HYPERBOREA in AFS #4

[Ghul]

Colin Chapman and I have a new thief subclass (the purloiner) and a mini-adventure, "The Lamia's Heart," in AFS #4, one of my favorite zines being published today. The below pictures shows my hand-drawn map of the adventure locale.



This issue also features an excellent HYPERBOREA adventure by Scott Moberly called "Theme for a Jackal."

AFS #4 can be ordered here.

Cheers,
Jeff T,

[scalydemon]

This is an awesome Variant class and related adventure Jeff (and Colin) have written.

If you are new to AFS and want a stack of old school magazines to read - $28.50 will get you the '4 Hits from Hell' AFS 4 pack (issues #1-4), includes shipping if you live in the USA - via USPS Priority mail. Paypal to srmoberly -at- yahoo.com

Thanks and Happy New Year

[blackadder23]

Thanks for the offer!

[joseph]

Sent payment today!

[scalydemon]

Thanks guys for the support.

Also a review was posted on a cool blog called 'Dark Corners of Role Playing' of AFS 4. darkcornersofrpging.blogspot.com/2014/01/commentary-of-afs-magazine-issue-4-for.html

[blackadder23]

Just received these today. Lots of good stuff in here!

Thanks again.

[scalydemon]

Jan 4, 2014 14:28:45 GMT -6 blackadder23 said:

Just received these today. Lots of good stuff in here!

Thanks again.

If you end up rolling up a Cryomancer or running 'Captain Zhudo and the Last Crown of Atlantis' or anything else from the zines please post a blurb, would love to hear, thanks

[joseph]

Yesterday my group was down to two players and myself, so I offered to run a one shot - The Lamias Heart! After rolling up characters (no purloiner though) we had:

Archimedes - Male Atlantean Legerdemainist
Gor- Male Hyperborea Assassin
Zenophos - Male Amazon Scout (npc)

I decided to allow them to make 1st level characters due to their low numbers. Gor and Zenophos both rolled "roofer/thatcher" as secondary skills, which conveniently allowed a little backstory between the two.

Without giving too much of the scenario away, the party was sent to acquire a jeweled necklace from inside a mansion. They attempted to lure the guard dogs away with choice cuts of meat and though the first two dogs happily ran off to devour their meals, the third started barking viciously at Archimedes. While it was thus indisposed, Gor snuck up to its back and attempted a backstab which missed completely! The thieves were then forced to kill the dogs as the other two also joined the fray.

During this battle, Gor was savagely mauled and only revived with a healing potion. Also the guards inside the house were alerted to the disturbance but due to some good hide checks and a convincing illusion cast by Archimedes - one that showed the dogs alive and carousing about the yard - the guards withdrew, only to send the groundskeeper out to quiet the dogs.

This poor fellow soon found a blade through his heart and the thieves climbed to the roof and entered an attic window. After looting a few paintings they found stashed in a secret room, the rogues unlocked several attic windows to facilitate a quick escape. Unfortunately for them, a few failed move silently checks alerted the lady of the house -a professional assassin - to their presence and she was able to mount a defence.

As the thieves descended to the upper floor, they entered a hallway and split up, each guarding a corner or doorway. Gor crept to the right where he found a dead-end hallway whose only ornaments were some coat pegs, some hanging cloaks and jackets, and a large potted plant (behind which the lady assassin had skillfully hidden herself). Archimedes noted the presence of a hidden guard in the outer hallway, but was unable to warn Gor who approached the jackets, hoping to find some loot in the pockets. As he passed the potted plant the assassin stabbed him from behind and he fell unconscious. A short melee ensued in which Zenophon also fell. Archimedes dispatched the Keltic guard with a backstage and finished the wounded lady assassin, tearing the Lamias Heart from her neck as she fell. Seeing that he could not help his allies, Archimedes slit their throats to keep them from torture. Afterwards he quickly escaped through the attic and fled through the streets of ancient Khromarium.

Great little scenario Jeff! As always AFS continues to get better and is recommended! Scott includes excellent material of his own and ships very promptly to boot!
Thanks guys!

[Ghul]

Wow, that's fantastic, Joe. Sounds like your players did some stuff very similar to what mine did, but other things completely differently. I loved reading this!

[odysseus]

Does anyone knows if AFS will some day become available in pdf ?

[joseph]

Jan 14, 2014 11:33:45 GMT -6 Ghul said:

Wow, that's fantastic, Joe. Sounds like your players did some stuff very similar to what mine did, but other things completely differently. I loved reading this!

I somehow missed this...but thanks! We had a great time with it Jeff!

[scalydemon]

Feb 6, 2014 13:26:45 GMT -6 odysseus said:

Does anyone knows if AFS will some day become available in pdf ?

Hi odysseus,

No real plans to do a pdf version as to me it would sort of defeat the purpose of what the magazine stands for, which is a retro pulp style fanzine reminiscent of Weirdbook, the Weird Tales of the 1920's and 30's and with a nod to the magazines published in the late 70's and early 80's by the Judges Guild.

I do understand that makes the magazine less accessible to some especially International. To help that - I try and make it available as inexpensively as possible and work off a tiny margin.

Right now for example you can order all 4 issues, aka '4 Hits from Hell' for $28.50 includes priority mail shipping domestic USA, or $40.00 includes 1st class International shipping.

Thanks for the inquiry

[odysseus]

Thanks for the quick reply.
I kind of expected such a reason, which is very respectable and I really appreciate the integrity of your approach.
(Part of my problem is also paypal as the only payment method)
Anyhow, I'll find some way to put my hands on your fanzine sooner or later.

[scalydemon]

Feb 7, 2014 14:50:15 GMT -6 odysseus said:

Thanks for the quick reply.
I kind of expected such a reason, which is very respectable and I really appreciate the integrity of your approach.
(Part of my problem is also paypal as the only payment method)
Anyhow, I'll find some way to put my hands on your fanzine sooner or later.

Hi odysseus, not sure if it is any better of an option for you but mailing a check or cash or a money order are all acceptable options that people have used. I list my home mailing address on my blog that promotes the magazine.

Take care thanks

[odysseus]

Yup, I just need to work something out. At worst, I'll be just in time to order #1-6 

[scalydemon]

Interesting review of AFS magazine including AFS 4 on the blog 'Mazirian's Garden' maziriansgarden.blogspot.com/2014/02/afs-magazine-review.html

also includes a brief history/interview of sorts