Missed this!

Spider of Leng wrote:

We created a party of 6 Hyperborean PCs back in the summer and ran them through "Black Moss Hag of Lug."  All are still 1st level.

Nice. How did it go? What happened?

Spider of Leng wrote:

So I ordered the full set of AS&SH 2nd edition modules and we're going to tackle them in level order with some homegrown mini adventures and links sprinkled in.

Fun!

Spider of Leng wrote:

Meanwhile I backed the new combined Advanced Labyrinth Lord book on kickstarter.  So once that comes out in a couple months (hopefully), we're going to create another party and run them through some classic low level D&D modules in preparation for one of the mega-dungeons, probably Barrowmaze using Labyrinth Lord rules

Once both groups get to fairly high level, say 8th or so, I'll start using more of my own stuff, linking it to my Dark Treasury campaign arc I talked about in the forums here, where a set of 13 sinister books can be used to bring about the destruction of the world.  This will be the impetus to bring the two groups together.  Ideally they'll link up in the Cyclopean Deeps and have to travel to reach others' homelands to help foil the evil plans of whatever groups are seeking the aforementioned Dark Treasury.  Not sure how long this will take or if we'll ever get to everything given that we don't play that often (and players usually have to run multiple PCs due to scheduling conflicts), but I love creating long story arcs filled with side quests and loosely connecting overarching themes and villains.  I've got a whole laundry list of villains already cooked up for this. 

And I'm even thinking of connecting all this to an old mega-campaign I wrote over the course of about 15 years that involved an apocalyptic demonic invasion of Krysonia and a quest through the Infernus to close the gate. In that I link the Hells, Abyss, Hades, etc., into one big bad underworld and make use of Mayfair Games' awesome Demons supplements.  (Always thought the Blood War thing was stupid).  This whole campaign would be a prelude to that, which is the Time of Dark Heaven.  No group has ever finished that campaign, though a group back in college got about a third of the way through (when it was shorter).

Sounds like you have some good material and good ideas for a lot of dice rolling. 

Spider of Leng wrote:

But we'll start all this craziness in Xambaala!

I know you ended up using a different starting point - any plans to return to Xambaala?
 

Spider of Leng wrote:

Actually we started Xambaala last night and will be going back tonight.  We played the old C3--Lost Island of Castanamir to advance a bit before tackling Xambaala.  So last night the party got to the city, nosed around and ensconced themselves in the Caravanserai (on purpose).  They're investigating the Outer City and ruins tonight, but have already bought camels & provisions to head out in the desert, having picked up clues on the camp and the Theosophist in town.

Cool, man. Lot of options for the players. If you create any new locations or NPCs, please feel free to drop them here.

Spider of Leng wrote:

As for the Labyrinth Lord group, I've put together a great, diverse character party and I will run them through B7-Rahasia first, then probably into the Barrowmaze, though we might have another intervening adventure.  I can't see starting Barrowmaze under 3rd level.  We will probably alternate parties and game systems going forward, but we don't get to play much so it will be a long haul.  But I'm excited about both parties and the possibility of them linking up down the road, depending upon who survives.

Sounds great. I have Barrowmaze too, really want to run it. Trying to figure out how and where to incorporate it. I could find a convenient boggy area, like maybe outside of Swampgate in the Lug Wasteland. I've also considered customizing into Xambaala, placing the barrows in either Xambaala's Old City ruins or, more likely, father out in the desert, perhaps as a the last remains of a long forgotten civilization.

Spider of Leng wrote:

As far as mega-dungeons are concerned,as much as  I love to read them, they are kind of a slog to run, especially when you don't play that often.

I've noticed this too, and am running Barrowmaze Complete in between other Hyberborea adventures (Rats in the Walls is in media res). Time-consuming to reset back to all that transpired in BC. My solution is to rest them back in Swampgate after every long hiatus, regardless of where we left off.