The god Crom

[grodog]

Grodog :

Wow. 1st edition gods sucked. Crom's a wuss.

LOL. I don't stat them Dirigible, I just quoted it for your reading pleasure.

And, FWIW, GD&H wasn't 1e, it was OD&D---the Hyborean Mythos didn't make the cut for 1e's Deities & Demigods

 

[Dark Jezter]

Actually, in one story (alas, I forget the title and my books are at home), Mitra did appear to a supplicant, in the form of a talking bust ... he told a besieged queen to go out into the street and put the fate of her kingdom entirely into the hands of the first man she saw ... which of course turned out to be Conan.

IIRC, her servant kept begging her not to obey the statue's advice because she thought it was a devil taking the form of Mitra.

-The Gneech

The story you're thinking of is "Black Colossus".

Allow me to post an exerpt from the story...

She fell on her knees and thence prosterate, regardless of Vateesa's admonition, and Vateesa, to be on the safe side, followed her example; for after all, she was only a girl, and it was very awesome in Mitra's shrine. But even so she could not refrain from whispering in Yasmela's ear.

"This is but the emblem of the god. None pretends to know what Mitra looks like. This but represents him in idealized human form, as near perfection as the human mind can concieve. He does not inhabit the cold stone, as your priests tell you Ishtar does. He is everywhere - above us, and about us, and he dreams betimes in high places among the stars. But here his being focusses. Therefore call upon him."

"What shall I say?" whispered Yasmela in stammering terror.

"Before you can speak, Mitra knows the contents of your mind-" began Vateesa. Then both girls started violently as a voice began in the air above them. The deep, calm, bell-like tones emanated no more from the image than from anywhere else in the chamber. Again Yasmela trembled before a bodiless voice speaking to her, but this time it was not from horror or repulsion.

"Speak not, my daughter, for I know your need," came the intonations like deep musical waves beating rythmically along a golden beach. "In one manner may you save your kingdom, and saving it, save all the world from the fangs of the serpent which has crawled up out of the darkness of the ages. Go forth upon the streets alone, and place your kingdom in the hands of the first man you meet there."

The unechoing tones ceased, and the girls stared at each other. The, rising, they stole forth, nor did they speak until they stood once more in Yasmela's chamber. The princess stared out of the gold-barred windows. The moon had set. It was long past midnight. Sounds of revelry had died away in the gardens and on the roofs of the city. Khoraja slumbered beneath the stars, which seemed to be reflected in the cressets that twinkled among the gardens and along the streets and on the flat roofs of houses where folk slept.

"What will you do?" whispered Vateesa, all a-tremble.

"Give me my cloak," answered Yasmela, setting her teeth.

"But alone, in the streets, at this hour?" expostulated Vateesa,

"Mitra has spoken," replied the princess. "It may have been the the voice of the god, or a trick of a priest. No matter. I will go!"

 

[Emirikol]

If you're running an actual REH-based Hyboria game, I would suggest that Crom, Mitra, Set et al _don't really exist_ (except in the minds of their followers) - so no Clerics, Domains et al. Their priests should either be non-spellcaster, probably Experts, or a few Sorcerer types for the evil gods.

Clerics are ok really. REH defines one thing: MAGIC exists. Whether the gods exist is an entirely different matter. The magic of the priests is simply arcane magic to look like divine magic. I thought about doing away with clerics, but it occurred to me, 'why does it matter whether the magic comes from the god or from the mana of the land?' Magic is magic.

/tangent/
I've been DMing in Hyboria for a couple years now, but this year someone finally played an AEsir cleric of Ymir. It really changed the game a lot. Not because we were faced with "Do the god's exist," but instead we found out that utility spellcasters, like clerics and wizards, made the game 'cheap' and 'easy.' Every problem has an answer: cast a spell. Before then, the players had to work out problems, role-play, and plan ahead. Magic made them feel like kids with daddy's credit card.

My solution last year, was to make spellcasters prestige classes (requirements: ability 16; minimum of 2 levels in a non-spellcasting class; divine and arcane magic affected by armor). Now, we've got the feel of a Hyboria with magic, but where magic isn't the solution to every problem. We're having more fun than ever..that, and we're done with playtesting the real thing

jh





..

 

[Dark Jezter]

If I were going to run a Hyborian Age D&D campaign, I'd eliminate the cleric class altogether. I'd also make it required that Sorcerers and Wizards can not be of any good alignment, since arcane magic is a sinister and evil power in the Hyborian Age.

I'd probably allow the druid class to remain a part of the game, though; in the story The Hour of the Dragon, Conan recieves help from an old witch whose powers could best be described as druidic.

The paladin and bard classes would also be inappropriate for a Hyborian Age setting. The ranger class would be allowable, but without divine spellcasting abilites (perhaps gaining bonus feats every few levels to compensate for this loss).

The only unmodified classes would be the Fighter, Barbarian, and Rogue. Monks would be possible too; since in The People of the Black Circle, one of the characters could be described as a multiclass monk/wizard.

 

[S'mon]

I'm looking forward to Conan d20.

Re classes, the Christian-based Cleric & Paladin classes seem clearly inappropriate as written. I'd use D&D Wizards, Witches, Druids & Sorcerers with the "no more than 1/2 levels in a spellcasting class" rule, or my Black Wizard class created for this purpose - see http://hyboria.xoth.net/prestige-classes/black_wizard_npc.htm.

There also needs to be a restriction on what spells are available, especially the "WW2 artillery" spells are no good. This list is a good start:
http://hyboria.xoth.net/sorcery/spell_list_wizard.htm

If the Ranger class is used they should be non-spellcasting.
Instead of Paladins, a Knight core class would be ok (Mongoose publishes one), and/or Cavalier prestige class.

Most Hyborean PC groups should be Barbarian, Rogue & Fighter only, IMO, perhaps with one PC having minor spellcasting powers. Fighters arguably should get 4 skill points/level but no heavy armour proficiency, since heavy armour is almost unknown in Hyborea.

Monks (from Khitai) would be ok, if the campaign is very low-magic they might be a bit overpowered vs other characters, but reducing/eliminating DR for monsters would help with this. I don't recall any incorporeal undead in Hyborea, either.

 

[S'mon]

If you're using 20-level D&D in Hyborea or other low-magic worlds, I think you'd need to alter the standard D&D level distribution upwards at the lower end. Mongoose's Slaine game seems to do this also. So only green troops would be 1st level; experienced city guards might commonly be 5th level or higher Warriors - humans are always a real threat, and Conan doesn't slay 10 men with a single blow, at least in the REH stories. PCs could start at ca 3rd level for an heroic feel.

 

[Emirikol]

I'd probably allow the druid class to remain a part of the game, though; in the story The Hour of the Dragon, Conan recieves help from an old witch whose powers could best be described as druidic.

Thanks for reminding me of ~People of the Black Circle.

We actually use the Witch class from the DMG and since the story ~People of the Black Circle reminds us of Psionists, we allow them too. It makes the game more fun

Running in Hyboria has really opened our minds to new concepts of playing D&D. Our game has become more than a D&D game and much more interesting than any one we've played with elves and transmuters.

Last, Hyboria is by no means "low" magic, especially considering that there's an evil sorcerer or ten in damn near every adventure Conan is in. However, it's not D&D (except maybe in Nemedia). The lack of utility magic in the so-called-original stories saw to that. Clerics, however do have a place. Once we get past the D&D thinking that 'divine magic comes from a god' we realize that magic is magic. Priests utilize the same magic, but to different ends (to dominate the people..has this ever changed?)


jh

 

[Emirikol]

I'm looking forward to Conan d20.
Re classes, the Christian-based Cleric & Paladin classes seem clearly inappropriate as written.

On a non-christian approach, weren't there some holy warriors of Turan, Vendhya and Kosala in some of the stories?

jh

 

[S'mon]

Clerics, however do have a place. Once we get past the D&D thinking that 'divine magic comes from a god' we realize that magic is magic. Priests utilize the same magic, but to different ends (to dominate the people..has this ever changed?)
jh

Priestly spellcasters certainly have a place, but the D&D magic system's arcane/divine distinction makes no sense in Hyborea, where magic comes from Forbidden Knowledge and Horrible Entities of the Outer Dark Man Was Not Meant To Know. A somewhat pumped-up version of the Call of Cthulu system would probably be most accurate. Psionics fit well into Hyborea, also, many wizards may be Wizard-Psionicists. No resurrection, healing magic may be ok but bringing people back from death's door should be harder than in 3e.

 

[S'mon]

Damn that DP.