D&D 5E Is Conan in 5e?

[MG.0]

From the TSR 1st Edition module CB1: Conan Unchained!

Conan!
Fighter: 13
Thief: 7
Hit Points: 100
Luck Points: 12
Strength: 18 (90)
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 10
Dexterity: 18
Constitution: 18
Charisma: 17

Weapon Proficiencies: sword (all types), bow (all types), axe (all types), club, mace, dagger

Secondary Skills: fletcher, forester, gambler, hunter, sailor, trapper

Special: Conan is only surprised on a 1 in 8

Equipment; leather armor, broad sword, dagger, 50 gp

 

[Sacrosanct]

In fact, I'd say 5e is one of the easiest and simplest editions to emulate Conan because as others have mentioned, you don't even need to multiclass. Criminal background plus fighter. There you go. No one says fighters have to wear armor all the time. With that simple class/background combo, you could probably do near everything he's done in the books. "barbarian" was more of a name people called him based on his heritage, not any ability.

 

[n00b f00]

Rp wise outlander is better. Mechanically criminal is. I guess you can fill in the gaps with all the extra feat slots. Get proficiency in perception, stealth, outdoors skills, athletics, through some combo of class background and feat.

It's not perfect but classes are flexible archetypes. Fighter is imo the best single class fit. Though barbarian ain't too far behind.

 

[AverageCitizen]

Um, both the barbarian and monk are stone cold badasses who don't wear armor. Just because neither emulates Conan perfectly, doesn't mean that stone cold badasses who don't wear armor aren't in the game. They are two of the core classes...

I'd say Barbarians are red hot. I'll give you the Monk.

I am talking about Conan, though. Bringing in the Monk is being a little obtuse, don't you think?

 

[AverageCitizen]

Hiya!

And just to elaborate on what @Sacrosanct said...

A character in D&D is a character...not just a set of stats and abilities.

I agree.

Conan in 5e? Same thing. I'd probably stat him as a Fighter (Champion), with the Criminal background. Then just play him as...well, Conan. If we were using Feats, I'd give him something like Skilled so he can pick up some skills that fit his concept. Maybe that one that gives you more HP's as well.

Except then his AC would be low, wouldn't it? Without armor? I understand that the board game side of D&D is not everything, and some people resent when it infringes on their storytelling at all, but why even have the board game if we aren't going to blend it with the storytelling in some meaningful way? If the character in my head only superficially resembles the one on the sheet, what is the point?

 

[AverageCitizen]

But Conan spends half his adventures in armour, mostly some form of mail...

That is helpful! Thank you for being the first one to give me new information!

 

[AverageCitizen]

I dunno, while you are right that that combo could probably do most that he could do, he often exhibited abilities that civilised men did not. His preternatural awareness, his stealth abilities which seemed to be better than many of the stealthiest rogues, he was even able to sneak up on a Pict without the Pict being aware of him. Even the red haze of battle, he clearly did go into a rage-like state in the books which considering what it does now (advantage on strength checks) really helps emulate some of his feats where he manages to overpower the rare opponent stronger than him by drawing upon his inner reserves. I'm not even sure that criminal would be the best background for him, unless it was modified, as he'd already spent years as a warrior before he moved to the civilised areas of Hyboria and took up as a thief. Personally, I'd probably go with Outlander as his background, might have to be modified though since I don't think it provides stealth and Conan was clearly stealthy.

I agree that he seems to have some extra awareness, but I guess you could just get the alertness feat and say it comes from his background. Does he red-haze in battle? That helps alleviate some of the chagrin I have over multiclassing into barbarian. Thank you for engaging the discussion! I like where this is going.

 

[Zardnaar]

In AD&D Conan was a fighter/thief and the D&D class in any edition of D&D does a piss poor job at representing Conan. IN 2E you could make him a Fighter/Tjhief with the barbarian kit and in 5E he would be a Fighter(Champion)/Rogue(thief) with the outlander back ground perhaps.

The Barbarian class was not always a rager ewither. In 1E it ended up being a horde leader and was tough as guts (d12 hit dice was good in 1E) and in 2E it was an out door survivalist with several Rogue skills and kits of which one was a rager.

 

[Illithidbix]

I think a bit of a problem is Conan seems the sort of fighter who runs around in Medium Armour (when wearing armour) and has good Strength and Dexterity.

Running around the wilderness for protracted periods of time in full suits of chain or plate.

Medium armour is generally a bit inferior in D&D and despite aspirations via Encumblance and Exhaustion rules, it's alot easier to run around all day in heavy armour than it would be in life or Howard's novels.

 

[Mephista]

The Conan cartoon fits the class well. *Cough*