Conan RPG

[Emirikol]

Compare Conan RPG with Thieves' World?
I'd prefer Thieves' World though, personally. Just because I'm a bit tired to have to learn all the changes to the OGL all over again with every single OGL game out there and switch campaigns each time I do so. Right now, I much prefer D&D compatible game materials, like TW, Arcana Evolved or Ptolus. The more compatible the better, actually.

My group has some connection to the RPG playtest so I have a long set of opinions..but in reality, we've played in Hyboria for about 5-6 years now using D&D rules with 2-3 simple house rules.

Hands down.....we prefer NOT having to learn an entirely new game system (OGL) and did not like the trivial changes necessary to make it an OGL. The only thing we use out of the CONAN RPG is the races (which are excellent renditions).

Why throw away all of your D&D stuff just because the CONAN RPG feels the need to tweak every...litttle...stinking...rule...just....enough....to....be.....annoying...and...make....all.....of...your...
D&D....supplements....not.....compatable?

Another thing is that when you require a new set of rulebooks, you're going to have a hard time finding players (ask around and see what I mean)...not to mention, PEOPLE WANT TO PLAY D&D..they don't care which world.

It's like purchasing a big clown bike for the tour de france. Cute and definately unique, but really, what's the point?

In regards to supplements:

Road of kings is absolutely fantastic for running a Conan campaign.

Shadizar..well... the scenario blows and the map debacle where the cartographer plagarized something off wotc and made Shadizar into Venice (in the desert)...who edits this stuff??? Are they fricking blind? The same thing was true of the first release of the RPG. Didn't anybody bother to read it before it went to print? NO EXCUSES!

Stygia is about the driest book I've ever read, plus they could have left out the parts about child molestation and raping as part of the culture..yea, go ahead and roleplay that one..I found that completely unacceptable, but maybe I have standards. I dont' recall ever reading anything in Conan books that said raping my child is acceptable. WTH mongoose? If I was running WotC, we'd be discussing your rights to OGL.

The scenarios that I've read have been pretty good and I'm looking forward to running them.

The MAP is superb and I understand is now the standard for the Conan.com website.



jh

 

[freebfrost]

Hands down.....we prefer NOT having to learn an entirely new game system (OGL) and did not like the trivial changes necessary to make it an OGL. The only thing we use out of the CONAN RPG is the races (which are excellent renditions).

Why throw away all of your D&D stuff just because the CONAN RPG feels the need to tweak every...litttle...stinking...rule...just....enough....to....be.....annoying...and...make....all.....of...your...
D&D....supplements....not.....compatable?

Because D&D Core doesn't really allow for the flavor of Howard's world perhaps?

I'd be interested in seeing how a few house rules make magic work correctly, or captures the feel of being able to punch a veteran soldier, breaking his neck and killing him in the process...

 

[Odhanan]

Any way of getting a huge printed map of the Conan RPG's version?

 

[JustaPlayer]

If I was running WotC, we'd be discussing your rights to OGL.

Of course, if you were running WotC, there would be nothing you could do about it. Ah the marvelous OGL.

Other than that, your post makes you sound like an overbearing WotC fanboy.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

If I was running WotC, we'd be discussing your rights to OGL.

WotC could say something if Conan was d20 - which means it has to have the d20 logo, which Conan doesn't - but not with an OGL product.

 

[Banshee16]

Conan is great - Mongoose has done a great job in fleshing out the details for Hyboria that were never supplied by Howard. As previously mentioned, the emphasis is on character skills and abilities as opposed to equipment, and the gritty nature of the game makes for a game where even high level characters can legitimately be taken down by 1st level mooks with one (lucky) hit. Magic is something truly to be feared as DCs are not static but are essentially opposed rolls. Combat, even with its many new options, is quick and flows well.

Plus you get to use d12's for weapon damage!

Is there some sort of critical hit changes, or lowered massive damage threshold, similar to the Black Company, to enable the feeling of low level characters being able to take down high-level ones with a lucky hit? Or is it something else? It's something I've always been somewhat frustrated with in D&D....the fact that it's not possible. You can have a lvl 15 fighter chomping through 50 lvl 3's without breaking a sweat.......

The Black Company and A Game of Thrones both dealth with this effectively....but those are the only real OGL type games I currently have, and I love them

Banshee

 

[Nebulous]

Is the Conan RPG by Mongoose any good? I've read some reviews, and it seems all over the map. Like it's good, but chalk full of errors, typos, etc. I've heard they've made many interesting rules changes. The Mongoose site has an "Atlantean" edition, which I think is a revised copy with the typos, mistakes etc. fixed....but I'm not sure..

Banshee

Conan is an utterly fantastic rpg. And i'm saying that without even having played it yet. I bought the Atlantean core book, loved it so much, i bought a bunch of other supplements too. Just haven't had time to run a game.

 

[Banshee16]

Are there any Canadian retailers selling the Atlantean edition online? I don't want to order from the U.S., because of the fact that I'll likely get hit with a $20 customs charge on top of the $20 it will cost to ship it.

I checked Amazon.ca, and they've got a book matching the ISBN listed on the Mongoose site for the Atlantean edition, but the title on the product page, and the image, are for teh first release...I'm not sure if they just haven't updated the image, if the two books have the same ISBN, or if I'm going to get the buggy first printing if I order through them. Chapters.ca doesn't have it in their inventory.

Banshee

 

[JustaPlayer]

Are there any Canadian retailers selling the Atlantean edition online? I don't want to order from the U.S., because of the fact that I'll likely get hit with a $20 customs charge on top of the $20 it will cost to ship it.

I checked Amazon.ca, and they've got a book matching the ISBN listed on the Mongoose site for the Atlantean edition, but the title on the product page, and the image, are for teh first release...I'm not sure if they just haven't updated the image, if the two books have the same ISBN, or if I'm going to get the buggy first printing if I order through them. Chapters.ca doesn't have it in their inventory.

Banshee

They are the same ISBN. At this point in time you really shouldn't have any problems that I can see. The Atlanean Edition (second printing) has been all that is available for years now, unless they had a very big backstock at Amazon you are good. Of course if it does end up the wrong one you could always send it back.

 

[freebfrost]

Is there some sort of critical hit changes, or lowered massive damage threshold, similar to the Black Company, to enable the feeling of low level characters being able to take down high-level ones with a lucky hit? Or is it something else? It's something I've always been somewhat frustrated with in D&D....the fact that it's not possible. You can have a lvl 15 fighter chomping through 50 lvl 3's without breaking a sweat.......

Massive Damage threshold is 20 points, DC is 10+ 1/2 the damage dealt!

So, a 1st level fighter with 10 Str crits with a Bill for 2d8 x3 and opts to spend a Fate point for a Mighty Blow (automatic max damage). That 1st level fighter just dealt out 48 points of damage, causing a Fort save DC 34 to avoid dying. If the unlucky victim in in Full Plate Armor, they still took 38 points and have to make a DC 29 Fort save.

Change that to a 7th level thief with STR 14 using a finessible weapon like an arming sword. Say that thief crits and chooses the Mighty Blow also. Their damage is 1d10 plus sneak attack of 4d6/4d8 (the latter if that is the thief's Sneak attack style) plus strength bonus multiplied by 2. That crit would bypass any armor due to being a finessible hit.

(10+32+2)x2 = 88 points of damage. Fort save DC 54 to avoid dying.