the crowded streets, among the alleys and walkways, the sheer bustle of the city whisks all thoughts of open spaces and cool waters. But always, the deep black waters of the Reik are there, waiting for me as I take an unexpected turn and end up by the banks of the river.

It is a fact of life, and while it serves as the life blood of our capital, at the same time it reinforces the social and cultural boundaries dividing the working class from the nobles and their servants of the Imperial administration.

The bridges of Altdorf serve as gateways between different worlds. They are officially under the jurisdiction of the City Watch, but since they straddle the Reik, powers are working to put the River Watch in charge of the bridges as well. This, and the fact that a bridge connects two Bezirks and therefore often fall under two City Watch jurisdictions,  means that the bridges more often than not are havens for crooks and criminals, while the powers that be squabble over who has the responsibility of keeping order ... and who will get the money for doing it.

Adolphus Altdorfer

Wellentag, Erntezeit 9, 2523 IC

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!



/Magnus

WFRP: Gossip (14)

"The scandalous painter Johann Weissen has been commissioned by the Emperor to paint a depiction of the last stand against the Storm of Chaos at Middenheim! Weissen is bringing in goblins, mutants and even dragons to pose for his pleasure! It's an outrage!"

- A speaker from The Crusade for All That is Right speaking from on top of an upturned barrel on the Three Toll Bridge

Johann Weissen is a famous painter, surrounded by scandals and indiscretions. His studio is located in the Domplatz Bezirk.

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!



/Magnus

WFRP: Otto Stierne's Observatory

Close to the bank of the Reik, in the Universität Bezirk, lies one of the most curious buildings in Altdorf. But it is not the shape or architecture that makes this building of interest, it is the inhabitants. I'm speaking of course of Otto Stierne, the renowned astronomer, and Heirodüle Krangelschaft, the scandalous inventor. In a tall tower overlooking the Reik, Stierne houses his celestial observatory, filled with advanced Dwarfen telescopes, intricate models of the heavenly bodies and copious maps of the starry sky above us. Here he makes his observations, trying to chart the glittering night sky and link it to our history and future. Stierne is often consulted by the Emperor and his Electors before any large decisions, and this has earned him quite a following in the capital.

Many nobles and merchants seek out his advice, although it has never been proven that his predictions are more or less accurate than any other oracle's musings. Commanding less authority, but surpassing Stierne in notoriety, is his good friend Heirodüle Krangelschaft, the inventor. He is most known for his theories about aerial flight by the harnessing the power of alchemy and mechanics, which has resulted in several spectacular public experiments.

Curiously quite a few of his failed inventions are acquired by unknown parties, for unknown purposes. His workshop resides in the lower parts of the tower, and are filled with tools, metal, wood planks, chemicals, glass tubes, drawings and books. Every now and then a fire will clear out the workshop, but so far the tower has stood the strain of having a mad inventor residing in it.

Adolphus Altdorfer

Konistag, Vorgeheim 10, 2523 IC

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!



/Magnus

WFRP: Die Volksoper

Die Volksoper Altdorf, or Altdorf People's Opera, is a major opera house on Münzestrasse in the Werksviertel Bezirk. Some of my colleagues have expressed astonishment over the fact that there is so much interest in the opera, that such an alternative to the Imperial Opera House can exist and even thrive in the capital. But the truth is that one of the most popular pastimes of the Altdorf middle class is attending the Volksoper. Having spent time at the establishment itself, I am less surprised than my scholarly friends; the Volksoper offers fiery passion, blood-spurting violence, hilarious comedy and all this scored by some of the finest composers from history. The focus of the Volksoper is light entertainment, and its repertoire consists of opera, operetta and muscials.



Of course, this is seen as vulgar entertainment by the upper class and the pretentious cultural élite, but this bothers the clientele little, as the seats are sold out almost every night. Each season the Volksoper gives around three hundred performances of twenty productions, closing only during the hottest months of the year, as other open-air entertainments are more popular during those times. The Volksoper has 900 seats, and room for about as many standees.

The most famous plays that have been staged at the venue, and which are habitually restaged every couple of years are such masterpieces as;

"The Angry, the Happy, and the Watchman", a tale of three mercenaries seeking the same gold treasure in the ruins of Mordheim.



"The Merry-Go-Round", a farce set in Altdorf guild circles, with plenty of mistaken identities and pratfalls.



"The Bat", a dark and violent tale of revenge and the mental decay of a noble turned vigilante.

Adolphus Altdorfer

Marktag, Vorgeheim 7, 2523 IC

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!







/Magnus

WFRP: Sanctuary in the Temple of Sigmar

The grand capital of the Empire is a bustling metropolis, a teeming hive of scum and villainy, a confluence of holy influences, the push and shove of the crowds filling the streets, cries of help and sounds of brawling from the docks, seagulls eager for scraps of food, dogs, beggars, vendors, town criers ... during the day the cacophony of sound is an assault on the senses for any right-thinking individual. Even in my lofty abode high up over the barely controlled chaos that is life in Altdorf it is impossible to entirely escape the commotion.

When I feel the need to rest my head I have the recourse of seeking out our libraries, but after my harrowing experience there last year I am loath to go down there. Instead I do as many pious Imperial citizens, I seek out sanctuary in any of the larger temples that are situated in the capital. There is of course one large site dedicated to each of the major deities, as befits proper faith and respect for the gods, but I tend to pay my homage to the lords of our souls at the largest of them all, The Great Temple and Citadel of Sigmar.

This immense structure, reverently referred to as "The Hammer" among the populace, is a haven for those in need of quiet contemplation, and it welcomes all. Well, almost all. The smelly beggars and insane rambling agitators are firmly redirected to any temple of Ranald they might find, and to be frank what business would the poor people have in fancier parts of Altdorf? The interiors are magnificent and lends an air of power and authority to the chambers and halls.

There is a multitude of high columns, pointed arches, ribbed vaults and tall stained-glass windows, all to impress a visitor and make him reflect on the deeds of the great Sigmar. Serene choir music is often heard wafting through the temple grounds, providing a soothing counter-point to the babble of the Altdorf streets.

Adolphus Altdorfer

Backertag, Pflugzeit 25, 2523 IC

Go here to download the complete iAltdorf map!



/Magnus

WFRP: iAltdorf updated to version 1.10

As a celebration of my first year of writing The Altdorf Correspondent, I hereby release version 1.10 of the iAltdorf map. This time, I have done some major restructuring which most of you won't notice, but also added a completely new sewer layer! So check out the new version of the map!

Go here for the download page!

Magnus

WFRP: iAltdorf updated to version 1.01

I sat down and made some updates to iAltdorf. The latest version is now 1.01. There are no major changes, but I added a score of locations, fixed some errors on the map, and created a few more layers.

Go here for the download page!

Now you'll have to wait a while for the next update, probably a month or more, depending on if my scenario goes through to the next round in Black Industries' scenario competition. But I'm sure you'll find plenty of use for the map even so.

Magnus

WFRP: Here be dragons

This is a preview of what I've been up to lately; my own map of Altdorf. The final map will be a PDF map, with layers so that you can turn some features on and off; names, streets, buildings, sewers and districts.

I've been using the map from The Enemy Within (published 1986 by Games Workshop) as my base, and the general layout of the city matches that map. Also, MadAlfred et al's stunning work on the Imperial Capital has been referenced. Read up on Altdorf here!

Finally, as you will see when the map is released in a year or two - just kidding, I'm hoping to release a first version end of August - I've added my own street names and places as well. But as I work on the map I'm reminded of the passage in Spires of Altdorf claiming the capital can never be mapped. Only now do I realise the truth in that.

I would also like help in adding to this map or just correcting it, so if you feel like beta testing it, please drop by in the comments!

Magnus

Mapping Altdorf

In my quest for knowledge about the Imperial Capital, I have started drawing maps of the places I have visited. Altdorf is a huge and sprawling place, and the houses sometimes form a labyrinth, a maze of doors, windows, roofs and ledges. I am no cartographer such as the esteemed Anders Gesetz, but I have nonetheless taken it upon me to do as well as I can. This is taking up a lot of my time of lately, but I hope that the map will enable me to document with even greater accuracy the heart of the Empire.

Adolphus Altdorfer
Wellentag, Vorgeheim 29, 2522 IC

Where are The Marble Baths?

As a follow up to the presentation of The Marble Baths comes the map pin-pointing its location in the Reikhoch Bezirk, close to Westenstrasse. Don't have a clue where the Reikhoch Bezirk is? Click here to find out! It's number 13 on the map.

Magnus

Königplatz surroundings

The University

After a long while and several wrong turns I finally made it to the University. In hindsight it wasn't difficult to find it, but the twisting and turning alleyways of Friedwang Bezirk surprised me many times. Finally I had to give a pie seller a penny to show me the right way, and finally I arrived. Now that I think of it, it was obvious that the Uniersity would be the largest structure of the Universität Bezirk. I came in via the Ruckusplatz, or Speaker's Corner as it is also called. Due to the wintry conditions only a few rabble rousers and agitators were poised on their crates and barrels delivering their fiery dogma onto the cats and dogs that made up the audience.



Adolphus Altdorfer

Angestag, Nachexen 3, 2522 IC







The University is made up of several small and large buildings, societies, museums, clubs, libraries, and so on so forth. On the map above you find a few of the more noteworthy, but exploring the University can be an adventure in itself, and a place where you as a GM can start many adventures, or use as a place for researching clues or asking old professors for advice.



Magnus