VincentDarlage said:
There is remarkably little pastiche in Shadizar. Beyond the names of a few people and places, I had to invent practically everything else. I didn't give a key to every building/structure because a city the size of Shadizar would have 14,489 buildings and structures! Also, I didn't want Shadizar to be static. If a key says a shop is there, then a rules-lawyer or unimaginative GM will declare that is exactly where the shop is, no matter how many years have gone by. How many times have you seen businesses go out of business or relocate? It happens A LOT. I figure it happens even more in Shadizar.
Seems, I was not as clear as I intended: surely I'm not of the rules-lawyer-gang (and fortunately my players aren't, either) and a key to a lot of buildings would be indeed not a wise thing, especially in Shadizar.
Since I don't have the Shadizar box at hand, I can't give the examples I mentioned, but one thing I remember was the jewel merchant Samides (?): its entry gives a relatively detailed description of his house, but only a few things about his person / connections / enemies / family / preferred tactics etc. - which at least I would have found more interesting and useful.
When I read this entry, I got the (incorrect?) feeling that a pastiche was the source that lets Conan sneak in the merchant's house and steal something without giving much light to the merchant's background. This is what I meant with "gaps because of pastiche".
I'm sorry that I can't give more detailed examples, this is the only one I remember clearly.
P.S.: Just for clarification: my posts on this forum are not intended as a "They ripped me off with product xy".