Conan and the Cheap DM – A Guide to Free Resources for Running a Hyborian Age Campaign

A couple of years ago, the thought occurred to me that there were now so many free resources available on the web, that enough material could be garnered to run several of the most famous fantasy worlds as RPG settings. So, with nothing better to do, I set about to see what all I could find. I started with R. E. Howard’s Hyborian Age and quickly found more than enough! New material has appeared, since I first started collecting.

So, here’s a list of resources, for DM’s who might be interested in dropping a group of player’s into Conan’s world!

 

Our first stop, is Jason Vey’s Classic Edition Fantasy Resources Page. There, you will find his OD&D supplements The Age of Conan and The Secrets of Acheron. These feature rules for running an OD&D campaign in the Hyborian Age and the main focus is on adapting the game to Howard’s setting. There’s not a lot of info on the milieu itself, but definitely of use. Contains an excerpt of Howard’s essay The Hyborian Age.

Next we come to The Hyborian Age page, by Thulsa. This site really has everything you need. Gods and Demons, a Gazetteer and Maps! Plenty of Maps! Not to mention magic items, famous sorcerers and other personages. The crunch is d20, but if you’re playing an Old School game, it’s easy enough to make your own and truth to tell, you would probably prefer to anyway! The site also reproduces Howard’s The Hyborian Age essay and a ton of other stuff I haven’t mentioned. Including rules for using Black Lotus!

Dragonsfoot # 13 has an AD&D Conversion of Thulsa’s Tower of the Elephant adventure.

Vincent Darlage’s Conan d20 site is another fantastic resource! Lots of info on important NPC’s and a ton of really, really cool Weird Tales artwork and covers!

Mongoose Publishing has a free Map of the Hyborian Age available for download, here.

For some scholarly information, you may find Mysteries of the Hyborian Age by Dale Rippke, to be inspiring.

This one’s rather interesting. Someone put up the Hyborian Age Appendix to the  Handbook of the Marvel Universe.  It’s rather large and contains a ton of Marvel Pictures! For those who aren’t sticklers for purity, an excellent resource!

Hyborian War is an archive of an old Play-by-Mail game, which contains Kingdom Reports and what-not, which you may find useful. No idea if this is still going on or not. The various kingdom reports have some detailed maps of the regions and are in pdf format.

The above links should provide more than enough maps, but if you crave more, a Google Image Search will turn up quite a few.

Conan: Savage Hyboria is a Savage Worlds Conan conversion, which might provide some useful tidbits.

Of course, Howard’s stories are the richest source of Hyborian knowledge. Scroll down this Project Guttenberg index, to find a ton of Kick-Ass Conan Adventure!

Lastly, if you haven’t decided upon a system to use for your Swords & Sorcery gamefest, there’s always ZeFRS – The Retro-Clone of the rules from TSR’s old Conan RPG by David Cook. You can download it here.

OSR News From The Underdark Gazette – Saturday, May 29, 2010

New Releases

Dark Dungeons by Blacky the Blackball has been released! A Retro-Clone of TSR’s Rules Cyclopedia, you can get it in Hardcover for $26.09 and in Softcover for $13.11. A free PDF download, is also available.

“Dark Dungeons is a free retro-clone role-playing game – a game in the style of old-school 1980’s and 1990′s role-playing games; harking back to the days when rogues were thieves, races were classes, and you could start your adventuring career exploring a few basic dungeons and end up travelling the planes as an immortal being of pure divine power. This book contains the entire game in a single work, so there is no need to cross-reference between multiple rule books and supplements. Grab some dice and form a party like it’s 1989!”

The print versions run to 344 pages.

Pacesetter Games has released TM1 - The Lost Caravan:

“The Lost Caravan

A First Edition Advanced Game Module

The Lost Caravan is a competition module originally created and run at Wintercon X1 (1982) at Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan. This adventure is designed for   4-6 characters of 5th to 7th level.

Borrowing from the ever-popular “save the princess” genre, this adventure reverses the plot as the princess does not want to be found. Forced into a pre-arranged marriage, the princess and her caravan disappeared in route. Fifty years later a clue has surfaced that may uncover the fate of The Lost Caravan.”

In print and available for $12.00.

Congratulations guys, on these cool New Releases!

Free Downloads

The May release of the Castle of the Mad Archmage by Joseph Bloch is now  available! The module is now 182 pages and covers levels 2 – 12 of the Megadungeon!

James Raggi has posted version 0.07 of his LotFP Weird Fantasy Role-Playing game. While you’re there, be sure to check out the cover for upcoming release, as well.

Jed at the IxD&D blog, has created a Swords & Wizardry Wheel Chart, for calculating To Hit values. I really like Volvelle charts and think this is pretty cool!

Cyclopeatron has made some Gamma World character sheets.

Thanks everyone, for creating all this amazing stuff!

Events & Happenings

Games Expo 2010 takes place in the UK from June 4th – 6th, in the city of Birmingham. Gentleman John has posted to the Goblinoid Games forums, that he will be running some Old School events at the con.

The North Texas RPG Con, a con dedicated to Old School RPG’s is getting ready to kick-off! Running from June 3rd – 6th:

“This year's guests: Robert Kuntz, Tim Kask, Paul Jaquays, Dennis Sustare, Steve Winter, Jim Ward, Jason Braun, Kyrinn S. Eis

Pre Registration through May 15, 2010 is $20.00, after May 15, the cost is $30.00.

It is also $30.00 at the door and/or $10.00 for a single day.”

I’ve mentioned several of the events being run, over the past few weeks. Check out the con site for details.

Tavis, over at The Mule Abides, is passing along a call for help! If you’re attending Gen Con Indy, The Tower of Gygax needs DM’s.

In Other News

Scottsz posted the Afterward to his Cold Text File – WG4 series. A PDF compilation is forthcoming. Congratulations on finishing this most awesome series, Scottsz!

While you’re at Lord of the Green Dragons, Grendelwulf is on Part XXV of his Armies of Oerth series! I’ve just discovered that the author has his own blog, Axe & Hammer. You can find the series there as well, along with some other goodies!

I Hit it With My Axe: Episode 11: You Guys Got Totally Paralyzed.

Reviews from R’lyeh has a review of Broadswords & Bucklers.

What I’m Pimping This Week

Knockspell # 4 – Black Blade Publishing. Available in Print (Perfectbound) for $10.00 and in PDF for $5.00.

"Knockspell: The quarterly resource for old school gaming!

Knockspell Issue #4 contains a veritable cornucopia of gaming content for your retro-clone or out-of-print fantasy campaign!

This issue features another installment of the Isles on an Emerald Sea setting by Gabor Lux, two adventures (including one by Jeffrey Talanian), an article on artifact types and attributes by Scot Hoover, a weird weather system, and much, much more!

64 pages”

Knockspell! It’s What I’m Pimping This Week!

About the News

Unless otherwise noted, all links to products and files are to the individual authors sites, pertinent posts, or sales pages. I don’t link directly to files, unless that is the only link available. The OSR News is produced as a service to the community and is entirely a non-commercial endeavor on my part. I have received no remuneration for advertising or reporting on any of the items appearing herein. Please feel free to send me information on any new releases, events, or other items of interest, which you would like to see mentioned.

As always, the What I’m Pimping This Week section of the OSR News and its accompanying blog widget, feature products which I have purchased (or items which are available for free download) and wish to support. No one has asked me to spotlight their material in this section and I have received no payment of any kind for doing so.

Alaethia Takes Shape – And I Found A Cool Tool For Using My Map In Play

I don’t like cluttering up maps with labels. Of course, not doing so hampers their usefulness, especially for the players.

But, I’ve found a way around this problem. This stuff, called Transparency Film. 8.5” X 11” transparent sheets, which you can print on with a laser printer.

So, I made a label jpeg, printed it out and slid it into the sheet protector, which contains my region map. Viola! I have my cake and eat it too! But there’s more!

The above label sheet represents a comprehensive knowledge of the region. What one might could gather after interviewing several local sages, though only a few of the many secrets of the area are listed. Still, I want the players to be strangers to the region and I don’t want them knowing nearly so much. Again, Transparency Film to the rescue! When the players first see the map, this lighter version of the label sheet will be inserted into the sleeve.

They’ll be starting in Rhom, which is near the bottom, just left of center. So, they’ll know most of the locations in this immediate area, but they’ll only be familiar with the major population centers of the other political divisions. For the most part.

They’ll know of a few areas of humanoid infestation, the location of Stonehell (Michael Curtis’ masterpiece), The Halls of Yellow Madness (my own mega-dungeon) and a few other sites to head to for adventure, as well. Hex 1522 for example. 

I was able to be quite thorough with the full label sheet, so in making it, I got a good start on putting together the hexmap key. I’m beginning work on that tomorrow. Hopefully. :)

I’ve put all three maps into a single PDF file and you can click any of the pics, or here, to download for a closer look. Also, the link is in my Supplements widget, in the right-hand column of my blog.

OSR News From The Underdark Gazette – Saturday, May 22, 2010

We’re making up for last Saturday, it seems. It’s been a busy week in the OSR!

New Releases

Brave Halfling Publishing has released Vile Worm of the Eldritch Oak by Jimm Johnson, with art by Andy Taylor! Available for $6.50 to the US & Canada and $8.00 Worldwide. The price includes shipping and comes with a complimentary PDF. The PDF alone may be purchased from RPGNOW for $3.95. (I’ve been seeing some wierdness with RPGNOW’s price listing on this item. Per John @ Brave Halfling, $3.95 is indeed the correct price.)

“Deep within the forest, an ancient oak has grown huge, twisted, and evil. Ages ago, a savage cult haunted these woods and this tree became the catalyst of their unspeakable rites. Below it they carved out a chamber of sacrificial horror where innocent victims were offered to a hideous worm-like god. As the centuries passed, the cult faded into the mists of time, but the twisted old oak stood fast, awaiting the day when the creeping evil in the dark below would be summoned once more.

A WhiteBox Adventure for 6-8 Characters of Levels 1 – 2

(This is the module that was added to many of the WhiteBox Boxed Sets)

This digest module includes:
-old-school card stock cover
- a removable map
- five new illustrations
- two new monsters
- two new magic items”

Faster Monkey Games has released Re-Energizers, a Mutant Future compatible adventure module! Available from RPGNOW, the PDF runs to 16 pages.

“LIFE IN THE WASTELAND...

In the mutated post-apocalypse, a man with a laser gun can win an argument. A man with two killer attack robots, though, can rule a whole town––and that’s just what Boss Jarvis does, dominating the little fortified settlement called Xitnine. When Jarvis needs someone to fetch new batteries for his mechanical henchmen, his jaded eye falls on the strangers in town... and that’s you. It sounds like a decent job, so long as you ignore the rumors of swarming mutant beasts, robots gone berserk, and deadly fields of radiation.

RE-ENERGIZERS is a fast-moving adventure for beginning characters in a post-apocalyptic roleplaying game, such as Mutant Future™ from Goblinoid Games. It's also the first full-length Mutant Future™-compatible module ever published!”

Faster Monkey Games has been producing some quality stuff and I’m definitely aiming to pick this item up! They are currently having a Mutational Day Sale and all their products are 1/3 off! That makes Re-Energizers $3.62.

Christopher Cale has released Broadswords & Bucklers, a Swords & Wizardry Whitebox based game. Available from Lulu as a 56 page paperback for $5.49, or in PDF for free.

“Backswords & Bucklers is a new, completely self-contained Swords & Wizardry: Whitebox variant, designed to run games of Elizabethan Fantasy. Inspired by works such as Michael Moorcock’s Gloriana and Sir Walter Scott’s Kennilworth, Backswords & Bucklers is a game of adventure set in Gloriana’s Britain. The basic game contains complete rules for the game with Fighting Man, Scoundrel and Wise Woman classes, and focuses on running games set in the Underworld of London, based out of a tavern. It contains a modified combat system, appropriate weaponry (including matchlocks) and money, sample magic items and tables to inspire the Referee with ideas for jobs; as well as a sample tavern complete with rumours and a short adventure. Stock monsters and magic item tables are abandoned in this game, as not being particularly relevant to the subject matter.”

Peryton Publishing has released Qalidar Old School, a Swords & Wizardry Core Rules setting supplement by Christina Lea. Available from RPGNOW for $2.99. The PDF runs to 37 pages.

Congratulations to everyone! Your work is most definitely appreciated!

Free Downloads

Shane Mangus of the blog Swords Against the Outer Dark has posted a couple of Character Sheet PDF’s, for your gaming enjoyment. There’s an Advanced Labyrinth Lord Sheet and a Dungeons & Dagons tm sheet, designed for his Sword & Sanity take on the game.

Randall of RetroRoleplaying has Version 0.9 of his Wary’s Grimoire, a supplement for Microlite 74, available for download.

Terminal Space, a free OD&D Supplement, featuring Science Fiction/Science Fantasy options for your game, has  been released by Albert Rakowski. Version 1.1 is the latest version, with updates coming. Composed of four sections, Men & Magic, Monsters & Treasure, Underworld & Wilderness Adventures and Shipyards, this 41 page PDF supplies quite a bit of material for your gaming pleasure and has some cool artwork, to boot!

Oubliette Magazine has some updated LL/AEC Character Sheets available for download.

Prime Requisite Games is Back! Mr. Blake has just  released A Promise of Vengeance Fulfilled, a module for Labyrinth Lord! Available as a PDF download running 18 pages, Mr. Blake continues his wonderful habit of producing quality, free gaming materials for our enjoyment!

There’s a PDF of some of David B.’s Labyrinth Lord Lovecraft Creatures, with a few from MutieMoe, available for Download. Here’s the link from The Library blog.

At Matt’s Mutant Future Page, you’ll find a PDF adventure available for download: Wile E. Coyote.

Sniderman from The Savage Afterworld has released the latest version of his World of Thundarr supplement for Mutant Future! In his own words:

“That brings the contents of the supplement up to:

• 57 pages of Thundarr/Mutant Future goodness
• 3 Character Races
• 5 NPCs
• 9 Dangerous Devices
• 25 Creatures
• And 4 full adventures in the Thundarr world!

As always, my plans are to update the sourcebook once a month with any new material added so this will always be up-to-date. Announcements (like this one) will be made whenever an updated file is posted. The full sourcebook will always remain free and available for download over there in the right-hand column.”

John Stater of The Land of Nod blog has released Nod #1 a 92 page PDF magazine, filled with all sorts of gaming goodness! The Feature Article is The Wyvern Coast: A Sandbox Hexcrawl. I haven’t had a chance to read this yet, but from a quick look-see, it’s Swords & Wizardry compatible, with stats including descending and ascending AC and single Saves. 

Thanks bunches guys, for creating all this gaming goodness and giving it away!!!

Events & Happenings

Cyclopeatron has reported that he will be running a session of 1st edition Gamma World at Gamex 2010 in L.A. The Con runs May 28 to May 31 and you can get in on the Gamma World action on Sunday, May 30, from 2 to 6 PM.

In Other News

Julian of the Grimmhaus blog, has two reviews up. One for Supplemental Lore by Salvatore Macri and another for The Majestic Wilderlands by Robert Conley.

Goblinoid Games has posted a First Quarter Report on the Uhluht’c Awakens blog.

Dark Fate is a setting supplement for Swords & Wizardry and the Author, Marcelo Paschoalin, has graciously offered to donate a months worth of the sale proceeds, from May 15 to June 15, 2010 to the Retro-Roleplaying Cancer Fund. Retro-Roleplaying is run by Randall Stukey, author of the Microlite series of RPG’s and the site also includes his blog.  Click the links, to find out more about the Fund and all the related sites. My own review of Dark Fate may be found here.

Greyhawk fans will be pleased to note, that Scottsz posted Part 8 of his WG4 Cold Text File at Lord of the Green Dragons. If you haven’t been following the author’s exploration of these dark mysteries, you’ve been missing a hell of a ride! Head on over and help complete the work of these dedicated cultists learn what you need to know, to insure that Tharizdun never again threatens the multi-verse!

I Hit It With My Axe: Episode 10 - Trying To Kill The King Has Consequences.

If you’ve been following Planet Algol, then you know that Blair is getting ready to release a supplement, based upon his kick-ass campaign setting. For a preview of some of the artwork for this upcoming release, head over to the Fantasy Obscure and Fat Cotten blogs. The latter blog also mentions another supplement Blair is working on, a Wilderlands Temple of Set release and the artist has a really cool piece for that work as well!

I just stumbled across a Dragons At Dawn Blog: Attack Plan R.

What I’m Pimping This Week

Advanced Edition Companion by Daniel Proctor – Goblinoid Games. Available in Hardcover for $32.95, Perfect Bound for $22.95, Illustrated PDF for $7.18 and in a free, no-art version.

“Advance the Game to the next level of play! The advanced first edition game as you remember it. Labyrinth Lord gives you the play experience of the old editions of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game! The Advanced Edition Companion is a handbook of advanced player and referee options. Play the race and class possibilities from the “advanced” first edition 1978 rules. Introduce the essential first edition monsters, spells, and magic items to your Labyrinth Lord game. All of these options are fully compatible with the core Labyrinth Lord rules, so that you can continue to play race-classes right along with all of the advanced classes and races. In this book you will find... A player’s guide to advanced play Additional core first edition monsters The full range of first edition spells and spellcasters The essential first edition magic items Advanced rules for greater depth of play.”

What can I say, that hasn’t already been said, about this marvelous book! Mr. Proctor had done an absolutely fabulous job, with the whole line of Labyrinth Lord products and I’m not only thrilled with the games’ success, but grateful for all the hard work, which Dan has put into it. The AEC is a triumph and What I’m Pimping This Week!

About the News

Unless otherwise noted, all links to products and files are to the individual authors sites, pertinent posts, or sales pages. I don’t link directly to files, unless that is the only link available. The OSR News is produced as a service to the community and is entirely a non-commercial endeavor on my part. I have received no remuneration for advertising or reporting on any of the items appearing herein. Please feel free to send me information on any new releases, events, or other items of interest, which you would like to see mentioned.

As always, the What I’m Pimping This Week section of the OSR News and its accompanying blog widget, feature products which I have purchased and feel merit further support and attention. No one has asked me to spotlight their material in this section and I have received no payment of any kind for doing so.

My Favorite Epic Fantasy – I.E. I’m Uber Busy This Week, So Here’s A Quick Picture Dump To Let You Know I’m Still Alive

"The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed." Stephen King. The Gunslinger.                   

      

 

OSR News From The Underdark Gazette – Saturday, May 15, 2010

It’s been a slow week for news! I guess everyone’s out playing in the sun and whatnot.

Free Downloads

Knightvision Studios has released Border Scourge – A module for Swords & Wizardry  Core Rules. You’ll find some other free downloads there as well. Thanks for the free stuff!

I’ve made my Revised Random Angel Generator – The Qabalah of St. Gygax piece into a pdf and placed it in my Supplements section. It can be downloaded here.

Usherwood Publishing has started a free newsletter, Zor Draxtau, available to download from RPGNOW:

“In this issue:

• The Feral Zombie; a new take on an old standard monster. OGC.
• The Cloak of Utter Darkness; new magic item for those looking to conceal their movements. OGC.
• The Spire of Xao; fortress of ultimate neutrality in the Usherwood Adventures campaign setting.
• Editorial: Old School Renaissance, Creative Plagiarism, or Laziness?; a small publisher voices his opnion on the design of new games to Old School gamers.

Greetings gamers. Zor Draxtau is the periodic newsletter of the Usherwood Adventures campaign setting that highlights changes and updates to the campaign setting, OGC content otherwise only available in one of the adventures, special newsletter-only discounts on UA swag and POD products, editorials, and short articles of miscellaneous First Edition/OSRIC interest.”

Events & Happenings

Reis O’Brien at Crom – The Ultimate Conan Fan Blog, recently held a contest, which invited readers to submit a new header for his site. Old School blogger Paul Fini of The Warlock’s Home Brew walked away with the prize and his cool design now graces the pages of that most awesome Conan blog! Congratulations Mr. Fini!

I Hit It With My Axe: Making Choices About Which Goblin To Hit.

 

 

 

What I’m Pimping This Week

Kellri’s Classic Dungeon Designer’s Netbook # 4 – Old School Encounters Reference.

One of the absolute best gaming supplements I own. Did I mention that it’s free? If you haven’t downloaded this Gem, do so! Right Now! Then, go over it thoroughly and Marvel at what Mr. Hoover has wrought!

This is a book, which I’ll use for the rest of my life! Very, very awesome and What I’m Pimping This Week!

More Publicity for the Thrift Store Gods

"...information is the source of all wealth" – Robert Anton Wilson

So, a few weeks ago, I was cruising through the thrift store, when I saw this:

A shrinkwrapped copy of Avalon Hill’s Acquire. The thrift store wanted $3.88 for the game. Not my cup of tea, but thanks to a few years of heavy wheeling and dealing on ebay, I knew what it was really worth. I snatched it up.

After listing it on ebay, I made enough profit to cover the costs of this Acquisition:

With about .40 cents to spare.  They look really nice in Hardcover. :)