Kickstarter - HYPERBOREA: Modulistic Terror

Just mentioning Hyperborea (formerly known as Astonishinh Swordmen & Sorcerors of Hyperborea or ASSH) should be enough to draw your attention. The modules published for Hyperborea by Jeff Talanian are second to none in terms of content and quality, and can literally be run with ANY D20-based OSR ruleset. Yes, even the DCC RPG, but it would take some tinkering ;)

You can get all three modules of the HYPERBOREA: Modulistic Terror collection, in Print and PDF, for 85 bucks plus shipping over at Kickstarter.

THE OBLATION SLAB OF THE HEPATOMANCER™

An adventure in Hyperborea for four to eight characters of 5th to 7th levels

Abductions and murder! For many months, small villages and farmsteads along the eastern coasts of New Vinland, and up the River Maedbh as far north as Bogrest, have been plagued by swift and deadly attacks. The few surviving witnesses describe a vicious band of Viking berserkers—led by a giant of a Viking and a beautiful Keltic woman—descending without warning in their sleek longship. They seize victims (some scarcely older than children), loot and burn homes, and slay any who resist. Rumours of these raids have reached your ears, as tales spread through mead-halls and taverns as far distant as Khromarium. Tensions are high in New Vinland; the jarls eye their neighbors warily, speculating upon the identity of the raiders and placing the political stability of the entire region at risk. Attempts by Keltic and Viking chieftains to suss out these malefactors have thus far been fruitless—but your party has now become privy to information that could put a stop to these murderous slavers.

Text: Joe Maccarrone 

Editing: Ben Ball, Jeffrey P. Talanian

Front Cover Art: Del Teigeler

Back Cover Art: Johnathan L. Bingham

Interior Art: Johnathan L. Bingham, Mick Fernette, Skye Talanian, Del Teigeler

Cartography: Andreas Claren

Book Format: Saddle-stitched softcover book with #60 unfinished paper and two-colour interior layout.

THE THOUSAND EYES OF THAUMAGORGA™

An adventure in Hyperborea for four to eight characters of 3rd to 5th levels

Bold is the man who travels to the Skarag Coast, where the fell bargains of desperate ancient folk birthed the terrible dæmon-blooded race known as the orc—a species of abomination which now rules the land with blood and iron. Bolder still is he who would dare to erect a stronghold on that accursed shore in open defiance of those Hell-spawned horrors. Just such a man is Ronan Svendoros, a fighter lord of renowned courage who left distant Brigand’s Bay to rear a keep at the mouth of the Bloody River Basin. Now your party journeys to his holding, lured by the promise of gold and glory. Will you triumph, or will your bleached bones join those of countless others who have vanished into the darkness of the dæmon-haunted Skarag Coast?

Text: Ben Ball

Editing: Jeffrey P. Talanian

Front Cover Art: Adrian Landeros

Back Cover Art: Mick Fernette

Back Cover Colours: Glynn Seal

Interior Art: Ian Baggley, Johnathan L. Bingham, Mick Fernette, Adrian Landeros, Glynn Seal, Phil Stone, Del Teigeler, Mike Tenebrae

Cartography: Ben Ball

Book Format: Smyth-sewn hardcover book with #60 unfinished paper and two-colour interior layout

THE VANISHING ISLES OF THE SUMMER KING™

An adventure in Hyperborea for four to eight characters of 4th to 6th levels

Avoiding the lawless pirates of the Zangerios Islands and the blood-thirsty half-bulls of Minotaurios, your party sails to the Isles of Maedsid, deep in the Hyperborean Sea. Maedsid is surrounded by treacherous waves and clinging mists, a place of mystery since time immemorial. Over three centuries ago, the isles became the sacred home to a clandestine sect of sun-worshipping druids called The Awakening Dawn, but they have not been heard from for about forty years. Concern has grown amongst mainland druids, prompting calls for inquiry. Furthermore, speculators, treasure hunters, and curiosity seekers of all stripes are attracted by growing rumours of treasures undreamed and the possibility of unravelling peculiar mysteries. Now, your party voyages to investigate the fate of the lost druids, but perhaps some things are best left unknown.

Text: Johnathan L. Bingham

Editing: James T. Demers

Additional Development: Jeffrey P. Talanian

Front Cover Art: Val Semeiks

Front Cover Colours: Daisey Bingham

Back Cover Art: Johnathan L. Bingham

Back Cover Colours: Skye Talanian

Interior Art: Johnathan L. Bingham

Cartography: Johnathan L. Bingham, Glynn Seal

Book Format: Smyth-sewn hardcover book with #60 unfinished paper and two-colour interior layout. 

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OSR Sale - Hyperborea (AS&SH) Print Books 20% Off!

I know I covered this on the YouTube side yesterday, but I wanted to make sure that The Taverners who don't watch the YouTube channel knew about the 20% off sale going on at hyperborea.tv for the Hyperborea RPG (formerly known as Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerors of Hyperborea or AS&SH).

Use code MAYEVE2024 at checkout to save 20%. The offer runs through May 1st, 2024.

If you enjoy swords & sorcery and the OSR in general, Hyperborea should be in your game collection (I have all three editions in mine ;)

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

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Bundle of Holding - Hyperborea 3e

Hyperborea 3e (formerly known as Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerors or ASSH for its prior 2 editions) is the game I own in all three editions and have yet to play - I will do so at an upcoming convention, guaranteed! It reads so well and I know many that speak highly of the system.

Hyperborea 3E is a current bundle on Bundle of Holding. For 12.95 you get the following: Hyperborea 3E Player + Referee Manuals, Atlas of Hyperborea, The Late Trapper's Lament, and the Hyperborea Referee Screen. If you don't own Hyperborea, you really owe it to yourself to pick it up.

Adventurer! This new Hyperborea 3E Bundle presents the 2022 Third Edition of Hyperborea, the tabletop fantasy roleplaying game from North Wind Adventures. Hyperborea, the isolated Land Beyond the North Wind is a flat hexagonal realm hemmed in by the mystical boreas. In the unchanging scarlet radiance of a bloated, dying sun, roiling seas spill eternal over the world's rim. In this land of perpetual decay, heroic cataphracts, pyromancers, runegravers, purloiners, legerdemainists, and sublunary Gnoph-Yikks delve dungeons and ruins, explore frontiers, and plunder gold and treasure.

This new offer presents the two-volume Hyperborea 3E rulebook, atlas, and introductory adventure from the successful July 2021 Hyperborea 3E Kickstarter. Third Edition reworks character abilities, makes spells easier to acquire, streamlines combat, and adds many races, monsters, magic items, and languages. The layout and artwork are new, and the text has been completely re-edited for clarity. (And all older 2E AS&SH material remains compatible with Third Edition!)

 

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. The Tavern DOES NOT do "Paid For" Articles and discloses personal connections to products and creators written about when applicable.

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Kickstarter - HYPERBOREA RPG Map

Sometimes the good things in life aren't simple or cheap. I'm looking at YOU Mister HYPERBOREA RPG Map. The canvas version of the map literally is a thing of beauty. I'm not sure I can justify picking one up in Canvas for $155 plus shipping, but really, who do I need to justify this with? Myself? That's an easy convincing to accomplish ;)

North Wind Adventures, producers of the HYPERBOREA RPG, are proud to present the new rendition of the Hyperborea Map, in high-gloss poster and canvas. Illustrated by Glynn Seal, this map brilliantly displays the whole of Hyperborea, a "flat earth" micro-setting for use with HYPERBOREA, a role-playing game of swords, sorcery, and weird science-fantasy.

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DTRPG Sale - HYPERBOREA and more at 33% Off!

 

There is a sale running at DTRPG, and the discount for the items included is pretty deep - 33%. Yes, it's PDF only, but such is always the way of sales at DTRPG.

OSR-wise, the strongest titles are from Jeff Talanian and his recent release of HYPERBOREA (aka AS&SH 3rd Edition).

I may be missing an adventure or two. Time to fill the gaps ;)

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DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat cast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Hyperborea Sale - 20-40% Off Northwind Adventures

First things first. I consider Jeff Talanian a friend. I've covered his booth at Total Con and other conventions when Jeff had to scoot for a few minutes. On a gaming level, Hyperborea is one of the best OSR systems out there, and probably the one with the most options without overwhelming the players. Aside from that, Jeff is simply good people.

For the month of May, DTRPG is running a Dungeons & Dragons Sale, with included PDFs being offered at a 20% to 40% discount.

The entire Hyperboria Collection of releases is included in this sale, with the latest edition of the Hyperborea rules being offered at a 20% discount (9.60 each for the Player's and Referee's Manuals), and the various Hyperborea Adventures being offered at a 40% discount (6 bucks each). It should be noted that Hyperborea Adventures can easily be run with the OSR ruleset of your choice.

My personal favorite is Rats in the Walls and Other Perils. Heck, I even own the shirt!

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I've Decided on my System for my Next Campaign - and it Kinda Sorta Is/Isn't Swords & Wizardry

Two weeks ago I attended the yearly gathering of my gaming group from the 80s and 90s. We've been gathering yearly for the last 15 years or so, and we've often talked about getting the "band back together", but they'd been looking to play D&D 5e, and that isn't on my list of systems to run ;)

This year, I was asked to run the OSR system of my choice. So I've been trying to think about the system I'd prefer to run, and no surprise, Swords & Wizardry came ut on top. But I wanted it to go a bit differently from the standard fantasy tropes, and Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerors of Hyperborea came to mind. It has some really excellent adventures in the low-level range and I already own them and the rules. 

Then I recalled Crypts & Things, an excellent Swords & Wizardry based swords & sorcery hack, and it all came together. 

Crypts & Things for the rules, Rats in the Walls and Other Perils, and The Anthropophagi of Xambaala from AS&SH for the initial adventures. Three single-session adventures and a longer one, this should accommodate sessions where players can drop in or out, depending on their schedule.

Now I just need to write a short Swords & Wizardry Light adventure for Shire Con in September. I wonder how many of the Crypts & Things classes could convert to SWL? :)

 The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar 

Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea 3rd Edition FAQ

The following was originally shared by Jeff Talanian here:

What makes it a Third Edition?

Posted by Ghul 

Greetings HYPERBOREA friends,

This list is intended to provide you with a decent idea of what is different about the Third Edition of HYPERBOREA. This list is not intended to be exhaustive; rather, it's a sort of highlights list of what is being changed. I plan to update this post as time allows. I won't for example, list things like a spell's range changed from 30 feet to 60 feet. This list is intended to show the more significant alterations; the Cliffs Notes version if you would.

Physical Changes

- Two hardback set (same Smyth sewn binding, high-quality paper)

- Possibly a slipcase as an add-on. It's being quoted for.

- Map reworked by Glynn Seal and to be presented in atlas format and special poster version.

- New layout, fonts, etc.

- Indexes in both books.

Branding

- Simplifying the branding and naming to HYPERBOREA, but "Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea" remains part of the scheme and is shown as a back cover subtitle.

People

- The game has been revised by the author.

- Editing by George Sedgwick.

- New cover art painted by Charles Lang (both books).

- Interior colour plates by Charles Lang, David Miller, Peter Mullen, and Val Semeiks (with Daisey Bingham)

- 26 new character illustrations by Diogo Nogueira.

- Chapter frame art by Del Teigeler.

- Gynn Seal has recoloured the map.

- More to be announced!

Content

- Cataphract new ability: shield sacrifice.

- Huntsman new ability: harvest venom.

- Paladin: Introduction of the fell paladin, LE version of the paladin. Also, cleric scroll reading ability at 7th level. High wisdom now grants bonus spells.

- Ranger now has scroll reading ability at 7th level. High wisdom now grants bonus druid spells cast per day, high intelligence grants bonus magician spells cast per day. 

- Illusionist new ability: coloured globe.

- Witch brew decoction ability simplified and expanded. Also, certain detection spells can be cast through familiar.

- Monk has a decent overhaul to the entire class. It is the most changed class for 3E.

- Shaman new ability: harvest venom. Also, spells per day slightly improved.

- Assassin new ability: harvest venom.

- Bard spells per day slightly improved.

- Scout new abilities: disguise (like assassin) and run (like monk).

- 12 new playable character races (Anglo-Saxon, Carolingian Frank, Esquimaux-Ixian, Greek, Lapp, Lemurian, Moor, Mu, Oon, Roman, Tlingit, Yakut).

- Languages: More available languages available.

- Several new spells.

- Sorcerer types can learn a known spell from another caster type’s spellbook, so long as it is on their list of learnable spells. For example, an illusionist can copy an invisibility spell from a magician’s spellbook, but he can’t copy a magic missile spell, because that contains proprietary language. However, we separate thaumaturgical sorcery from ecclesiastical sorcery. So, a druid can copy a detect magic spell from a cleric’s prayer book, but he can’t do the same from a witch’s spellbook. 

- Characters need not memorize the regular spell or its reversed form; rather, they can decide at the last moment to invert the incantation and thus cast its reversible form. We have so many examples of spells in which the caster is deciding which version of the spell is being cast, and I realize resource management is part of the allure of a game like this, but I don’t see why a cleric can’t elect to use cause moderate wounds on a whim instead of cure moderate wounds, and so forth. 

- Scroll-using characters can now invoke a scroll that is on their spell list, as long as it was not created by one who practices the opposite form of magic, which we are defining as thaumaturgic sorcery (magicians and subclasses) and ecclesiastic sorcery (clerics and druids), so a magician can indeed use a fireball scroll created by a pyromancer, and vice versa.

- Streamlined combat system (no more phases).

- New monsters.

- New magic items.

- And more!

All of the above shows you why it is a "3E" yet the game remains backwards compatible. I'll be revealing more in the coming weeks. Thanks for your interest!

- Jeffrey Talanian

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar

Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea 3rd Edition is Coming in June to Kickstarter (The Talking Crit Livestream)

Neither Bad Mike nor myself were informed of any of the following in advance. When Jeff announced that Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea's 3rd edition was not only currently in the works but likely Kickstarting in early June, we were as surprised as our Talking Crit live audience.

I did, however, quickly open up Pages on my desktop and took a few quick notes. Further details are, needless to say, in the Livestream.

Here's the summary I was able to make:

ASSH to likely be renamed Hyperborea. Simpler name. Easier branding. Tastes great. Less filling ;)

The new edition will be split into 2 core books.

There will be a new cover and new interior art, including full-color plates. A number of artists were mentioned. Val Semeiks & Del Tiegler were two names I recall, but there were many others.

There will be 26 new class illustrations - 4 core classes and 22 subclasses.

New chapter frames/art

The goal is an early June Kickstarter, but this is subject to change.

1st level adventure by David Prada (add on available on the Kickstarter)

Future projects:

2 other adventures - one written by Johnathan Bingham and the other by Ben Ball , who also wrote Beneath the Comet)

Again, further details are in the video below. Jeff also spoke about Castle Zagyg (and working with Gary Gygax), how AS&SH came to be, heavy metal, Conan, H.P. Lovecraft, and more. 

The Talking Crit Livestream is every Wednesday Night at 8 PM Eastern.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube,  or wherever you listen to your podcast collection. - Tenkar

Bundle of Holding - Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea

There are certain RPG systems I want an opportunity to play as a player. Not GM, but simply experience the world and the ruleset from the unencumbered side of the PC. Beyond the Wall is one. The One Ring is another. Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea is probably at the top of that shortlist.

My first encounter with AS&SH was with the First Edition Boxed Set. It oozed atmosphere and familiarity at the same time. Then the AS&SH 2nd Edition HC Book was released, and I snagged that, and it was GOOD. This was followed by a series of adventures, of which I even own the shirt for one (Rats in the Wall and Other Perils)

If you have yet to experience the greatness that is Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea, this is your chance. The rules are excellent, and the adventures fit the default setting to a T, yet are easy enough to move to your own world. The Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperboria Bundle of Holding collection is a bargain and I strongly suggest it for those that haven't had that AS&SH fix yet ;)

For 9.95, you get the rulebook, pre-gen characters, and the GM screen. If you go in for the threshold price, you add in seven adventures. Really, you simply can't go wrong at either price.

The Tavern is supported by readers like you. The easiest way to support The Tavern is to shop via our affiliate links. DTRPG, Amazon, and Humble Bundle are affiliate programs that support The Tavern.  

You can catch the daily Tavern Chat podcast on Anchor, YouTube, 

or wherever you listen to your podcast collection.

Kickstarter - Hyperborea Dice (North Wind Adventures)

Have I mentioned my weakness for dice in the past? heh

I'm in for two sets. :)

From North Wind Adventures, creators of Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea™, come HYPERBOREA DICE, a beautiful set of nine (9) polyhedral dice, and a 4 x 6-inch Colombian leather pouch.

We have partnered with our friends at Gate Keeper Games to produce the HYPERBOREA DICE! These dice are being created using GKG's special "Neutron Dice" formula. Each die has three layers, featuring a shining band of pearlescent icy blue nestled between two transparent outer layers. The colour scheme represents the glacial ice of HYPERBOREA and its scarlet, bloated sun (Helios).

The "Neutron Dice" formula
Each die has the high and low numbers centered on the two clear halves for high-speed number recognition, and the d20 features the North Wind Adventures Xathoqqua (Tsathoggua) logo on the "1" face. 

Select Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperboria Titles at 40% Off

Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperboria is probably THEE Swords & Sorcery OSR ruleset. Now you can get the Player's Manual and two AS&SH adventures (Ghost Ship of the Desert Dunes and Beneath the Comet) at 40% off. No, you don't need to run the adventures with AS&SH but why wouldn't you? ;)

Here's the link to 40% off AS&SH.

Sale runs through Saturday, March 21st, 2020.

Humble Bundle - Old School Fantasy Roleplaying Bundle (Everything PLUS the Kitchen Sink)

This is probably the best and greatest Old School bunde anywhere - forget Bundle of Holding - the Humble Bundle - Old School Fantasy Roleplaying Bundle is what you want to grab!

Why? Well, if a picture says a thousand words, I've got a couple of thousand words for you ;)

Let's look at the One Dollar level. You get all the following for a buck:

All the above plus the following for Eight Bucks:

All the above and the following for 18 bucks:

I dare you to find more old school gaming value for your gaming dollar.

Yes, that's an affiliate link above. When you shop using The Tavern's affiliate links, a small portion of sales made go to support The Tavern. Huzzah! for beer ;)

Kickstarter - HYPERBOREA: Otherworldly Tales (AS&SH)

You have to give it to Jeff - he brings some of the best produced, well-written adventures to the market with covers that make me drool. HYPERBOREA: Otherworldly Tales is no exception.

THE LOST TREASURE OF ATLANTIS - The Lost Treasure of Atlantis, by Chainsaw, is an adventure in HYPERBOREA designed for from four to six characters of 6th through 8th level.

In the far reaches of Hyperborea’s Crab Archipelago lies a small, mountainous island known as Crystal Point. Passing sailors recently have witnessed a crimson glow in Crystal Point’s waters and beams of russet light shining up from its steep cliffs. Too, unusually frequent lightning storms in the area have torn the sky in blinding flashes, shattering the air with their awesome sound. The seedy wharf taverns of Khromarium and elsewhere buzz with these strange tales—some even speculate that Crystal Point may hold the lost treasure of Atlantis! 

THE SEA-WOLF'S DAUGHTER - The Sea-Wolf's Daughter, by Jeffrey P. Talanian, is an adventure in HYPERBOREA designed for from four to six characters of 7th through 9th level.

Your party finds itself in the employ of Ragnarr the Sea-Wolf, a jarl of New Vinland and a reaver of old. His daughter, a shield-maiden named Gunnhildr, has been abducted by a brute called Björn Blackbeard. During a desperate search, the Sea-Wolf crossed sails with a former rival, and from the blood-flecked lips of a dying foe, he learnt the location of Blackbeard’s stronghold. Now, deep in the misty fjords of Brigand’s Bay, where cutthroats, pirates, and freebooters thrive, you have been charged with liberating the Sea-Wolf’s daughter.

Funded in 3 hours. 3 hours? Seriously? Damn! heh

As aways, jeff does good stuff.

Both adventures in PDF come to 19 bucks (10 bucks each otherwise). Print plus PDF for both is 50 (26 if you opt for either or)

Take my money Jeff ;)

OSR Black Friday Sales - Part The Third - Trolls and Hacks and More

Its ACTUALLY Black Friday now. Let's see what sales have been added to the mix. Prior posts are here and here.

KenzerCo

Kenzerco's 2018 Hack Friday [CyB3rMonday] Sale

Thanks for checking out our annual mega-sale. There's values across the board with a majority of products 50% off for the shopping holiday weekend (Friday through Monday).

All orders of $50 (in merchandise) will receive a free copy of a Bundle of Trouble. $100 orders will get two. (The specific volume is determined by stock on hand.)

Note that this page has special product listings we prepared especially for you (below) that exceed even these savings! Other highlights follow:

• We've added discounted media mail shipping options for hardcover books
• "Classic" print editions of KoDT are 80% off
• Previous edition Aces & Eights products are 80% off
• All Casualty Counters are 75% off. These very kewl fallen battle figures make a great stocking stuffer for the gamer in your life.
• HackMaster bundle/shipping specials are an awesome value if you want to pick up multiple core books

Troll Lord Games

Stacking "percent off" doesn't usually add up as well as you think it might but by my math, $20 to $50 becomes 46% off and over $50 becomes 52% off. Still HUGE discounts at The Trolls.

Jeff Talanian

Time for some Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerors of Hyperborea fun :)

Pacesetter Games & Simulations

OSR adventures and minis are the Pacesetter specialty.

35% off sitewide with coupon code: Black18

Kickstarter - HYPERBOREA: Players' Manual, Referee's Screen, and more!

My God! The HYPERBOREA: Players' Manual, Referee's Screen, and more! Kickstarter launched yesterday and it has already surpassed $21k in funding. Why do I feel like I am late to the party ;)

So, what is Jeff offering this time around?

From North Wind Adventures, an exciting new Kickstarter campaign for Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea™, a role-playing game of swords, sorcery, and weird fantasy. This bundle features four new products intended to improve the fun and excitement of your AS&SH™ game day.

The Hyperborea Players’ Manual compiles Volumes I, II, and III of Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea, as originally presented in the AS&SH 2E hardback. The milieux of AS&SH are inspired by the fantastic literature of Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, and Clark Ashton Smith. AS&SH rules and conventions are informed by the original 1974 fantasy wargame and miniatures campaign rules as conceived by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

The Hyperborea Player Character Folder is a valuable supplement for players of Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. This 9 × 12-inch,two-pocket folder will feature wraparound cover art by Del Teigeler, with colours by Glynn Seal. The folder will contain 10 booklet-style AS&SH character sheets, each measuring 8½ × 11 inches (i.e., a single 17 × 11-inch sheet folded in half) on classic goldenrod paper. Additional AS&SH character sheets can be downloaded and printed from our website at www.hyperborea.tv. Keep your character sheets, notes, and maps organized with this great new resource! 

The Hyperborea Referee’s Screen is a useful game day accessory for referees of Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. This 44 × 8½ inch, four-panel screen will feature an exterior panoramic scene of Hyperborea, with art by Diogo Nogueira and colours by Daisey Bingham. The interior will display the most relevant AS&SH tables for ready reference.

Rats in the Walls and Other Perils will feature the classic Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea adventure, “Rats in the Walls”, by Jeffrey P. Talanian. This adventure, originally published in 2014 as a special “swag bag” giveaway at Gary Con VI, was inspired by the eponymous story by H.P. Lovecraft. This revised and lightly expanded version will bring that title up to date with our current catalogue of adventure modules.

Rats in the Walls and Other Perils also will include two more short adventures: Chainsaw’s “The Brazen Bull”, and “The Lamia’s Heart”, by Jeffrey P. Talanian. (An early draft of the latter was published in the AFS fanzine.) Edited by David Prata, all three adventures are set in the dismal City-State of Khromarium and designed for from four to six characters of 1st or 2nd level. Like our popular adventure module The Anthropophagi of Xambaala™, we think you will find this to be a great AS&SH campaign starter. It contains just enough mystery and danger to whet the appetites of your players, introducing them to the weird world of sword-and-sorcery role-playing in the City-State of Khromarium. 

There are MANY different backer levels for PDF or Print, with the above on their own or bundled.

If you just want the Player's book, the GM screen and the adventures in PDF its 25 bucks.  If you want it all in Print plus PDF (including "goldenrod character sheets and a folder) its 90 bucks. In my opinion, those are the sweet spots.

With all due respect to Jeff - Fuck You! Just take my money damn it!

RPGNow May D&D Sale - The Picks - Post #2 - Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea, Rules and Adventures

Time to start sharing some picks for RPGNow's May D&D Sale. For the second round of picks, we going to look at some Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea releases from North Wind Adventures.

Note: All of the adventures listed below are "designed for Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea™ (AS&SH™), a role-playing game descended from the original 1974 fantasy wargame and miniatures campaign rules as conceived by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Therefore, AS&SH is compatible with most traditional fantasy role-playing games (c. 1974 to 1999) and their modern simulacra, such as OSRIC™ and Swords & Wizardry™.

Quick confession - I own them all and they are good :)

Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea (Second Edition) - (core rules) "ASTONISHING SWORDSMEN & SORCERERS of    HYPERBOREA™ is sword-and-sorcery role-playing at its pinnacle. Play an Amazon fighter, Atlantean magician, Esquimaux shaman, Hyperborean warlock, Ixian necromancer, Keltic barbarian, Kimmerian cataphract, Pictish thief, Viking berserker, or one of many other possibilities. The heroes of a HYPERBOREA campaign delve the mazes and labyrinths of vast dungeons filled with horrifying monsters, lethal traps, and bewildering puzzles. They explore savage frontiers, breach hostile borderlands, probe ancient ruins, and investigate cursed tombs. They plunder for treasure and magic in a decaying world inhabited by bloodthirsty beasts and weird, otherworldly beings." 19.00  15.20

Ghost Ship of the Desert Dunes - "An adventure in Hyperborea designed for from four to six characters of 2nd through 4th level. Somewhere in the depths of Diamond Desert lie the skeletal remains of Ymir’s Serpent, a legendary Viking longship. In days of yore, Sigtrygg Forkbeard led his company upriver, piercing the desert’s hostile heart. There the Vikings unearthed a lost mine brimming with green diamonds, but the River Æolus desiccated as the Serpent prepared for launch, and the ship was swallowed by the dunes. Forkbeard and his company were never seen again, but tales of a shimmering Viking ghost ship gliding over the dunes persist to this day. Ghost Ship of the Desert Dunes takes players into an action-packed realm of adventure: the mythical world of Hyperborea, a sword-and-sorcery campaign setting inspired by the fantastic fiction of Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, and others. "  10.00  8.00

Forgotten Fane of the Coiled Goddess - "An adventure in Hyperborea designed for from four to six characters of 5th through 7th level. More than a month ago, your party found itself in Port Zangerios, where you heard of an Esquimaux thief selling a treasure map. Low on wealth but high in courage, you sought him out. The man turned out to be a fearful ex-slave who had “acquired” the map from his Ixian master. The map is incomplete but shews the Isle of the Serpent in far-off Lemuria, where rests a fabulous treasure called the Feathered Crown of Nanasa (or so thought the Ixian). Pooling your money to purchase the unfinished map, you bought passage on an Amazonian trade ship. After passing through tempests and torrential rains that shimmered with auroral light, you have come to the great city of Jhaman Ket. Now you must seek out the location of the Isle of the Serpent."  10.00  8.00

Beneath the Comet - "An adventure in Hyperborea designed for from four to six characters of 6th through 9th level. For weeks the Comet has blazed in the sky above Hyperborea, inspiring widespread superstitious dread and fear of some star-borne contagion. Under the light of this harbinger from the Black Gulf, the PCs have come to Bogrest, following a magical treasure map that reveals great wealth buried in the Lonely Heath north of the village. Finding that treasure will be no simple matter, however, for Hyperborea is a weirder and deadlier place than ever beneath the Comet."  10.00  8.00

The Mystery at Port Greely - An adventure in Hyperborea designed for from four to six characters of 4th through 6th level. Until about three years ago, the peculiar town of Port Greely was renowned as a prolific exporter of crustaceans. Then the Greely lobstermen severed all ties with outside partners. Subsequent attempts at renegotiation were shunned. More recently, a small group of Fishmongers’ Guild representatives from the City-State of Khromarium has gone missing in Port Greely, and answers have been less than forthcoming. At present, the Guild seeks answers. It wants to know what became of its representatives, and it wishes to re-establish its lucrative partnership with the Port Greely lobstermen. Your party has been contracted to help resolve The Mystery at Port Greely.  10.00  8.00

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Last 20 Hours - HYPERBOREA: Beasts and Cannibals Kickstarter (AS&SH)

Quick reminder - the HYPERBOREA: Beasts and Cannibals Kickstarter is in its last 20 hours.

The goal was 10k - it's knocking on 20k.

Gotta love Jeff, he knows how to publish good stuff.

Stretch goals hit thus far:

• $12,000 = Inside Cover Maps. ***ACHIEVED!*** Printing on the inside covers is a traditional and well-received component of classic RPG adventure modules.
• $15,000 = Additional Art. ***ACHIEVED!*** We will commission additional pieces of interior art to further improve the visual component of each adventure module.
• $18,000 = Bookmarks. ***ACHIEVED!*** Every print customer receives a free 2 x 6-inch card stock bookmark inserted in each module purchased. These bookmarks will feature the cover art seen above.
• $20,000 = Xambaala Gatefold Cover. XXX-ALMOST-XXX We will create a gatefold cover for The Anthropophagi of Xambaala, displaying maps in a gorgeous and utilitarian spread.

Kicking Off the Week - Kickstarter RoundUp for April 9, 2018 -D.A.M.N. The Heretical Dragon is with Beasts & Cannibals!

Yep, back to weekly Kickstarter RoundUp posts. Some I may have highlighted before, others this might be the first look. All are worthy of your time and attention.

D.A.M.N. Magazine - DCC RPG Magazine and News - A DCC RPG Magazine from Paul Wolfe - three adventures (two long and one short), a new patron, previews and more. Cover by David Fisher - About 85 pages, 8 1/2" x 11", color cover and B&W interior.

The Dragon Heresy Introductory Set Fantasy RPG - "Explore and conquer in a Norse-inspired land with Dragon Heresy, with modified 5E rules - In the Dragon Heresy Introductory set, you will find everything required to create your hero, play the game, and challenge fearsome foes. Go forth and stake your claim. Your saga starts here."

HYPERBOREA: Beasts and Cannibals - "Two new adventure modules for Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea (AS&SH) - From North Wind Adventures, creators of Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea™, come two new, exciting adventure modules for the AS&SH™ game: The Anthropophagi of Xambaala™ and The Beasts of Kraggoth Manor™"

Kickstarter - HYPERBOREA: Beasts and Cannibals (Two AS&SH Adventures)

Some of the best OSR adventures come from +Jeff Talanian 's publishing Northwind Publishing arm. Although they are written for and labeled with Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea, these adventures are readily usable with the OSR ruleset of your choice. I plan on running previous adventures that Jeff has published using Swords & Wizardry. these two will get added to the list. Sweet point for Beasts & Cannibals appears to be $44 - both adventures in print plus PDF. I'm in.

Did I mention it hit and surpassed its 10k funding goal in a day? Well done +Jeff Talanian . Well done.

THE ANTHROPOPHAGI OF XAMBAALA 

The Anthropophagi of Xambaala, by Corey R. Walden, is an adventure in HYPERBOREA designed for from four to six characters of 1st through 3rd level. 

Visitors to the desert city of Xambaala, beware! When the city slumbers, dæmoniacal cachinnations roll in from its outskirts, and dull totemic drumbeats rumble in the surrounding waste. Vile shrieks and noises out of nightmares bring shudders to the spines of even those who fancy themselves heroes, and when the eventide bell tolls residents lock themselves behind stout walls—for something sinister moves during the dead time. But the people of Xambaala do not speak of the hellish noises that haunt their city; only furtive whispers hint that those who trust in the safety of the inn of Aramis D’Athak oft disappear, vanishing into the unknown. And the sounds outside the city walls grow louder . . .

THE BEASTS OF KRAGGOTH MANOR 

The Beasts of Kraggoth Manor, by Tim Callahan, is an adventure in HYPERBOREA designed for from four to six characters of 4th through 6th level.

Your party have travelled northeast from the great city of Khromarium, through the unforgiving expanse known as the Lug Wasteland. You undoubtedly seek greater riches in the north: ruined tombs secreting ancient artefacts, deep caves filled with long-lost Atlantean technology, or strange villages built atop sacred Hyperborean burial grounds that brim with pre–Green Death treasures. Finally, after having emerged from the treacherous bogs, you set up camp on a craggy outcropping that provides dry land and a modicum of protection from the crawling unknowns. Straightaway your attention is drawn by a nearby light source, a fire not more than 100 yards away. Through the cacophony of croaking frogs, buzzing insects, and hissing slimy things, a shriek of pain knifes through the air.