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Post by hagbard on Jan 27, 2014 18:40:35 GMT -6
WOW!
This is a thing of beauty. I got the D&D original reissue in that wood box and it's got nothing on this boxed version of AS&SH.
It's ironic this takes me back to those days way in the past when I played D&D infinitely better than the reissue D&D box set did.
I cannot wait to play this.
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Post by blackadder23 on Jan 28, 2014 15:14:31 GMT -6
Welcome to the game and the forum!  |
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Post by mabon5127 on Jan 28, 2014 16:40:13 GMT -6
Welcome Hagbard!
I agree with your assessment and would not trade my box set of ASSH for three of the OD&D retro remakes (except to ebay two of them!) I hope you have many great adventures.
Morgan
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joseph
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 142 
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Post by joseph on Jan 28, 2014 19:44:29 GMT -6
Welcome hagbard! I was similarly blown away when I got the box last spring. I'm sure you'll find the setting as rich and inspiring as many of us here! Happy gaming!
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Post by hagbard on Jan 29, 2014 8:02:52 GMT -6
Thank you!
Question for those of you running a campaign of your own: Are you combining this setting with something else, expanding upon it, or running it 'as is' per the gazetteer?
I've got two other people who show interest in playing, so I'm looking at the different possibilities in this approach and what works best.
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Post by chrisj on Jan 29, 2014 12:08:51 GMT -6
I run the setting as per the gazetteer, with my own twists and interpretations. My version of Khromarium, for example, is a bit different than the outline presented in the gazetteer.
You can check my campaign blog for an idea of how we play.
Chris
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Post by mabon5127 on Jan 29, 2014 13:14:32 GMT -6
I'm running as per the gazetteer but have made up a couple towns to facilitate adventures in various areas.
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Post by blackadder23 on Jan 29, 2014 14:33:02 GMT -6
I run the setting as per the gazetteer, with my own twists and interpretations. Same here. Of course I always put my own warped interpretations on everything I touch...  There are lots of unnamed settlements, rivers, etc. on the map, so there is plenty of scope for personalizing it. |
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Post by chrisj on Jan 29, 2014 16:33:28 GMT -6
I run the setting as per the gazetteer, with my own twists and interpretations. Same here. Of course I always put my own warped interpretations on everything I touch... There are lots of unnamed settlements, rivers, etc. on the map, so there is plenty of scope for personalizing it. The great thing about the setting is that it gives you a lot of inspiration and ideas without tying your hands. It's very easy to make it your own. |
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Post by mabon5127 on Jan 29, 2014 17:11:12 GMT -6
I agree with the two above. Lots of inspiration and lots of room to do your own thing! Its hard to break.
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Post by Ghul on Jan 29, 2014 18:10:56 GMT -6
I'm delighted to hear the setting is finding some use, fellows. It was my favorite part of the game to develop, and I strove to keep it open enough for individual creativity to thrive. I love hearing the various interpretations and random ideas -- it's all food for inspiration!
Cheers,
Jeff T.
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Post by blackadder23 on Jan 29, 2014 19:35:30 GMT -6
This is my favorite campaign setting for "the traditional fantasy role-playing game" ever. It even beats out Greyhawk and Mystara.
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joseph
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 142
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Post by joseph on Jan 31, 2014 9:02:02 GMT -6
This is my favorite campaign setting for "the traditional fantasy role-playing game" ever. It even beats out Greyhawk and Mystara. Absolutely agree with that statement. I historically create my own settings, though i've dabbled in Forgotten Realms, Mystara, Ravenloft and Al Qadim...Hyperborea brings something that none of those touches while being broad and open enough for interpretation. The source material is the key and Jeff brought it all together nicely... but left lots of room for us to play. As for me, I run it as described in the gazateer with mods...but I think the system and classes could be easily ported to a Hyborian Age/Conan game or similar setting. The mechanics are strong enough to allow additions and tampering that would bring a more Tolkien feel as well...though I haven't tried this. |
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Post by scalydemon on Jan 31, 2014 14:25:11 GMT -6
Yeah, pdfs are all well and fine (I'm actually lying as I hate pdfs) - but the box set is where this product really shines. Many great times to be had in that box.
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idrahil
Level 6 Magician
The Lighter The Rules, The Better The Game!
Posts: 398
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Post by idrahil on Feb 1, 2014 8:32:46 GMT -6
I would like to get a box set eventually but can't spring the money for a while. I am thinking of picking up the PDF. does the pdf have the pictures?
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Post by blackadder23 on Feb 1, 2014 8:51:50 GMT -6
The PDF has all the art and even includes the game map. It's a STEAL at $10. Don't wait, get it today!  |
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Post by scalydemon on Feb 1, 2014 9:25:30 GMT -6
The PDF has all the art and even includes the game map. It's a STEAL at $10. Don't wait, get it today! blackadder is right, for once? as usual? - it sounds like the pdf may be a good option in your case. I am just a staunch dead tree guy  |
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joseph
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 142
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Post by joseph on Feb 1, 2014 13:12:48 GMT -6
After I had the box in hand, I went ahead and got the pdf as well. Since then I have printed extra copies of the books and had them bound at Staples relatively cheaply....now my box set won't have to survive spilled drinks and pizza sauce. I actually put the Gazateer (and the maps) in the back of the Players Manual as well to encourage everyone to browse through it.
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Post by mabon5127 on Feb 2, 2014 6:03:40 GMT -6
I like the "working copy" player books as well. They can get pretty rough treatment around the game table. Most of the players have purchased the PDF or a separate players book from the website. A couple have purchased the boxed game but prefer to bring their printed players books.
It is interesting how a couple of the players new to table top roleplaying take the gazetteer to be gospel. I keep reminding them that the info included should be treated "as best they know" vs absolute truth. They do keep me on my toes from a continuity stand point, another advantage of the less detailed version of Hyperborea.
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Post by Ghul on Feb 2, 2014 6:07:42 GMT -6
After I had the box in hand, I went ahead and got the pdf as well. Since then I have printed extra copies of the books and had them bound at Staples relatively cheaply....now my box set won't have to survive spilled drinks and pizza sauce. I actually put the Gazateer (and the maps) in the back of the Players Manual as well to encourage everyone to browse through it. I think you touch on something I've given a lot of thought to, Joseph. As I've mentioned in other threads, other forums, FB, G+, and other places, I have a finite amount of boxed sets remaining. As I consider moving to hardcover format, I've been thinking about ways to improve the organization of the game. Vol. VI (Gazetteer) has a lot of information that might well be accessed by the players and is not necessarily for referee's eyes only, the way Vol. IV and V are. |
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joseph
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 142
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Post by joseph on Feb 2, 2014 9:20:13 GMT -6
Assuming you plan to to do two hardcovers, one possibility would be to include a "general knowledge" sort of gazetteer in the PM, while in the RM you could include more sensitive information. Moving it entirely to the PH imbalances your page count quite a bit, but having the gazetteer available for the players is nice. Reading through it gives them ideas for character generation and a good understanding of the world.
I must say that I love the small format of Hyperborea products and like the spiral binding quite a bit. Would you be going "full size" on the hardcovers? (I know this only in the early planning stages, just curious on your thoughts )
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Post by Ghul on Feb 2, 2014 10:05:36 GMT -6
Assuming you plan to to do two hardcovers, one possibility would be to include a "general knowledge" sort of gazetteer in the PM, while in the RM you could include more sensitive information. Moving it entirely to the PH imbalances your page count quite a bit, but having the gazetteer available for the players is nice. Reading through it gives them ideas for character generation and a good understanding of the world. I must say that I love the small format of Hyperborea products and like the spiral binding quite a bit. Would you be going "full size" on the hardcovers? (I know this only in the early planning stages, just curious on your thoughts ) Well, you're right about it still being in the early stages. It might be a two volume set. Or it might be a 'Compleat' single hardback volume with a softcover Players' Manual. There are a lot of ways to approach this. I am leaning towards 7 x 10-inch size, but I'm not ready to commit. Sorry for being so vague! |
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joseph
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 142
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Post by joseph on Feb 2, 2014 11:35:43 GMT -6
No worries on the vagueness, thanks for the response! I'll buy up anything that has "Hyperborea" on it anyway! lol
A giant hardcover might be quite cool.
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Post by hagbard on Feb 3, 2014 7:22:24 GMT -6
After I had the box in hand, I went ahead and got the pdf as well. Since then I have printed extra copies of the books and had them bound at Staples relatively cheaply....now my box set won't have to survive spilled drinks and pizza sauce. I actually put the Gazateer (and the maps) in the back of the Players Manual as well to encourage everyone to browse through it. I think you touch on something I've given a lot of thought to, Joseph. As I've mentioned in other threads, other forums, FB, G+, and other places, I have a finite amount of boxed sets remaining. As I consider moving to hardcover format, I've been thinking about ways to improve the organization of the game. Vol. VI (Gazetteer) has a lot of information that might well be accessed by the players and is not necessarily for referee's eyes only, the way Vol. IV and V are. I do like the spiral bound format, I do know it's a love or hate it kind of thing. I really dig being able to have a book lay flat on whatever page I need to have it on as a referee. Although, I would prefer this format more for adventure modules and monster indices. Rulebooks and fluff it's no big deal. I did modify one aspect of the two books: I attached tabs for the different sections of the book so I can jump to those sections in game. If you're discontinuing the boxed set, I'm probably going to order one more and give it to my son when he gets old enough to start playing. I just think it's all sorts of cool. |
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Post by Ghul on Feb 3, 2014 8:52:35 GMT -6
Attaching tabs has been a common practice with my group as well. |
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Post by mabon5127 on Feb 3, 2014 9:01:24 GMT -6
I think you touch on something I've given a lot of thought to, Joseph. As I've mentioned in other threads, other forums, FB, G+, and other places, I have a finite amount of boxed sets remaining. As I consider moving to hardcover format, I've been thinking about ways to improve the organization of the game. Vol. VI (Gazetteer) has a lot of information that might well be accessed by the players and is not necessarily for referee's eyes only, the way Vol. IV and V are. I do like the spiral bound format, I do know it's a love or hate it kind of thing. I really dig being able to have a book lay flat on whatever page I need to have it on as a referee. Although, I would prefer this format more for adventure modules and monster indices. Rulebooks and fluff it's no big deal. I did modify one aspect of the two books: I attached tabs for the different sections of the book so I can jump to those sections in game. If you're discontinuing the boxed set, I'm probably going to order one more and give it to my son when he gets old enough to start playing. I just think it's all sorts of cool. I prefer the spiral bound as well. The rule book laying flat is a big advantage at least for me. |
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machpants
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Supersonic Underwear!
Posts: 259
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Post by machpants on Feb 3, 2014 22:06:24 GMT -6
Yeah I was a little dubious after I got the box set but now I get all my game PDFs printed in spiral for table use, it is great.
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Post by hagbard on Feb 4, 2014 8:27:48 GMT -6
I've got three of my friends on board for a game this Sunday afternoon. I'll give you all a report.  |
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Post by mabon5127 on Feb 4, 2014 9:14:36 GMT -6
Cool. Look forward to hearing about it!
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joseph
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 142
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Post by joseph on Feb 4, 2014 10:20:46 GMT -6
Awesome! Hope the game goes great!
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