!!insidediv!!



Being the Official Discussion Forum for HYPERBOREA®, a role-playing game of swords, sorcery, and weird science-fantasy


Visit us at the HYPERBOREA web site!


You are not logged in. Would you like to login or register?

5/24/2017 6:22 am  #1


Atlanteans in your campaign

The books describe Atlanteans as being "aquatic" in appearance (webbing between fingers, gills, etc.), but there is no mention (unless I missed it) of their aquatic abilities.

IYC, do you allow Atlanteans to breathe under water? Do you negate the underwater adventuring penalties for them? Do they swim faster than the other human races?


"I, Satampra Zeiros of Uzuldaroum, shall write with my left hand, since I have no longer any other, the tale of everything that befell Tirouv Ompallios and myself in the shrine of the god Tsathoggua..."
 

5/24/2017 7:16 am  #2


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

I run them as having regressed to a land dwelling state and cannot breathe under water.  Though with webbed fingers and toes they would probably win a swimming race while have a disadvantage at a foot race. They are simply another fallen great race with vestiges of their former glory (for me anyway).  If you wanted some close enough to their former selves to breathe underwater then those on Atlantica may suffice.  I do use them as sages of Atlantean technology so to use the stuff you may need to find an Atlantean!!

That's one of the many things I like about the races in Hypeborea.  There are no rules-based differences.


“How can I wear the harness of toil
And sweat at the daily round,
While in my soul forever
The drums of Pictdom sound?” 
 

5/24/2017 8:24 am  #3


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

My feeling is that the Atlanteans have a semi-aquatic appearance due to a curse related to the end of their empire, rather than because they've been interbreeding with Deep Ones (this is just my interpretation - you would have to ask Jeff about the "official" reason). Since I do regard it as a curse, it's all disadvantage (skin needs to be wetted frequently) with no compensating advantage (such as the ability to breathe underwater).

But the only Atlantean I've ever had in my game was from a time closer to the fall of Atlantis (because the PCs had time-traveled) so she didn't have any of those characteristics anyway.


Michael Sipe 1979-2018
Rest in peace, brother.
 

5/24/2017 10:16 am  #4


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

Since I use the AS&SH rules in my own post-Atlantean setting (i.e., after the destruction of Atlantis by "something best left unnamed"), and due to starting the campaign using Stormbringer 5th edition: my Atlanteans are more like Melniboneans, though aligned with Law, not Chaos. And they do have racial differences (again, since I started the campaign using Stormbringer, where there are mechanical differences). In AS&SH terms they are slight characteristic bonuses and penalties (which balance out), reaction roll penalties with humans and a knack for discerning how to use ancient Atlantean contrivances.


"It is all very well to point out that the man lacks facility; as he asserts, sheer force can overpower sophistication."
Jack Vance, Rhialto the Marvellous
 

5/25/2017 6:27 am  #5


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

Never played one nor experienced one played. I'd think it would be cool to have the rare throwback with neck gills. Maybe a NPC Witch Atlantean with neck gills and an aquatic familiar like an octopus or something.  

 

5/25/2017 10:40 am  #6


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

By intent, this was left vague and open to interpretation for your own campaign. IMC, an Atlantean may have semi-aquatic traits (including limited water-breathing and superior swimming), but this comes at a price: semi-regular immersion in salt water, or the skin begins to dry and slough off rather painfully.

I don't prefer to state the reason "why" Atlanteans present with these traits, because I think this best left to you, my fellow refs. Devolution, evolution, curse, sorcery, extra-species breeding, a fungus from Ouranos? You decide.  


HYPERBOREA- A Role-Playing Game of Swords, Sorcery, and Weird Science-Fantasy
 

7/29/2017 10:04 am  #7


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

In my campaign, the golden age of Atlantis was shattered by Kthulhu et al during the Cataclysm of Old Earth. This enmity between Kthulhu and the Atlanteans persisted on Hyperborea, with mind flayers, aboleths, and deep ones striving to enslave, devour, and pollute Atlanteans wherever they may be found.  The dreadful corruption of the Deep Ones was so thorough that pure-strain Atlanteans are almost non-existent, living in remote family enclaves and only rarely walking unannounced among common men. Although much diminished and their scientific knowledge lost, the race of Atlantis still produces wizards, warriors, and mariners of note.

 

7/29/2017 12:37 pm  #8


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

Brock Savage wrote:

In my campaign, the golden age of Atlantis was shattered by Kthulhu et al during the Cataclysm of Old Earth. This enmity between Kthulhu and the Atlanteans persisted on Hyperborea, with mind flayers, aboleths, and deep ones striving to enslave, devour, and pollute Atlanteans wherever they may be found.  The dreadful corruption of the Deep Ones was so thorough that pure-strain Atlanteans are almost non-existent, living in remote family enclaves and only rarely walking unannounced among common men. Although much diminished and their scientific knowledge lost, the race of Atlantis still produces wizards, warriors, and mariners of note.

This is a great take on the Atlantean race. I still have a few that are keepers of ancient knowledge.  If there is a viable piece of tech found there will probably be Atlanteans nearby keeping it that way.
 


“How can I wear the harness of toil
And sweat at the daily round,
While in my soul forever
The drums of Pictdom sound?” 
 

8/03/2017 11:26 am  #9


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

BigPerm's Atlantean magician researched Solon's Saltwater Immersion as a second-level spell so he can douse himself weekly.

Gills, webbed fingers and toes, and a cloacal sexual parts are all just part of the Atlantean bag. Highly incompatible!

 

9/28/2017 12:40 pm  #10


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

The only game benefit I give Atlantians is that they're all strong swimmers; they never need to make CON checks no matter how long they've been in the water.  And they do have to get a weekly soaking in salt water, though a sponge bath from a bucket will suffice.

As a matter of role-playing, all Atlantians love long luxurious baths and will happily spend hours in the tub if circumstances permit.  In Swampgate there is only one genuine bathtub; it's in the Thieve's Guild safe house and they charge extortionately for the use of it.  The center of the Atlantian community in Khromarium is a Roman style bathhouse, with all the decadence and intrigue that implies.

 

9/28/2017 12:51 pm  #11


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

jcstephens wrote:

The only game benefit I give Atlantians is that they're all strong swimmers; they never need to make CON checks no matter how long they've been in the water.  And they do have to get a weekly soaking in salt water, though a sponge bath from a bucket will suffice.

As a matter of role-playing, all Atlantians love long luxurious baths and will happily spend hours in the tub if circumstances permit.  In Swampgate there is only one genuine bathtub; it's in the Thieve's Guild safe house and they charge extortionately for the use of it.  The center of the Atlantian community in Khromarium is a Roman style bathhouse, with all the decadence and intrigue that implies.

I am stealing this! The Atlanteans running a bathhouse is great.  
 


“How can I wear the harness of toil
And sweat at the daily round,
While in my soul forever
The drums of Pictdom sound?” 
 

9/28/2017 7:18 pm  #12


Re: Atlanteans in your campaign

I generally run them as having only the slight appearance, the body parts being mostly vestigial and more or less useless, but still noticeable.

Although in my version of Hyperborea, there are also rumors that the Atlanteans of old still exist somewhere deep beneath the sea in one form or another. Whether that is true or not has yet to be discovered.

 

 

Board footera






© 2009-2024 North Wind Adventures, LLC. “HYPERBOREA” is a registered trademark of North Wind Adventures, LLC. “Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea,” “AS&SH,” and all other North Wind Adventures product names and their respective logos are trademarks of North Wind Adventures, LLC in the USA and other countries. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.