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[LP CYOA]The Hyborian Age

Kz3r0

Arcane
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
27,012
I was thinking for quite some time to make an LP inspired to Howard's Conan, so I have finally decided to give it a try.
Some words in advance, obviously being acquainted with Howard's works would be better even if not strictly necessary, also, I want to structure this LP around the use of instinct, as a real barbarian character players should just rely on their gut feeling instead of some subtle reasoning, for this very reason they should not fear a game over per-sè but heavy consequences for their actions nonetheless.
The loose main goal of the game is to sit on the throne of Aquilonia, of course, but is not mandatory, it also obvious that I will draw heavy inspiration from Howard' stories, no copy-pasta tho.
Disclaimer:
To the people following my Wulfen LP, fear not, that one takes priority.



Waiting for suggestions and considerations here a map of the world and a poem:
Chrysagon_Hyboria_1024.jpg


Cimmeria

It was gloomy land that seemed to hold
All winds and clouds and dreams that shun the sun,
With bare boughs rattling in the lonesome winds,
And the dark woodlands brooding over all,
Not even lightened by the rare dim sun
Which made squat shadows out of men; they called it
Cimmeria, land of Darkness and deep Night.
It was so long ago and far away
I have forgotten the very name men called me.
The axe and flint-tipped spear are like a dream,
And hunts and wars are like shadows. I recall
Only the stillness of that sombre land;
The clouds that piled forever on the hills,
The dimness of the everlasting woods.
Cimmeria, land of Darkness and the Night
http://conan.wikia.com/wiki/Cimmeria_(poem)


Boiling Blood
The Gray King
Bonus :The Words of Man
The Eyes of the Serpent
The Poison of the Serpent
The wind of the North
The Hour of the Bear
The Gray Stranger
Bonus:Down the Hill
Of Kings and Warriors
Norsemen
Fleeting Nights
Lukewarm
White Night
Rune Warrior
 
Last edited:

Kz3r0

Arcane
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
27,012
CaptainAwesome said:
This looks promising. I trust there will be a delightful amount of raping and pillaging?
Depend on the players, if they want to stick to the archetype of the noble savage established by Howard or try to develop a more realistic barbarian.
 

Terpsichore

Arcane
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
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why
Interesting.

I always liked the setting but never got myself to read the books.
 

oscar

Arcane
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Read them. They're fantastic. Well-written, fun, pulp-ish action and underlying Cleve-esque philosophy of Social Darwinism and civilization vs barbarians in a low fantasy world. I think you can even find all the stories online (most of them are fairly short).

Your a true bro for doing this Kz3r0 :salute:
 

Esquilax

Arcane
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
4,833
I am really fucking pumped for this, can't wait to see what you've got cooked up for us.
 

Kz3r0

Arcane
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
27,012
The Brazilian Slaughter said:
I read all the original Conan stories, very good stuff.
That said, are we going to play with Conan, make a Barbarian or make our own character?

Personally, I would like to take a horse-nomad character. Think Scythians, Khazaks or Mongols. Any similar peoples in the Hyborian Age? It would be a interesting idea for us to play, and different enough from Conan.
The idea is to play as a Conan clone, I have too much respect for Howard to try to use his character, the name I have come up with is Kairn, a Cimmerian, the story will roughly follow Conan's novels by the way.
That said players will have plenty of opportunities to shape the character as they like.
However, a more comprehensive LP set in the Hyborian Age would be welcome, hopefully someone will be motivated to make one after reading this.

In case someone is not well acquainted with the original Conan let's just say that if we compare him to a D&D character he has the strength of an ogre, the agility of an Elf, is a master thief and swordsman, has the stealth capability of a halfling, nocturnal vision and can climb walls smooth as glass with his bare hands.
He also has a +twenty for every save throw will based and barbarian rage as a perk.
Or something like that. :M
 

Crooked Bee

(no longer) a wide-wandering bee
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So are you going to do this as a Choose Your Own Adventure or as a text RPG, with rolls, attribute/skill checks and shit?
 

Kz3r0

Arcane
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
27,012
Crooked Bee said:
So are you going to do this as a Choose Your Own Adventure or as a text-based RPG, with rolls, attribute/skill checks and shit?
No, no rolls and no attribute/skill checks, it was just to give an idea.
 

Breaking Axe

Educated
Joined
Mar 30, 2011
Messages
176
He's also a rogue/fighter/barbarian/ranger.

Please start this, I will follow. I've been reading the originals as well as some of Jordan's ripoffs, although the mandatory useless women tagging along I find an unnecessary gratuitous distraction. Beyond the Black River is probably Howard's best work, no romance, bloody combat, heroic sacrifice and pyrrhic victories abound.
 

Kz3r0

Arcane
Joined
May 28, 2008
Messages
27,012
Boiling Blood


A frosty wind coming down from the hilltops whistled passing through the Cimmerian village.
Its long lamentations could be heard by the men sitting around the fire inside the central tent used as communal place during the long winters of that land shun by the sun.
A gloomy wind of misfortune.

The grave faces animated by the darting flames the warriors were listening to the report of the scouts, a band of red haired Vanirs was raiding their land in the heart of winter, two other villages had already been attacked, with no survivors left, it seemed that the Vanirs had further motivations than pillaging and taking slaves, a mysterious figure has been seen accompanying them with the escort of two giant twins more than two meters tall.

In a corner the women silently attended to the preparations of clothes and food while tending to the children.
In the opposite corner quietly sat the adolescents that didn't have already passed their initiation ceremony as full fledged members of the tribe.
Among them was the blacksmith' son, Kairn, a long knife at his side, clad in the skin of the bear he slaughtered in the coming of age test that all males should pass to demonstrate that they weren't a burden for the village, of a whole head taller than the other boys of his age his broad shoulders and the serpentine movement of steel-spring muscles told of an exceptional strength, even for a Cimmerian.

His clear blue eyes set on the ring of men having council, he was aware of the meaning of all that, war, a word that made him quiver with excitement.
Fourteen years old, what made him stir in his sleep was not the thought of the young females in his tribe but the image of snowy battlefields covered in blood, the glimmer of the blades under a bright sun, he craved the clangor of battle.

Not longer able to contain his impatience he raised himself and advanced towards the fire, one of the men raised his eyes to look at him, after a moment he lowered them again, immersing himself in his thoughts, that was Kairn' s father.

However, another of the men noticed Kairn approaching and come forth to alt him.
"What do you want kid, only men are allowed to speak in this council, go back to your corner."

____________________________________________________________________________________________________


A)Prove him your manhood by smashing in his skull.

B)Ask to perform your initiation ceremony during the rites that will be held to honor Crom before the expedition begins.

C)Go back quietly.
 
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Hoodoo

It gets passed around.
Dumbfuck
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Jun 5, 2009
Messages
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flip-flopping to C actually, playing a cimmerian sissy would be lulzy
 

oscar

Arcane
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Aug 30, 2008
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NZ
hoodoo said:
flip-flopping to C actually, playing a cimmerian sissy would be lulzy

dave-the-barbarian.jpg
 

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