As I re-immerse myself in Hyperborea I've found myself thinking about what Hyperborean winter must be like. The boxed set makes it clear it is an absolutely horrifying experience - a year of night, and the years around it not much better. It's an idea I like a lot but also one that I find stretches my suspension of disbelief.

The challenge I'm finding is figuring out how the inhabitants are able to stockpile food - with no daylight growing crops will be quite challenging. Some Googling shows some plants are able to grow with minimal sunlight and I imagine Hyperboreans keep growing them as long as they can as winter approaches - and I also imagine they are likely better at preserving food than one would find in the Middle Ages - necessity being the mother of invention.

I could see how magic might play a roll - sorcerer's being able to create food would be quite valuable, though it is a 3rd level spell. Being able to purify food would likely be of great advantage, stopping food from going bad - and plant growth might have some interesting applications in a hungry community.

I'm a big fan of Stephen King's Dark Tower books and one thing it often features is the occasional remaining technological artifact. With Atlantean artifacts, I could see some communities in Hyperborea having as their most precious possession a set of ultraviolet lights that allow them to grow crops throughout the long winter. Finding a new power source could make for an adventure, as could trying to retrieve stolen lights.

This is just some stream of consciousness - anyone have campaigns take place during winter and have some interesting game experiences/ideas to share?

Breschau of Livonia wrote:

Thanks for the welcome. I'm greatly looking forward to the second edition - and backed the Kickstarter for it.

Funny thing... One of the things that really got my attention when I bought the first boxed set was the small handwritten thank you note included with it.

I think you mean, Jeff (Ghul online), but I agree 100%. Those personal touches are awesome and why I love supporting his game. 

Thanks for the welcome. I'm greatly looking forward to the second edition - and backed the Kickstarter for it.

Funny thing... One of the things that really got my attention when I bought the first boxed set was the small handwritten thank you note included with it.

Breschau of Livonia wrote:

Hey there. I'm Dan Stack...

Welcome to the Hyperborea forum, Dan. We have a good group here, so feel free to post away as your game develops. Plus, with the second edition's release only a few months away, you have joined at an exciting time. Very cool that your daughter may enjoy the hobby too!