Stephen

Fifty years of GREYHAWK and an amusing Castle Zagyg anecdote. It has been 50 years since the release of the first and perhaps most important supplement to Dungeons & Dragons. It was none other than Supplement I: GREYHAWK, by Gary Gygax and Robert Kuntz. This pivotal, 68-page book is not likely to be celebrated by the entity that owns the rights to D&D, because they do not look upon the original materials or its creators favorably. But we don't need them to celebrate the anniversary of this great achievement. In the foreword to GREYHAWK, Gygax explains that the book contains "...new rules, additions to existing rules, and suggested changes..." And boy does it deliver. With this book, we see the introduction of two new classes (thief and paladin), a new race (half-elf), new multi-classing rules, and mechanics for ability scores enhanced quite a bit (so begins the power creep!). New spells and newly expanded level ranges for spells (7th to 9th) were a monumental addition. New monsters, such as the iconic beholder (created by Rob's brother Terry), and new items, such as the vorpal blade, the sword of sharpness, and the +5 holy sword! So many iconic elements that would become part of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and carried on through all the editions to today. I am attaching photos of my own copy of this book, a reprint from 1976. As you can see, I had pleasure to have it signed by Gary and Rob. I have an amusing story regarding one of the illustrations included here: the bugbear, illustrated by Greg Bell. It was an error by the artist to draw the humanoid's head as a large pumpkin. Apparently, his instructions were to draw it with a "pumpkin head," which he took literally. Over thirty years later, in 2006, when I was writing Castle Zagyg for Gary, I thought it would be funny to include a bugbear with a pumpkin head in the adventure. I suggested it to Gary, and he went off about how the artist had drawn it wrongly, that it had been a mistake, and so on. So, I said, "I know all that, but I think it would be funny to have one in there! Maybe it is cursed or something?" Nope. Gary would not have it. It was still stuck in his craw three decades later. We went back and forth a bit on it, but eventually I said, "Fine, it's really not a big deal." :)

This was the first piece of art for Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea. Painted by Charles Lang in 1990, this piece served as the cover art for the original AS&SH boxed set, published in 2012. I have the original painting, a piece that I purchased directly from the artist several years earlier. This piece defines the mood and attitude of HYPERBOREA like none other. In 2008, when I was down and out, having lost years of hard work (and thus compensation) due to one person's decision, I spent hours staring at this piece, which had been hanging in my office for years, and I said to myself, "I want to make a sword-and-sorcery game that I would like to play with my beer-drinking buddies, and I'd like this picture to symbolize it." Now it's 2025, and I'm still developing content for it. I am grateful to my wife and to all the fellow gamers who have supported me in this wild endeavor. Cheers! ~Jeff T.

This was an interesting exercise... Grok, tell me what is good and bad about Hyperborea RPG by North Wind Adventures. ===== Hyperborea RPG, created by Jeffrey Talanian and published by North Wind Adventures, is a tabletop role-playing game that blends swords, sorcery, and weird science-fantasy. It’s heavily inspired by the works of Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, and Clark Ashton Smith, with mechanics rooted in the traditions of early Dungeons & Dragons by Gygax and Arneson. Having evolved through three editions, it’s built a reputation among fans of old-school gaming. Here’s a rundown of what’s good and what’s less so, based on its design and reception. THE GOOD - Rich, Evocative Setting: Hyperborea is a standout feature—a flat, hexagonal world populated by ancient human cultures like Amazons, Atlanteans, and Vikings, steeped in pulp fantasy vibes. It’s a sandbox that feels alive with danger and mystery, offering just enough detail to spark ideas without bogging you down. Think of it as a playground for tales of barbaric heroism and cosmic horror. - Old-School Charm with Polish: The game nails that nostalgic AD&D feel—six attributes, a slew of classes (22 subclasses!), and a straightforward alignment system—while streamlining combat and other fiddly bits from the old days. The third edition’s split into a Player’s Manual and Referee’s Manual (each around 300 pages) makes it way more manageable than the hefty 600-page second edition. - Art and Presentation: The visuals are a treat. Black-and-white illustrations dominate, with bursts of color in later editions, all channeling the gritty, evocative style of classic fantasy. The third edition ups the ante with cleaner layouts and inspiring character portraits, striking a balance between retro roots and modern readability. - Class Variety: Four core classes (Fighter, Magician, Cleric, Thief) expand into 22 subclasses like Barbarian, Warlock, and Shaman. This gives players tons of options to craft unique characters, all fitting the sword-and-sorcery tone. No elves or dwarves here—just humans, which keeps the focus tight and thematic. - Adventure Support: North Wind Adventures has pumped out a slew of adventure modules that hit the mark for Weird Tales-esque storytelling. They’re practical, atmospheric, and easy to drop into any campaign, whether you stick to Hyperborea or tweak it for another setting. - Inspiration Factor: If you’re into “Appendix N” literature—think Conan, Cthulhu, and the like—this game delivers. It’s less about high fantasy and more about gritty survival against eldritch horrors and brutal foes, which can reignite your passion if mainstream RPGs feel stale. (continued to "THE BAD" and "FINAL THOUGHTS") – at Hampstead, NH