Building on a Dream

[rgrove0172]

Hey guys, forgive me if this sounds a bit odd but Im having some trouble adapting to GMing a pre-packaged world like Hyboria. Ive been roleplaying for close to 25 years but always used my own "worlds". Everything down to the last detail was provided for in each game, including maps that indicated topography, flora and fauna, roads and other features down to the square mile if need be. Now Im gaming in Hyboria and even with all the information out there, there is rarely enough information to relate to the players. For example, in one of our first games the player traveled from Shadizar up into the hills of the Kezankian range. I described these hills as barren, rocky and devoid of life, as seemed fitting given the arid climate of Zamora. Doing some reading afterward though I find a decription of a city close to the mountains that is said to be in the forest. So now Im wondering if my vision of the mountains was right at all. Similarly my players are now headed south into Khauran. From years of reading I think I have an idea of what the region is like generally but there is very little to go on. I find myself drawing a map of Khauran with sufficient detail to run a few games there and basicaly just making it up. Normally that would be fine but it feels odd adding to something as "sacred" as Howard's dream, alone without even the keen minds as Mongoose behind me. How do you guys deal with this conflict?

 

[worldeater]

i completely re-write the histories, culture, and geography of entire countries to suit my own personal taste. it's my game, and i'll run it how i want. i've done the same thing with the rules. fortunately my players aren't all that familiar with REH's writing, so they're not whining about discrepancies. the fact is that plenty of authors have taken REH's setting and messed with it. they actually made money doing it, you shouldn't feel bad about doing it for your game.

 

[argo]

For example, in one of our first games the player traveled from Shadizar up into the hills of the Kezankian range. I described these hills as barren, rocky and devoid of life, as seemed fitting given the arid climate of Zamora. Doing some reading afterward though I find a decription of a city close to the mountains that is said to be in the forest. So now Im wondering if my vision of the mountains was right at all.

You are, of course, absoluetly correct.

I have nothing but love for the cannon, I even enjoy picking juicy bits from pastiches. However you should not let yourself get hung-up on details like this. Envision the world you want for the story you have to tell and the hell with what anybody else has written before you!

Of course, that being said it is worth-while attempting to cleave as closely to source material as possible for the sake of presenting the players with a consistent, well-developed vision of a world. Note my use of the word "vision". The illusion you present to the players is more important than the effort (or lack thereof) that went into crafting the vision.

Perhaps it is because I perfer to ad-lib much of my games but I rather enjoy the loosely-defined nature of the Hyborian age as it allows me to twiddle around with things a bit and even in the event I get called on it I can look at the player and say "both answers are correct depending on who it was that told the tale... now shut up or I'll sic a dozen Picts on you!"

Hope that helps.

 

[Azgulor]

My advice? Keep doing what you're doing. Hyboria is painted in broad brush strokes. Look to the RPG, Road of Kings (if you have it), or other supplemental material for guidance, but don't feel straight-jacketed into trying to match every detail. Hell, most of the pastiche out there doesn't match!

Hyboria's a framework. Think of it this way - the shape is defined and roughed-in for you. It's up to you to provide the fine detail.

Also, the size of Hyboria is pretty damn big. There's nothing to prevent your arid, rocky mountains co-existing with a forest of hardy trees that grow in an area of the region that experiences greater rainfall or is fed by underground rivers or streams.

Don't be afraid to make the setting your own.

Azgulor

 

[Faraer]

Everyone has a slightly different way to meld their own creations with established settings. The Hyborian Age is relatively easy as the core (Howard) lore is relatively modest and can be got from carefully reading all the stories, which you should do anyway, and from adept summaries like The Road of Kings.

On your specific cases: 'Kezankian' of course is not Howard. He mentions mountains fringing the eastern frontiers of Zamora, haunted by apemen, but gives no particular detail. Khauran solely features in "A Witch Shall Be Born".

 

[rgrove0172]

Thanks for the input and I can see that your are all right of course, it is my game to flesh out as I see fit. Ive been an avid reader of Conan over the years and as seems typical, hold Howard's tales as the cornerstone of what is or is not truly Hyboria. This of course lends quite a bit out there to conjure up on your own, but so have other authors so what the heck! I feel much better about it, thanks for the support. Now back to that map of Khauran.

 

[Hervé]

Hey, what about posting a link to your map of Khauran when you're done with it?
I think a lot of people on this forum crave for more detailed map of the Hyborian world.

 

[rgrove0172]

Ill do that once finished. The next choice Im debating is if use something professional looking through Campaign Cartographer or had draw something lending itself to the period more. Hmmm