Re: Hyborian War

From: mgauthie@access.awinc.com (Marc L. Gauthier)

Date: Tue, 11 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000

I have played the game for over 5 years before I quit from boredom and
finding a better game.

>: How about a description:
Hyborian War is a Military Strategy game focused in the World of
Conan.  The game can have up to 36 players with nations rank in size
(large, medium, small).  Often games rarely start out with more than
25.  Of the 15 games of have seen, ususally their is only 5 to 15
players left by turn 12 and half that by turn 20.  Games will last as
short as 28 turns to as high as 45 turns.  The end of game is not know
to the players and is not affected by the game situation.  I played a
game were there were only two players in the game for the last 15
turns.  We were allied and the game was over, but RSI won't stop the
game.  A friend was in a game with two other players whose total
strength out number them by two to one and the kept the game going
another five turns.  Infact, the game end the turn after the other two
players dropped out.  Each nation struggles toward victory conditions
and imperial goals the difficulity is dependent on the size of the
nation.  Generally the goals are balanced towards one another IF major
of nations are starting with players.  Some nations can have an
incredible advantage if an opposing neighbor is played by the
computer.  If the dumbest player is better than the computer.

>: How are the armies represented ?  Are troops the same for everyone
>: or do different countries have given strengths ?

Each nation will start with two armies that can have up to 30 troop
units.  You will gain additional armies for every 3 provinces you
control after your 7th province.  Each province has an army that can
have unlimited number of troops units.  Each kingdom will have the
certain troop types that it can have and the player must also maintain
max and mins of these troop types.

>: What are the playing pieces: mages?, agents?, diplomats?

The characters are Noble, General, Agent, Priest, Wizard and Hero You
have no control on what types of characters will come to your court.
You must use what you have to it's best advantage.  Each Character can
only do one task a turn, join an army, Cast a major spell, spy on a
kingdom, etc.

>: What are their functions ?  What spells do mages cast?

Generally, their function depends on the courts overall strengh.  Each
nations court is subject towards certain advantages and disadvantages.
Nobles of Nemedia, Agents of Zamora or Kusan, Wizards of Hyperboria or
Stygia.  A few nations have well round courts while some have distinct
advantages and disadvantages. Spells are broken down into a number of
groups: Battle, Personal, Province, Peace.  Spells can be Force March,
Far Sight, Prophecy, Bless, Curse, Black Death etc.  Generally I find
that Magic is unreliable, On one turn a certain spell can be absolutly
incredible on another it can be an absolute failure.  Generally, magic
is very balanced, to me, it should be unpredicable in success.  It is
a windfall when it works but it not depended on to work.

>: How often can they cast ?

Each character can only do one function a turn, this includes casting
a spell.  there is a few of exceptions. Joining an Army and Casting
Black Death, Far Sight, Sunbane, Force March or Rains.

>: What does the turn report give you ?  Can you see an army creeping
>: up on you or as usual is it sudden shock to see a huge army
>: in the middle of your country (no border post or guard obviously) ?

Turn reports are like a story.  Much is written but you only a few
lines have any importance, but it looks pretty!  What you learn of the
World depends on the functions your character do.  An enemy's army can
be in the province next door and you wouldn't know unless your
character succeeds in spy the nations military or province.  you might
learn of a nations intent to invade, but you have better chance of not
knowing.

>: How is economics handled ?

This is really the biggest failure of Hyperboria, maybe it's only
major failure.  Economics Really don't have enough of an impact on a
nations as it should.  nations can run with no treasury and the only
real impact is you produce half your usually troop units.  Nations
with large treasuries only gain a real advantage in long War Seasons 7
to 9 turns.

>: Which company runs it, their address and telephone, how much
>: are the rules ?
>Reality Simulations, Inc.
>PO Box 22400
>Tempe, AZ 85285-2400
>CSR@reality.com  (have not tried emailing them yet myself)
>(602)967-7979

Hyperboria is Like Risk with modifiers to your die rolls in battle.
You struggle to give yourself the greatest modifiers with each battle
you fight.  If you like Risk you will like Hyperboria, Personally, I
found when I understood the mechanics of the game I became bored.
Also many of the minor failures became more apparent and annoying.
Therefore, I went from playing Hyperboria to Alamaze (another game
that RSI was monitoring).  In my opinion, Alamaze is a much better
game.

References

Re: Hyborian War
baw@grebble.oau.org (Brett Wampner)
Mon, 10 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Hyborian War
snake6283@aol.com (Snake6283)
Fri, 07 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Hyborian War
demigod98g@aol.com (Demigod98G)
Sun, 09 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Hyborian War
trip@netcom.com (Trip)
Mon, 10 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Hyborian War
baw@grebble.oau.org (Brett Wampner)
Mon, 10 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Hyborian War
baidins@stimpy.eecis.udel.edu (Juris Baidins)
Mon, 10 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Hyborian War
baw@grebble.oau.org (Brett Wampner)
Mon, 10 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Hyborian War
snake6283@aol.com (Snake6283)
Fri, 07 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Hyborian War
demigod98g@aol.com (Demigod98G)
Sun, 09 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Hyborian War
trip@netcom.com (Trip)
Mon, 10 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Hyborian War
baw@grebble.oau.org (Brett Wampner)
Mon, 10 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000
Re: Hyborian War
baidins@stimpy.eecis.udel.edu (Juris Baidins)
Mon, 10 Jul 1995 00:00:00 +0000