Sunday 9 August 2020

Hyboria Now! Imagi-nations gone mad.

 This idea was discussed with Sprinks while I was looking at doing variants on his new blog for quasi-C17th battles.
It had formed in my head during the current renaissance of Tony Batch's Hyboria campaign on a few blogs (set in the world of Conan the Barbarian). This older blog was also very inspirational, as was Jack's recent work.
Now, if the great flood doesn't wipe out Conan's world 20,000 years ago, and the current land masses don't form as we know them in western Europe, then you get  an analogue for the modern day which promotes:
  • The factions and politics of Conan's world ...with Tanks!
  • Nations and kingdoms which try to hold themselves together on the back of alternative history, which can be made up on spec to suit the game.
  • The odd 'sacred site' which could create all sorts of shenanigans for modern types, if one wanted to inject some extreme gonzo situations into the mix. Maybe the fact that people stop believing in the ancient gods of Hyboria creates ...an issue.
 
Nuts? Probably, and like I would ever have time for this, but consider:
  •  The United States of Aquilonia formed from the ancient fiefs and rival kingdoms after decades of creative accounting, and taking most of Pictland to the west (which still has issues).
  • The United Kingdoms of Nemedia, also incorporating much of Aesgard and Cimmeria.
  • The Zamoran Pact forces to the east, formed from much of Zamora and parts of Turan.
  • Shem and Stygia have been fighting each other openly for years - and are openly used, by the larger powers, to test doctrine and equipment from Aquilonia and Zamora/Turan.
  • Civil wars and insurrection have been threatening to de-stabilise Iranistan
  • There are rumours of some factions developing the 'ultimate' weapon...in order to ensure dominion of the continent.
  • Kingdoms to the south, with warlords, civil strife, hunger and pleas to set up a United Nations style organisation in the north - which everyone wants Aquilonia to pay for. 
  • I can't even to begin to imagine what Hyborian 'Media' is like... 'we bring you this report live from Cimmeria!'
Advantages? No hassle. I can mingle 80s figures and vehicles with later stuff...maybe even the odd older vehicle.
The Rules? A combination of GDW Team Yankee for tank battles and Squad Hammer or some of Rory Crabbe's stuff for the rest.







Aquilonian SF troops in Iranistan
 Aquilonian SF in Iranistan.
Turanian armour moves through the Black Gate
Zamoran invasion of Argos; clearing out an old Mitran temple.

Let's see what happens, but the idea is certainly nudging at me.

This movie also helped -  very good:




20 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Steve.
      Yeah, I wanted to do scenarios like Blackhawk Down and 13 hours - but with an analogue that allowed me to tie it to something that wasn't real world, while at the same time making it 'not' sci fi.
      By the same token, larger tank battles also work along the lines of Arab Israeli, but without having to be tied to historical scenarios.
      So, we'll see what happens. Time a big issue at the moment - and there's Hold the Line to do too :)

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    2. Now you're talking! I like the sound of that. The imagination thing is so nice because you can fight epic battles and there's no one who can tell you the results are a-historical :)

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    3. Right - yes. I'm even thinking that the whole Shem / Stygia thing is such a great Arab-Israeli analogue, that it allows protracted historical campaigns.
      So, I'm also thinking that First Battle with the bid/traits stuff from Altar of Freedom would work well here.
      For other areas, I'm looking at skirmish or company level things - although there could be a Cold War style standoff on the Zamoran border or similar.

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  2. Very cool idea. I've got a fun collection of 15mm mid-20th century kit I use for AK47 Republic... similar imagi-nations ideas with different starting points. Interested to see you play a bit out for sure!

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    1. Thanks Ski.
      Interesting - I hadn't considered AK47 republic as the rules to use.
      That might work actually.
      You've also reminded me of the Metalstorm rules which were a similar idea.

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    2. Ski,
      What do you mean the rebels are at the palace gates???

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    3. Haha - I'm already thinking about Aquilonian peacekeeping ops in Pictland, United Hyborian efforts in Kush, and of course the Iranistan Insurgency...

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  3. Look like it could be fun, love all the maps.

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    1. Thanks Ray.
      I think I have hundreds of them from a research bout on the net.
      'Zamoran Motorised Rifle Battalions' seems to have a ring to it.
      ...with Cimmerians operating like Scottish regiments in the BAOR.
      What's not to love LOL

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  4. Nice idea Duc; looking forward to seeing the reports. There's a suggestion that the Stygians are stockpiling Weapons of Mass Destruction...

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    1. Thanks Jack.
      I heard that. Now there are some pyramids down Stygia way. I wonder does their placement mimic that of Orion, and there's some mad mystical weapon being developed by a 20,000 year old sorceror called Thulsa something.
      Nah. We just need their oil :)

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  5. Sounds like a fertile ground for an imaginations campaign. Maps really help flesh out the world. I’ve always thought an imaginations campaign would be lots of fun but as you say, who has the time? 😀

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    1. Thanks Stew
      Even if I get to use it for small skirmish actions, with something bigger brewing in the background, I guess it could be justified.
      It does allow the game to proceed, with modern sensibilities, without that pesky context of historical accountability, and without having to go 'full' fantasy.
      All good.

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  6. It begins!!.
    Great idea sir Duc, gives a perfect framework for those maybes and what ifs that don't have a 'proper' historical counterparts. Also means you can go in so many crazy directions. You can also jump back and forth in time if you want....

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    Replies
    1. Absolutely mate. Crazy is the watchword here LOL
      I have not abandoned Crivenshire's Pike & Shot history though. Fear not!

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  7. This looks a blast, especially as I’ve been to the Pictish Wilderness. The epicentre is the Comfort Inn in Falkirk.

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  8. Probably the best idea for Imagi-nations I've heard in ages!

    I don't know about myself, I prefer to just doing history, I've found. However, if you do it in the modern context, you will remove some of the tensions of people who've been there recently or had friends / families who were casualties. Probably makes it more fun that way.

    I could see using it for a 17th or 18th C. campaign against the not-Turks by the not-Austrians, like Tidders does on his fun toy soldier blog.

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    Replies
    1. Alex - you've hit the nail on the head.
      We've toyed with modern scenarios from Iraq to Somalia through PMCs and deployed troops.
      It 'just don't feel right' in the modern era.
      I appreciate that guys dying at Waterloo are still soldiers - but modern sensibilities (even within ourselves - some of whom have served) are important. It's not about causing offense or otherwise, it's about respect.

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