Conan The RPG: Impressions + Ideas & GM Support

[Krieg]

I think Conan The RPG should work extremely well with.../snip/...Cthulhu Dark Ages, HarnWorld, etc. All you'll really need to do if not using the setting is to modify weapons, armor, equipment, do up a new religion chapter, and alter the racial templates to fit (which might be as simple as just renaming them).

FWIW I'd have to say that as a whole Conan D20 is a bit over-the-top for Cthulhu Dark Ages & HarnWorld "traditionalists".

 

[Iron_Chef]

FWIW I'd have to say that as a whole Conan D20 is a bit over-the-top for Cthulhu Dark Ages & HarnWorld "traditionalists".

Agreed. However, it's not wholly incompatible with them, either, depending on your play style. It certainly fits them better than D&D. The difference between the bleak world philosophy of Howard and Lovecraft is that Howard believed mankind could make a difference, however slight or temporary, but they are otherwise complimentary and share a lot of the trappings of the Cthulhu Mythos. HarnWorld is a realistic feudal setting but with Lovecraftian overtones. It is certainly possible to play heroic sword and sorcery games using the setting, and/or to mix in more Lovecraft as desired. The setting is rules free, too, so there's little stopping you from doing whatever you want. My point was that with both Cthulhu Dark Ages and HarnWorld, the Conan rules would be a better fit than D&D, if one wanted to run "d20" in those settings. Traditionalists probably don't, but at least there is a better option now for the rest of us. Is Cthulhu Dark Ages dual-statted for d20 or only BRP? Even if it is dual-statted, Conan would allow a more heroic game than the Call of Cthulhu rules using either BRP or the d20 system.

 

[Broccli_Head]

. My point was that with both Cthulhu Dark Ages and HarnWorld, the Conan rules would be a better fit than D&D, if one wanted to run "d20" in those settings. Traditionalists probably don't, but at least there is a better option now for the rest of us.

Personally, I am using The Riddle of Steel for a Hârn game, and may use that for Conan , just cuz of the name...(I mean how can you resist The Riddle...of Steel, in your best German accent! ), however, I did order the book, can't wait until it comes in and might just use it for an Conan rpg, since my players are more familiar with d20 that any other.

Is Cthulhu Dark Ages dual-statted for d20 or only BRP? Even if it is dual-statted, Conan would allow a more heroic game than the Call of Cthulhu rules using either BRP or the d20 system.

It looks like BRP from the description on the Chaosium Website, but I'll let you know when I get it.

 

[Iron_Chef]

Personally, I am using The Riddle of Steel for a Hârn game, and may use that for Conan

I hear TROS is quite good and it does seem to be popular among Harniacs. Unfortunately, my FLGS doesn't carry TROS, and I'd feel guilty about ordering it, not buying it, and leaving them stuck with a copy. TROS is dice pool based, right? I'm generally leery of bucket o' d6 systems.

 

[JeffB]

I have to admit, the price has kept me away from buying it. I was at the FLGS this afternoon browsing through it...I had a crisp $50 bill in my wallet, and couldn't bring myself to part with it. It's 20 bucks more than the EQ PHB, which is also big & full color.I understand the whole underlying printing cost issues, it was just a "value" thing

Hopefully there will be a second printing soon w/ corrections... that will make it easier for me to drop the dough.

 

[Krieg]

Agreed. However, it's not wholly incompatible with them, either, depending on your play style. It certainly fits them better than D&D. The difference between the bleak world philosophy of Howard and Lovecraft is that Howard believed mankind could make a difference, however slight or temporary, but they are otherwise complimentary and share a lot of the trappings of the Cthulhu Mythos. HarnWorld is a realistic feudal setting but with Lovecraftian overtones. It is certainly possible to play heroic sword and sorcery games using the setting, and/or to mix in more Lovecraft as desired. The setting is rules free, too, so there's little stopping you from doing whatever you want. My point was that with both Cthulhu Dark Ages and HarnWorld, the Conan rules would be a better fit than D&D, if one wanted to run "d20" in those settings. Traditionalists probably don't, but at least there is a better option now for the rest of us. Is Cthulhu Dark Ages dual-statted for d20 or only BRP? Even if it is dual-statted, Conan would allow a more heroic game than the Call of Cthulhu rules using either BRP or the d20 system.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, just pointing that most Harn/CoC players are pretty fanatic about playing lower powered/grittier/"realistic" (take that last one with a huge grain of salt) campaigns than even D20 Conan offers.

Cthulhu Dark Ages is BRP only.

On a slightly different note, there are a LOT of things I like about Conan D20, but the more I get into it the more and more I'm starting to think that there are too many things changed just for the sake of change. A lot of the new stuff doesn't feel like it adds enough to be worth the change IMO.

 

[Remus Lupin]

The price is pretty frightening. I had actually knuckled under and ordered it from Amazon until I saw the price at Buy.com. Of course, now I get to wait for Buy.com to actually deliver the thing!

 

[Broccli_Head]

TROS is dice pool based, right? I'm generally leery of bucket o' d6 systems.

It's actually bucket of d10's. I hear ya, but its not all that bad really and we play Shadowrun and WoD games, so we're used to it.

To get back on track, I am pleased that Conan d20 pre-empted Unearthed Arcana even it was by a week or two, to show the world that they thought of Armor as DR first (well actually T20 did, but...) for fantasy games. I also like the armor piercing quality for different weapons.

 

[trancejeremy]

There doesn't seem to be all that many people here, but Conan seems quite popular over at RPG.net

 

[trancejeremy]

It's actually bucket of d10's. I hear ya, but its not all that bad really and we play Shadowrun and WoD games, so we're used to it.

To get back on track, I am pleased that Conan d20 pre-empted Unearthed Arcana even it was by a week or two, to show the world that they thought of Armor as DR first (well actually T20 did, but...) for fantasy games.

Actually, I think Spycraft did it first (Though obviously it's not a fantasy game, but it did beat T20, I think)