What wizard specialists in CONAN's world (NOT RPG)?

[Emirikol]

Need some advice from those of you who are very familiar with the Hyborian world. Without having to resort to the ConanRPG, what D&D specialist wizard classes would be appropriate in that world?

Abjurer
Conjuration (lots of demons summoned)
Divination
Enchantment
Evocation
Illusion (Seems common with mesmerism and whatnot)
Necromancy (Grim Grey God)
Transmutation

Thoughts?

jh

 

[trancejeremy]

I'm not sure any would be specialists. Most wizards seem to be quite versatile. The exception might be the followers of Asura, who tend to specialize in Illusion (but I think they also do some divination - or detect disguises as well).

 

[jdrakeh]

I'm not sure any would be specialists. Most wizards seem to be quite versatile.

That was what I was thinking, as well. Indeed, for the most part, priests in Howard's world are sorcerers, not miracle workers (i.e., Clerics) as D&D portrays them. Magic in Hyboria is extremely versatile and rarely (if ever) broken up into specific areas of study. It's also largely viewed as a tool of oppression or evil, not the stuff that heroes will be turning to.

 

[argo]

Ignoring, of course, the fact that Vancian magic doesn't fit very well in the Hyborian age...

Abjurer Good choice, espically for priests of Mitra (ignoring the school that says Mitrian priests dont learn magic), Asura and Ibis
Conjuration Yeah, demon summoning is good. Orb spells would be baaaaaad
Divination I could see Yara as a diviner with a sideline in enchaner (though you could also argue it as being the other way around). I suppose the Red Priest could also have been a diviner, he always knew what was going on though that could have been non-supernatural inteligence sources. In any event this school would be appropriate.
Enchantment This is the school for all your mesmerists and eastern mystics. Hypnotism is very big in the Hyborian age.
Evocation A big no here. You might be able to port the Bigby's Hand spells, maybe a few other extreme low level spells. Thats about it.
Illusion I'm thinking no. Although Thagura Khotan probably used the spell Dream in the story Black Collosus your backbone DnD illusions - invisibility, the Silent/Minor/Major image chain, and so forth are not supported by the cannon tales.
Necromancy This is good for the nasty touch attacks and insta-death. Things like the Black Hand of Set spring to mind. Natural specialization for priests of Set.
Transmutation This is a mixed bag. I could imagine the Adept from people of the Black Circle used modified Knock and Fly spells. But I don't think you would find many specialists in this school.

Hope that helps.

 

[InzeladunMaster]

Illusion I'm thinking no. Although Thagura Khotan probably used the spell Dream in the story Black Collosus your backbone DnD illusions - invisibility, the Silent/Minor/Major image chain, and so forth are not supported by the cannon tales.

Baal-pteor could cast illusions in The Man-Eaters of Zamboula (aka Shadows over Zamboula).

"Son of a slut!" Conan lunged at him. But the mist swirled up from the floor, blotting out that giant brown form. Groping in a rolling cloud that blinded him, Conan felt a rending sensation of dislocation -- and then room and mist and brown man were gone together. He was standing alone among the high reeds of a marshy fen, and a buffalo was lunging at him, head down. He leaped aside from the ripping scimitar-curved horns and drove his sword in behind the foreleg, through ribs and heart. And then it was not a buffalo dying there in the mud, but the brown-skinned Baal-pteor. With a curse Conan struck off his head; and the head soared from the ground and snapped beastlike tusks into his throat. For all his mighty strength he could not tear it loose -- he was choking -- strangling; then there was a rush and roar through space, the dislocating shock of an immeasurable impact, and he was back in the chamber with Baal-pteor, whose head was once more set firmly on his shoulders, and who laughed silently at him from the divan.

"Mesmerism!" muttered Conan, crouching and digging his toes hard against the marble.

 

[Aus_Snow]

None of them, of course.

 

[Emirikol]

Abjurer Good choice, espically for priests of Mitra (ignoring the school that says Mitrian priests dont learn magic), Asura and Ibis
Conjuration Yeah, demon summoning is good. Orb spells would be baaaaaad
Divination I could see Yara as a diviner with a sideline in enchaner (though you could also argue it as being the other way around). I suppose the Red Priest could also have been a diviner, he always knew what was going on though that could have been non-supernatural inteligence sources. In any event this school would be appropriate.
Enchantment This is the school for all your mesmerists and eastern mystics. Hypnotism is very big in the Hyborian age.
Evocation A big no here. You might be able to port the Bigby's Hand spells, maybe a few other extreme low level spells. Thats about it.
Illusion I'm thinking no. Although Thagura Khotan probably used the spell Dream in the story Black Collosus your backbone DnD illusions - invisibility, the Silent/Minor/Major image chain, and so forth are not supported by the cannon tales.
Necromancy This is good for the nasty touch attacks and insta-death. Things like the Black Hand of Set spring to mind. Natural specialization for priests of Set.
Transmutation This is a mixed bag. I could imagine the Adept from people of the Black Circle used modified Knock and Fly spells. But I don't think you would find many specialists in this school.Hope that helps.

Thanks Argo. Our campaign has been set in Hyboria for going on 6 years now and nobody's ever played a specialist. I thought probably need to be ready Evocation will need some disincentives obviously. I don't see Abjuration or Transmutation "specialization" as being around much either. Although Mitra is a (the only) benign god, he doesn't strike me as much of a protector (abjuration).

jh

 

[Emirikol]

Baal-pteor could cast illusions in The Man-Eaters of Zamboula (aka Shadows over Zamboula).

Yea, it seems to me that illusion and enchantments are fairly common..theoretically especially amongst the priesthoods whose sole purpose is to control and dominate the populace.

Non-REH is where 99% of our world details and adventures come from now that we've "Played" all of the REH adventure stories. I use the Marvel Universe site for details on Conan characters and stories at this point. You could get an entire nights adventure from a single page on that site:
For example: http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/vammat.htm (vammatar of Hyperborea)
For example: http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/zuuldathaal.htm (a rare moment where a wizard has quite a few potent magical devices)




jh

 

[Emirikol]

None of them, of course.

Of course, but then there is no perfect system and we're not going to sit around and wait for a miracle to happen, especially after GURPS, TSR, and now the RPG.

The most intended system still doesn't make the world..at least that's how it's worked for us for several years

The same is true for Call of Cthulhu (and we've been down that discussion road before).

jh

 

[jdrakeh]

Of course, but then there is no perfect system and we're not going to sit around and wait for a miracle to happen, especially after GURPS, TSR, and now the RPG.

The good new is that you don't have to wait -- The Burning Wheel is available right now. I picked this up on Friday and, while browsing the support wiki, I found rules for Howard-esque barbarians, Thulsa Doom-like characters from lost Atlantis, and slavers inspired by the Conan films. I'm still a bit leary about the complexity inherent in certain parts of the system (notably martial and social combat), but that aside, BW looks like a very sexy option for low-magic, high adventure, in the vein of Howard's pulps.

All of that said, I think my first BW project will be a conversion of FR5 or FR6, both of which I think would be mighty cool with some added grit and more opportunities for political roleplay (either via tribal councils in the North, or secret meetings of the Red Wizards in Thay). Failing that, the Burning Middle Earth conversion on the wiki looks very cool, as well (it seems to be one of the better attempts I've seen at converting Middle Earth for use with a tabletop RPG system).