While going through my old AD&D modules, I came across a few of the Conan ones. I started reading back through and I came upon this bit.
Monsters
Monsters as they are known in the AD&D game world are extremely rare in Hyboria.
None live in or near the settled lands, unless magically bound to a specific site or kept as
some powerful person's pet, and even these occurrences are uncommon.
In the wild, monsters aren't quite as rare. The creatures most likely to be found in
these areas are the normal predators: wolves, bears, lions, and tigers. They are
more ferocious than usual, however, and seldom flee a fight, particularly with humans
(which, in their eyes, make for wonderful feasts!). Small monsters, such as stirges, blink
dogs, or owl bears, do not exist in Hyboria, with the exception of the occasional giant
rat, snake, or spider. Those monsters that PCs are most likely to encounter are truly powerful and dangerous: elementals, frost giants, and iron and stone golems. These creatures usually act
alone, hunting for themselves or at the bidding of a spellcaster. Some of the monsters to be found here have been summoned from other dimensions, and their existence in Hyboria would
be impossible if not for this summoning. In the end, the most fearsome foes the
PCs will encounter in this adventure are NPCS. Keep this in mind if you run further adventures in the Hyborian world.
Spellcasters
While still practiced to some degree in the Hyborian World, magic is a fading art.
Knowledge of the full power of magic is in decline, and much of its history has been
forgotten or obscured. Only a few are willing to devote their lives to the study and travel
necessary to gain true magical powers. Furthermore, it is a dangerous occupation;
many things can go wrong for the unwary or ignorant student. As a result, there are
very few spellcasters in this world, but those few are extremely powerful. In Hyboria, the title "priest" may be used for any type of spellcaster. This title has little to do with religion, even though most of these spellcasters are associated with one form of religion or another.
There are two general types of spellcasters in this world: magic-users and illusionists.
Magic-Users
These spellcasters are more common in Hyboria. They gain their powers by studying
carefully, traveling to distant lands to gather rare powders and plants, and directing
their agents to search ancient ruins for fabled objects of great power. They rarely
get directly involved in the action, choosing instead to control and manipulate others
through threats. Years ago, these threats often were more powerful than the magic itself. All a crafty magic-user had to do was threaten to use his powers, and ordinary people would do
whatever he wished. Many kingdoms fell under the indirect control of magic-users as
a result. When magic is now used in this world, the types of magic tends to be summoning,
illusion, charming, and death-related. Magic as heavy artillery (fireballs, lightning
bolts, etc.) is very rare.
Clerics
There are very few clerics in this world. Those clerics that do live here offer their
services to the injured, but use most of their powers for the advancement of their deity.
Any NPC cleric encountered in this adventure should be willing to offer assistance to
the PCs only in the forms of information and detection.
Magical Items
Like spellcasters, magical items are rare in Hyboria. When they are found, they generally
bring grief rather than help to those who hold them. These items are all left over from previous ages, and most people know nothing of them or have forgotten they ever existed. These items are usually of use only to spellcasters, and it's extremely dangerous for anyone else to even attempt to use them. Since the items generally hold such black secrets and horrible histories, spellcasters
must do careful research and study before using them. Failure to do this homework can lead to extremely unfortunate results. The PCs shouldn't expect to acquire new magic items during this adventure. If a PC does find a new item, he will have a tough time figuring out how to use it correctly. If the players are using characters from another world, any magic items those characters have at the start of the adventure will still function as expected.
These are the types of games I love to run and play in. I really hope I am able emulate these types of games because I would actually love at some point to run these old Conan modules again.
Monsters
Monsters as they are known in the AD&D game world are extremely rare in Hyboria.
None live in or near the settled lands, unless magically bound to a specific site or kept as
some powerful person's pet, and even these occurrences are uncommon.
In the wild, monsters aren't quite as rare. The creatures most likely to be found in
these areas are the normal predators: wolves, bears, lions, and tigers. They are
more ferocious than usual, however, and seldom flee a fight, particularly with humans
(which, in their eyes, make for wonderful feasts!). Small monsters, such as stirges, blink
dogs, or owl bears, do not exist in Hyboria, with the exception of the occasional giant
rat, snake, or spider. Those monsters that PCs are most likely to encounter are truly powerful and dangerous: elementals, frost giants, and iron and stone golems. These creatures usually act
alone, hunting for themselves or at the bidding of a spellcaster. Some of the monsters to be found here have been summoned from other dimensions, and their existence in Hyboria would
be impossible if not for this summoning. In the end, the most fearsome foes the
PCs will encounter in this adventure are NPCS. Keep this in mind if you run further adventures in the Hyborian world.
Spellcasters
While still practiced to some degree in the Hyborian World, magic is a fading art.
Knowledge of the full power of magic is in decline, and much of its history has been
forgotten or obscured. Only a few are willing to devote their lives to the study and travel
necessary to gain true magical powers. Furthermore, it is a dangerous occupation;
many things can go wrong for the unwary or ignorant student. As a result, there are
very few spellcasters in this world, but those few are extremely powerful. In Hyboria, the title "priest" may be used for any type of spellcaster. This title has little to do with religion, even though most of these spellcasters are associated with one form of religion or another.
There are two general types of spellcasters in this world: magic-users and illusionists.
Magic-Users
These spellcasters are more common in Hyboria. They gain their powers by studying
carefully, traveling to distant lands to gather rare powders and plants, and directing
their agents to search ancient ruins for fabled objects of great power. They rarely
get directly involved in the action, choosing instead to control and manipulate others
through threats. Years ago, these threats often were more powerful than the magic itself. All a crafty magic-user had to do was threaten to use his powers, and ordinary people would do
whatever he wished. Many kingdoms fell under the indirect control of magic-users as
a result. When magic is now used in this world, the types of magic tends to be summoning,
illusion, charming, and death-related. Magic as heavy artillery (fireballs, lightning
bolts, etc.) is very rare.
Clerics
There are very few clerics in this world. Those clerics that do live here offer their
services to the injured, but use most of their powers for the advancement of their deity.
Any NPC cleric encountered in this adventure should be willing to offer assistance to
the PCs only in the forms of information and detection.
Magical Items
Like spellcasters, magical items are rare in Hyboria. When they are found, they generally
bring grief rather than help to those who hold them. These items are all left over from previous ages, and most people know nothing of them or have forgotten they ever existed. These items are usually of use only to spellcasters, and it's extremely dangerous for anyone else to even attempt to use them. Since the items generally hold such black secrets and horrible histories, spellcasters
must do careful research and study before using them. Failure to do this homework can lead to extremely unfortunate results. The PCs shouldn't expect to acquire new magic items during this adventure. If a PC does find a new item, he will have a tough time figuring out how to use it correctly. If the players are using characters from another world, any magic items those characters have at the start of the adventure will still function as expected.
These are the types of games I love to run and play in. I really hope I am able emulate these types of games because I would actually love at some point to run these old Conan modules again.
