I just got my kickstarted copy of this game and, after perusing it for a few hours, I highly recommend looking into it if you're a Howard/Conan fan.

It's heavy on old-school crunch and fluff, and quite free of PC nonsense (There are tables to generate unique physical characteristics for the men and women of the richly varied Hyperborean peoples.)

The system is d20 with descending AC. There's no THAC0, but a matrix instead or you can just memorize the formula. There is a declaration phase in each round of combat where PCs and NPCs state their intent for the round, one of the few games that I know of that does this. Declaration is done prior to rolling initiative, which is also rolled each round and is side-based. There are several pages of optional combat actions beyond what you typically find in d20 systems, such as horse charge, and a what looks like a decent set of brawling rules.

There are 4 classes (fighter, sorcerer, cleric, thief), which are quite are distinct. There are 22 sub-classes that add subtlety and blur the lines between main classes.

The Referee's book has a lot of setting detail, advice on running long and short campaigns, treasure tables and magic items, as well as a respectably large bestiary.

Anyway, that's my first impression. If you have it or play it, share your thoughts! Or if you have any questions, I will try to find the answer (still reading through the books).

Here's the publisher: https://www.hyperborea.tv/

Yeah i love this game, havebt gotten my physicsl books in yet unfortunately, but its one of my favorites. The subclasses are really flavorful, i especially like the Huntsman.

Quote from: rytrasmi on July 29, 2022, 11:27:40 AM
...
There is a declaration phase in each round of combat where PCs and NPCs state their intent for the round, one of the few games that I know of that does this. Declaration is done prior to rolling initiative, which is also rolled each round and is side-based. There are several pages of optional combat actions beyond what you typically find in d20 systems, such as horse charge, and a what looks like a decent set of brawling rules.

There are 4 classes (fighter, sorcerer, cleric, thief), which are quite are distinct. There are 22 sub-classes that add subtlety and blur the lines between main classes.

The Referee's book has a lot of setting detail, advice on running long and short campaigns, treasure tables and magic items, as well as a respectably large bestiary.

Anyway, that's my first impression. If you have it or play it, share your thoughts! Or if you have any questions, I will try to find the answer (still reading through the books).

Here's the publisher: https://www.hyperborea.tv/

That all looks supercool and something I'd like to look into.

Quote from: rytrasmi on July 29, 2022, 11:27:40 AMThe system is d20 with descending AC. There's no THAC0, but a matrix instead or you can just memorize the formula.

Really? Why?

Are there a bunch of other roll under mechanics in the game?

Oh yeah, I'm super excited. Got my shipment yesterday and have been going through. I missed out on the first two iterations and I really like this.

Oh man oh man! I just want to run Hyperborea some day. I've been supporting Jeff's games since 1e,and while I never got to play or DM, I've mined his modules for a lot of ideas. Certainly more inspired than those from other modern OSR games, but then that could just be my bias as a Howard fan.

A fantastic game drips with flavor and the characters are all very well fleshed out. One of my fav OSR products.

Quote from: Slambo on July 29, 2022, 06:53:24 PM
Yeah i love this game, havebt gotten my physicsl books in yet unfortunately, but its one of my favorites. The subclasses are really flavorful, i especially like the Huntsman.

Yeah I gotta say the huntsman's taming ability looks awesome.

Quote from: Jaeger on July 29, 2022, 07:54:59 PM

Quote from: rytrasmi on July 29, 2022, 11:27:40 AMThe system is d20 with descending AC. There's no THAC0, but a matrix instead or you can just memorize the formula.

Really? Why?

Are there a bunch of other roll under mechanics in the game?

Yeah task resolution and attribute tests are d6 roll under. Extraordinary feats of strength/dex/con are roll under %. The dice mechanics are a bit of a mix. There's a dedication to Holmes et al at the beginning so I would guess the author is trying to stay true to that interesting mix of mechanics in the early editions of D&D.

You get one number for saves, which increases with level, and modifiers for different types of save like death or poison. But saves look like they are roll over. So yeah a mix to be sure!

Quote from: rytrasmi on July 29, 2022, 11:27:40 AM
I just got my kickstarted copy of this game and, after perusing it for a few hours, I highly recommend looking into it if you're a Howard/Conan fan.

It's heavy on old-school crunch and fluff, and quite free of PC nonsense (There are tables to generate unique physical characteristics for the men and women of the richly varied Hyperborean peoples.)

I bought the PDF's for it on Drivethru, I want to run it but have too many things I want to run as it is!

Quote
The system is d20 with descending AC. There's no THAC0, but a matrix instead or you can just memorize the formula. There is a declaration phase in each round of combat where PCs and NPCs state their intent for the round, one of the few games that I know of that does this. Declaration is done prior to rolling initiative, which is also rolled each round and is side-based. There are several pages of optional combat actions beyond what you typically find in d20 systems, such as horse charge, and a what looks like a decent set of brawling rules.

Yes the declaration phase is found in OSE as well.   I'm prepping to run an OSE campaign after my PF2e is over so maybe Hyperborea 3e will be the next campaign after the OSE one since my group will be use to declaration phases by then

Quote
There are 4 classes (fighter, sorcerer, cleric, thief), which are quite are distinct. There are 22 sub-classes that add subtlety and blur the lines between main classes.

The Referee's book has a lot of setting detail, advice on running long and short campaigns, treasure tables and magic items, as well as a respectably large bestiary.

Anyway, that's my first impression. If you have it or play it, share your thoughts! Or if you have any questions, I will try to find the answer (still reading through the books).

Here's the publisher: https://www.hyperborea.tv/

I mine all the RPG's I own for idea's and Hyperborea is a good edition to my collection.

I've added a Berserker class to OSE that is a combo of the OSE Barbarian and the Berserker class in Hyperborea.

Good stuff!

Quote from: mudbanks on July 29, 2022, 08:19:28 PM
Oh man oh man! I just want to run Hyperborea some day. I've been supporting Jeff's games since 1e,and while I never got to play or DM, I've mined his modules for a lot of ideas. Certainly more inspired than those from other modern OSR games, but then that could just be my bias as a Howard fan.

How are the modules? I haven't picked any up yet, as I wanted to see what the system was like before I went all in. Are there any you would recommend?

Also, to the others here with PDF only, the quality of the hard copy is pretty damn fine. It's an off-white matte paper. They're very nicely printed and seem sturdy. The binding is stitched and glued. Made in USA.

Rats in the Walls and Other Perils is a great set and one of the most value-for-money. Comes with 3 scenarios which are very reminiscent of Conan-type stories. I went through these when I needed inspiration for populating my dungeons with traps and monsters.

My thought is, I want the leatherette versions to ship already....

Quote from: mudbanks on August 02, 2022, 02:12:51 AM
Rats in the Walls and Other Perils is a great set and one of the most value-for-money. Comes with 3 scenarios which are very reminiscent of Conan-type stories. I went through these when I needed inspiration for populating my dungeons with traps and monsters.

Glad to hear it, man. I wrote the Brazen Bull. 

Quote from: Chainsaw on August 02, 2022, 07:26:53 PM
Glad to hear it, man. I wrote the Brazen Bull. 

The starting reminds me of Shadows in Zamboula, then quickly descends into a dark and bloody dungeon romp. I actually adapted the meat hooks idea in one of my sessions (but modified it to suit the theme). Thank you for the wonderful module!

3E is probably the better game, but for whatever the aesthetic of 2E just sings to me.  It's a book I constantly pull off the shelf and just page through and immerse myself in.