MGP's Conan: The Roleplaying Game

Yes, it took me a bit to get back. This also covers a lot of ground. Being a revised D20 rule-set, it is rather "meaty".

The Rules
   For the most part, it is third edition D&D, but with a bulkier rule-set. Why is this better than D&D? Well... It tries to be more flexible with level-builds, without being dependent on magic. To reflect Conan's ability to change professions like hats, the rules makes cross-classing easy as dirt. The game encourages players to maintain favorite classes by giving free feats every five levels. Also, bonus Skill Points from high Intelligence are not effected by the cross-class rule, so they can go to *anything* (within reason) to reflect a character being able to pick things up on by one's self.

Character Creation
   Being Hyboria, there are no fayish or gnomish creatures, nor any monstrous subhuman people to play. Pick a fantasy cultural stereotype (make no mistake, each culture is a crude stereotype) and go with it. Beyond the usual list of names and available languages, each race has it own special rules, bonus "background" skills, and favorite & restrictive classes similar to nonhuman races form D&D. Restrictive classes are not set in stone, as they are not something one starts in or might be difficult to get into. For example, someone form a landlocked, desert-dwelling nation would not start as a seafaring pirate, but could easily become one though adventuring.

Like with the normal v3 rules, characters gain boosts to an attribute every four levels, but being a pulp-game, ALL ATTRIBUTES RISE A POINT at 6th level and every four levels after that! That is, you'll get five bonus points to individual attributes by 20th level, but by 18th level, all of your attributes will raise by four points.

Classes includes: Barbarian; Borderer; Noble; Nomad; Pirate; Scholar; Soldier; Temptress; and Thief (see below). There are no prestigious classes to choose from (which is a good thing). Characters can go up to level 20 — there are no "epic" levels — choosing any number of classes. A number of the classes are similar to their D&D counterparts, but without spell-like effects, and there are the inclusion of some odd abilities like how Barbarians and Pirates have "Sword Bite" that allows a character to hold a weapon by the mouth and draw it quickly, making it ideal for swimming and swing on ropes. The class tables includes two new stats (I'll get to them latter): Base Dodge and Parry Bonuses. You can tell the "poor" bonuses by how they go up to +7 at 20th level, and "strong" bonuses by going to +15 at 20, otherwise it goes to +10 in most cases.

   The Barbarian is a strong fighter and survivor. What they lack in refined combat techniques, they makeup for in a mastery of improvised combat. They have strong dodge, but in their recklessness, they parry poorly.
   The Borderer is a good fighter and rugged frontiersman. Without magical tree-huger bullshit of the D&D Ranger, they play more like Davy Crockett (including martyrdom as a class feature; I'm not making this shit up!) than Drizzt Do'Urden (fuck him!). They have good dodge and parry.
   The Noble is a mildly good fighter with a lot of social abilities. There is a big advantage with getting the Leadership feat, with this class. Being prude fighters, they have good parry, but dodge poorly.
   The Nomad is like a Borderer but more focused on deserts and are great mounted warriors. They have good dodge and parry.
   The Pirate is like a Thief, but with Borderer-like abilities on ships. Being agile sword-fighters, they have strong dodge and good parry.
   The Scholar is not a strong fighter, but is highly knowledgeable in most things, including the dark arts. This is the only class (besides the Temptress) to cast spells... And even then, it is optional (you could always forgo learning a new spell to get more skill points to knowledge, at any level). Besides spells, this class is geared to getting knowledge skills, with higher amount of skill points (with a number of it earmarked for knowledge skills only) and class abilities (like Knowledge is Power, which is basically D&D's Bardic Knowledge). Is is also one of the most open-ended classes in the game. At first level, you have to choose a background if you are to learn spells, as you can be an acolyte to a sorcerer (as a D&D Wizard); a self-taught independent sorcerer (as a D&D Sorcerer); a lay-priest to a temple or cult (kinda like a D&D Cleric); or you could have a pact with demonic entity (like a D&D Warlock, but this is suicide, as only high-level sorcerers have the means and know-how to control such fiends). Being noncombatants, they have poor dodge and parry.
   The Soldier is like a D&D Fighter, but geared for formation combat. If a group of soldiers are in a formation, they will give each other combat bonuses. At some point, they can command non-soldiers into being "soldiers" in a formation. As they are trained for formation combat, they have the highest parry bonus in the game. As they also make-up skirmishers, they also have good dodge.
   The Temptress like a Thief, but with a lot of social abilities. She is basically a scheming socialite. They have the ability to control and manipulate others. They can learn a dark art, that allows them to be: an assassin (sneak attack and poison-use); a witch (limited magic-use); or a politician (know Noble's social abilities). They are not good fighters, but they are good at having others fight for them. Being agile noncombatants, they have good dodge, but poor parry.
   The Thief is basically the D&D Rogue, but with a "sneak attack style" which allows for bonus d8 instead of a d6. There are no rules to limit what weapon this ability is used for to reflect Conan in is early years as a thief, thus allowing him to pick "broadsword" for his sneak attack style. They have good dodge and parry.
   The Commoner is your basic podunk goat-fucking hick: Farmer, Townfolk, Fisherman, Slave, etc. This class is unfit for adventuring with low HP and poor combat & save bonuses and it only goes up to 10th level. As the only "NPC class" in the game, it is restricted from play. Is is also the only class besides the Barbarian to be illiterate by default (skill points needed to learn reading). The only thing this class has to offer is a Skill Focus feat at levels 5 & 10 to any Commoner-related skills, so if fucking livestock and close-relatives is a skill, you'll get better at it with time.

Skills are just the same as D&D v.3.5. They only thing missing form it, to make it feel like a "Conan game", is a tenth category for the Preform skill: Sexual (seduction, foreplay, love-making, bondage). Its a strange oversight as this game does not shy away form mature content.

Much of the Feats are from D&D, but a number of them are added to reflect their setting and the genre, as well as the new rules supporting that play-style. For example, the "meta-magic" feats are dropped because it uses a different spell-casting system. As such, "sorcery feats" enhance spell use for specific sorcery styles (spell groups), or to improve the Power Point yield gained from ritual sacrifice. Notable feats includes: Akbitanan Smith (create items of Akbitanan quality), Carouser (resist drunkenness; get social bonuses while drunk), Dabbler (gain minor spell-casting ability), Demon Killer (bonus to Terror saves, immune to Terror from defeated monsters), Eyes of the Cat (gain low-light vision), Gunderland Pike-and-Shield Fighting (use a shield while fighting with a pike), Horde (Leadership boost for nomads or barbarians; gain lots of followers), No Honour (bonus to Will saves, but easy to corrupt), Intricate Swordplay (add Charisma bonus to Parry Defence), Reflexive Parry (parry even while flat-footed), Pirate Code Expert (extensive knowledge of pirate codes), Ordained Priest (varied benefits when dealing with the faithful), Armoured Stealth (avoid light armour check penalties to stealth), Spawn of Dagoth Hill (become inhuman; 1st level only), Steely Gaze (demoralise opponents as a free action), Menacing Aura (Steely Gaze, but anyone within 15 ft), Striking Cobra (gain a surprise round all to yourself), Zingaran Surprise (bypass Uncanny Dodge more easily).

Rounding-out characters are additional sets of rules.
   Fate Points work like "Hero Points" found in many other systems to improve rolls, do critical hits, and so on. This also has the added benefit of changing the story in a minor way, to give the characters a way out of a situation, without giving it out. That is, if the party got captured and thrown into a dungeon cell with no hope for escape, a player might pay a FP to "throw them a bone", so the GM said that the guard drop his keys... But they are well out of reach of the characters, so they would have to figure-out a way to get them. One reason to have a few in reserve is Left For Dead. If the player spends all of his FP when the character dies (in a way that is not chunky salsa), the character "dies" and is assumed to be dead, only to reappear later with one hell of a story. When Fate Points are used, they are got forever. They way you gain FP is by "foreshadowing", which consist of listing three situations you want to happen to your character in a session, and for each situation that occurs, you'll get 1 FP. Players are encouraged to change their foreshadowing requests when they get triggered, by the next session.
   Allegiance is much like what you see in Modern D20: A person, group, faith, ideology, etc. that a character is loyal to.
   Reputation is an impotent rule for the game, as it determines how characters are treated, and how easy they get noticed, for good or ill. It is much like something form one of the expanded v3 rules, but a little more expanded upon.
   Code of Honour boosts your Will save, adds a bonus to Will vs Corruption, and adds a bonus to Reputation, for as long as your character maintains their "code". Their are three Codes of Honour: Barbaric, Civilized, and Mercenary. Barbaric Honour respects strength and hospitality. Civilized Honour is basically chivalry; it respects law and religious authority. And Mercenary Honour is basically a code of professional conduct that keeps employers form thinking that they would change sides for better pay.
   Corruption is vary much like Sanity (SAN) for Call of Cthluhu, and is a serious danger to sorcerers. As a character gains Corruption, they become more disturbed and detached for others. You also have to make saves to avoid getting a random insanity. It will reach a point were the character will try to gain a pact with a demon and allow himself to become possessed. High corruption is not good for your social skills, but it'll make you intimidating as hell!
   Staring Equipment is based on class. It is ether a Starting Budget 10d6+100 sp to buy whatever, or 2d6-2 sp (pocket change) and a chose of one of three class-set Starting Equipment Packages.

Goods and Equipment
Much of the inventory is like what you'll find in D&D, with some times that reflects the setting.

Money in the Hyborian Age is based on the silver standard. A silver piece is scored to be cut into quarters, and the price-lists reflects this. Not much is payed to non-sliver coins, save for 10 sp golden lunas (gl). Anything less than a sp is noted as "½" or "¼" a sp.

The game enforce a rule that character will loose half their wealth a week due to "high living" if their wealth is over 50 sp. By "high living", they mean "feasting, fighting and fucking" and "booze and bitches". Although, with Nobles, they gain a Charisma bonus due to how they hold lavish parties, and Scholars gain a Knowledge bonus due to how they put it to research.

I should note that body armor (and helmets) is not rated as the usual Armor Class but as a Damage Reduction. Weapons include a new rating, Armour Piercing (AP), that lowers the effectiveness of body armor. A weapon like a warhammer inflicts moderate damage (1d6), but can negate most armor (AP 7), while a pirate's cutlass is made to deal nasty wounds (1d10) to unprotected (AP 2) crew. Shields do not add to this, but instead adds to dodge (vs range attacks) or parry (vs melee attacks). But I'll get to that latter.

Weapons are classed as: primitive, standard, high-quality, Akbitanan.
   Primitive Weapons have half the Hardness and lower Armour Piercing, but cost half as much as standard weapons.
   High-quality Weapons (think "masterwork") have a little more Hardness and Armour Piercing, and cost twice as much as standard weapons.
   Akbitanan Weapons have +1 to-hit, good Hardness and Armour Piercing, double the HP, and costs five-times as much (50 sp min.) as standard weapons. As magic items are super rare and potentially dangerous, the much coveted Akbitanan weapon is the most a character could hope for.

Armor is better presented here than in D&D. You'll not find "studded leather" or "ring mail" armor. Superior armor is more than just light and more maneuverable: it takes
more damage to ruin it. They cost tree times as much than normal. The armor types is as follows:
   Light Armor comes in: Leather Jerkin; Mail Shirt; Quilted Jerkin
   Medium Armor comes in: Brigandine Coat; Scale Corselet; Mail Hauberk; Breastplate
   Heavy Armor comes in: Plate Armour; Scale Hauberk; Mail (Shirt or Hauberk) layered with [Breastplate, Brigandine Coat, Scale Corselet or Scale Hauberk]
   Helmets comes in: Steel Cap, Great Helm, Visored Helm
   Shields comes in: Buckler, Large Shield, Targe

Some new items of note are: Leather drinking jack (a folding cup for travelers), slaves (from women of common appearance to beautiful, well-educated, high-born girls; and men who are hard-working and submissive, work-shy criminals or rebellious savages), and slave collars. Clothing are simple items, with some items notable for the setting, like loincloths (good ol' barbarian wear), silk breeks (for pirates!) and pattens (because nobles hate to soil their fancy shoes). Otherwise, much of it you'll find in D&D. The only thing missing that would make the lists scream "Conan!" is a brothel's list of services.

(next up: combat)

Combat
   Combat in Conan the RPG is what you expect form a D20 game: Bulky, needlessly complex in places, slows-down at higher and higher levels, and largely dependent on miniature. Beyond the standard D20 combat rules, Conan the RPG differs in the following ways.
   The biggest change is the way defense works in the game. Instead of Armor Class, you use Dodge Defense or Parry Defense. Dodge Defense is important to classes who base their fighting on speed and dexterity, like barbarians and pirates. Originally, it was used for avoiding range attacks, but reworked to allow avoiding melee strikes if the defender has enough area (empty adjacent spaces) to maneuver in. A character's Dodge Defense score is like AC but is adjusted by class/level, dexterity and shields. Heavy armor or loads, and lacking space to maneuver in greatly effects ones Dodge Defense score. Parry Defense is important to classes who base their fighting on stopping or deflecting blows, like duelists and soldiers. Parry only works against melee strikes. A character's Parry Defense score is like AC but is adjusted by class/level, strength, and shields. Armor and encumbrance do not effect this score, but fighting an armed opponent while unarmed or parrying with a weapon one is not proficient with would. I prefer this method over AC, as it allows for ones defense to grow instead of being dependent on magic armor bonuses.
   Armor in this game is a Damage Reduction, and they can deduce damage down to zero. The about of DR is slightly more than the equivalent D&D AC bonus, but this is due to weapons having an Armor Piercing (AP) score. AP is adjusted by STR. This added rule changes the utility of weapons, as an arming sword would have high damage but low AP, while a battleaxe would having low damage but high AP. This is reflected in the weapons used by some classes, as the cutlasses used by Pirates do good damage but lacks AP, as they usually fight poorly armored opponents. Also, weapons rated "primitive" in quality will brake on metal armor. I really like this approach, but AP is a little mechanically taxing.
   Finesse fighting is not a feat and can be utilized by anyone with the right weapon (noted by a little "F"). This is good, as it frees up a slot for better feats.
   Initiative is now adjusted by one's Reflex save bonus, which means experience and DEX-based classes are now a factor combat reaction.
   To make combat more bloody and brutal, Massive Damage is lowered to a 20 hit point threshold (instead of 50).
   To add more variety in combat, a list of Special Attacks and Maneuvers were added to the game. Most of them are your standard actions like Aid Another, Bull Rush, Disarm Opponent, etc., while others are new combat maneuvers too specific in use to warrant feats. A good example is the Patherish Twist. It requires Improved Uncanny Dodge, and two opponents trying to flank you. The effect is that you can force the opponents to make an opposed DEX roll, and if one or both fails, they would attack each other instead. The character sheet puts a lists of Special Attacks and Maneuvers, with a box on each one to note if you have the prerequisites to preform the action.

As neat as it all is, the last part really highlights how ad hoc (rigid) the D20 rules are. This is a game that scream for a more free-form mechanic that allows for unusual, over-the-top actions on the fly. Do I really need a clearly laid out rule for skull-fucking!? (That is not part of the game (although, it should be); I'm just saying!)


Sorcery
   While combat is largely the same, spell-casting was changed from the ground-up! For starters, Conan was never about Wizards shooting fire and lightning form their fingers, nor heroes covered in magic items. Magic in Conan is dark, sinister and mysterious. Those who mishandle it risk loosing their mind, if not their soul!
   Scholar starts off, they can choose their background and even opt to not use magic. If they do, they are a "Sorcerer" and subject to quite  a number of added rules and effects.
   Unlike D&D, there are no "memorized" spells that requires relearning each day. Instead Power Points (PP) are spent to cast spells. The amount of PP Scholars start off with are small: 4+WIS mod., with a +1 at so many levels. In order to cast more powerful spells, a Sorcerer can preform power rituals or animal/human sacrifice to boost the PP pool up to their maximum power (starting at x2, but can reach x5 at level 20). Like actual pee-pee, holding in your PP too long is highly detrimental to your health. In this case, holding in too much magic causes literal "spell burn."
   Another change is the use of magical "to-hit" roll affected by a Magic Attack Bonus (MAB). It is adjusted by the caster's MAB and CHA mod vs the target's save score. Each additional PP put into a spell adds a +1 to the magic attack roll.
   The way you gain new spells is also different than D&D. In Conan the RPG, spells are grouped into "sorcery styles", with a "basic" starting spell per style. Additional "advanced" spells maybe learned, but they are subject to a number of prerequisites: minimum MAB, some rank of Knowledge, and possibly another advanced spell. The second edition rules added Defensive Blast spells as part of the basic starting spell. This is a one-off, last ditch "If I'm going to die, I'll take you assholes with me!"-effect spell.
   A Sorcerer starts off with one sorcery style, limited to one his background. As he gains level, he'll get an advanced spell at each level, and at so many levels, he may learn a new style or bonus advanced spell (based on INT bonus).

The styles found it the core rulebook are:
   Counterspells provides protection spells against spells and harmful demons and spirits. This is the only non-corrupting style. This requires knowledge of arcana to master.
   Cruses provides spells to hurt, harm or hinder. You can even trap people into other forms. This requires MAB to master.
   Divination is used to gain knowledge and to twist fate. At high levels, you're effectively become a living HAM radio set. This requires knowledge of arcana to master.
   Hypnotism is used to dominate the minds of others. This requires MAB to master.
   Nature Magic is your more subdued D&D Druid spells. This requires knowledge of nature to learn.
   Necromancy allows you to raise the dead, pull a Haley Joel Osment on a dead guy, and to unleash death in a number of horrible, horrible ways (energy drain, plagues, Scorpion's finnihing move, etc.) This requires MAB to master.
   Oriental Magic is your Journey to the West-styled magic with some eastern martial arts enhancements.
   Prestidigitation is used to "impress or terrify ordinary folk." It is a sundry list of caltraps, telekinetic effects. This requires slight-of-hand and bluff to master.
   Summoning is the most dangerous style of all! This is the only style to offer two basic spells. If you learn summoning at low-level, you'll only be able to get Demonic Pact, and you'll be under the control of a weaker demon master. If you wait until mid-level, you could get Master-Words and Signs that would allow you to control a more powerful demon and elemental. Although anyone with basic knowledge of arcana can enter a pact, you'll need a lot of knowledge and four other sorcery styles under your belt to truly master this style!

Supplemental to the Skelos books, some new styles worth noting:
   Cosmic Sorcery are some of the most power spells, as they boost and enhance spellcasting in general. This requires high intelligence and a lot of knowledge of arcana to learn and master.
   Hedge Magic is used by NPC Wisewomen and Midwives. This is too weak to really corrupt anyone or cause runaway effects. It a mix of styles at lesser effect. It requires a mix of basic skills to master.
   Immortality provide spells to steal youth and vigor of others. Think: "Elizabeth Báthory bathing in the blood of virgins to retain her youth"-type magic. Mastering this style requires MAB, three other sorcery styles under your belt, a number of sorcery feats related to Ritual Sacrifice, and enough dead maidens to choke the River Styx in Stygia!

The rules Sorcerers are subjected to:
   Human and Animal Sacrifice allows you to draw a number of PP per HP of victim. Animals are worth less than humans, and virgins (human who is physically a virgin, and also free of corruption) are worth more that ordinary folk. Sorcery feats like Ritual Sacrifice, Opportunistic Sacrifice and Tortured Sacrifice enhance the output of PP, or make it easier to get.
   Likewise, Energy Drain. allows you to gain PP by sucking the Wisdom out of a helpless victim through your hand.
   Power Rituals provides a fair about of PP, but this requires time and celebrants.
   Corruption and Insanity is the cost of doing business with the dark arts. Corruption is the level of one's humanity. At 0, you are pure of mind. As it get higher, you become more and more deranged and paranoid. Once it becomes 9, you started to go Cronenberg with demonic features and you are cold like a serial killer. At 10 or more, your had crossed beyond to the dark-side, with no hope of redemption, or playability as a PC -- you are now an NPC. Remember: Lovecraftian horrors and madness are canon to Howard's Conan!
   The Rule of Success will reward you with a moral bonus after a number of enemies killed, ether in combat of by magic (including tuning them into statures or were-beasts), that can boost your attack rolls (including magic) until you fail. On top of that, using the same spell to kill an opponent lowers the casting cost by half, until it goes down to 1 PP -- made moot by the fact that you are also likely absorbing the victims through Ritual Sacrifice. A powerful Necromancer could do a lot of damage to a town in one evening, and have a sizeable undead army by dawn!
   The Rule of Impermanence means that spells you cast with a long or permanent duration might end if you go down, or disappear if you die.
   The Rule of Defense is related to Defensive Blast spells, as noted above. This is a last resort.
   The Rule of Obsession allows you to bet a few of your base Power Points (1-to-3). It will sink your base PP pool by the amount wagered for the duration of the obsession. The focus of the obsession cannot be related to sorcery, but must be a side-interest, like getting this one item to complete your collection of figurines, trying to get this one girl to suck your dick, and so on. If your succeed, you'll gain additional PP equal to what you wagered. There are other limits to what you can obsess over, and how often. The GM always gets final say.
   The Rule of the Master means that if you have a master teaching you magic (including a demon you have a pact with), has a lot of power over you! He'll get a bonus to hit, buff and intimidation. My siphon PP from you. And you boost his power through rituals. Basically, if he ask you to suck his dick, its not in your place to ask why, but to do and not scrap it with your teeth. Well, on the plus side, once you start a cult, coven or school, you'll have apprentice/thralls at your beck and call.
   Mighty Spells and Runaway Magic means that casting too many powerful spells (noted by an asterisk) in one area could have devastating effects, from minor magic burnout, to a major cataclysm where the ground opens up to Hell and swallows you whole followed by the fall the fall of the kingdom you were in!! Don't fuck with strong magic, folks!
   The Rule of the Sorcerer's Soul fundamentally changes your soul! Other sorcerers, magic beasts and outsiders can tell you are a sorcerer by staring into your eyes. On top of that, such eye-contact can reveal your true nature: your power level; level of corruption; what you really are (vampire, half-demon, etc.). Also, some spells are ranged as "The Evil Eye", which means that effect targets as a gaze attack. Which leads me to...
   The War of Souls is the literal battle of wills! Basically, two Sorcerers have an epic balls-in-a-vice-grip staring contests, as both sides stand there helpless, trying to crush each others minds! Both sides make a magic attack roll, with the winner draining 1-6 PP from the opponent, or 1-6 points of Wisdom, if PPs are drained to nothing. If you try this on a demon, you'll have to make a corruption check on top of loosing PP or Wisdom.

I really like this method of spell-casting. The Scholar class is open-ended to accommodate a wide-range of magical archetypes, with with a sword & sorcery flavor. Sorcerers are not bound to one ability score like with D&D, as their spell-casting ability is tied with constitution, intelligence, wisdom and charisma for this and that. Spells are grouped and geared for specialization. Spells use a point system for casing, and the methods for gaining more points are great! The War of Souls rule is skull-fucking done right!
   If I have one issue, its that this system is too clunky to be used on its own. I cannot recommend enough a fan rule called The Savant
class option (5MB file). With it, you'll still have to learn sorcery styles at fixed levels, but your are free to learn advanced spells as you find them (after much research and adventuring). It revise many of the overly-complex or problematic spells; offers more characters options; and adds rules for gaining new spells by translating old scrolls and tablets, while listing all the revision in red-text.

(addition)

Magical, Herbal & Alchemic Items
   The rules makes particular note that the kinds of magic items found in D&D are not available in this game, nor are Alchemic items available to starting characters. The game notes that Alchemic and herbal items are seen as "magic" to most people. "Alchemic" items are considered rare mundane items or herbal goods with unusual perpetration. The list of magic items in the core rulebook is short, and they are not as flashy or utilitarian as what you can find in D&D. In fact, you'll find stiff like a crystal ball and silver mirror for scrying. The list of herbal and alchemic items are fairly lengthy, listing some rather strange and occult items. Here you'll find wide variety of drugs and poisons, a number of which are lotus flower blooms, of a verity of colors, prepared into juices, powders, dusts and wines, each with their own effects.
   The Scrolls/Secrets Skelos books have the best inventory of magical, herbal and alchemic items for the game. The alchemic item I like the most is simply called the "Rope of dead women's hair", with is *exactly* what it says on the tin, but is "steeped in the juice of the upas-tree" to make it strong as silk, which gives a while new meaning to "hair strengthener". The Scrolls Skelos book also has a neat rule called Sorcerous Creatures which allows a Sorcerer to cobble animal and body parts together to make aberrations (chimera, manticore, Frankenstein's Monster, etc.) or to put bodily fluids (blood and sperm) into a jar of chemicals to make foul humanoid homunculi. I just love this "Mad Scientist" option!

Religion
   This game is full of gods and demons big and small. The rules assume that the gods are fake or just aloof to the acts of man, so you'll not encounter direct acts of divine intervention — just the acts and judgments of priestly figures speaking for their respective god. Unlike D&D, there are no "Cleric" class. You have to play a Scholar
with a "Lay-priest" background, and you'll have to take the "Ordained
Priest" feat to become a full cleric. Likewise, there are no "cleric spells" in this game. Any notes of "spells" with a given god are just regular sorcery spells worshipers and priests learn.
   The core rulebook list the major gods, and the notes important for priests and worshipers. Unlike D&D, you are not given a list of "Worshiper's Alignments", "Favored Weapons" or "Spheres of Control", instead you get: Requirements of Worship, Benefits of Worship, Requirements for Ordained Priesthood, Benefits of Ordained Priesthood, and Typical Punishments for Disloyal Priests. In most cases, Requirements of Worship is to pay a monthly tithe of 1 silver. Standard Benefits of Worship generally just lists: "Spells.", although some offer Atonement to recover lost honor for a sizable tithe or a special quest, as well as Faith to boost one's Will save. The usual Requirements for Ordained
Priesthood is to know one or more — if not specific — sorcery styles. The typical Benefits of Ordained Priesthood is: "Standard, plus as follows: sorcery teaching is available (

)." The only one with any variety is Typical Punishments for
Disloyal Priests, which can range form simple excommunication, to being hunted down and executed by the priesthood.

The best damn in the game is Derketo. I'll lest this one explain itself:



Derketo is a fertility goddess in every sense. She is worshipped to grant fertility to the land but also during great deviant orgies that last many weeks. The Stygians have great temples to Derketo in Luxur, where they initiate young noble girls into the ways of pleasure and debauchery. Derketo is also a part of the Shemite pantheon and is worshipped in Zembabwei where she is the consort of Dagon, the underworld god. Requirements of Worship: Pay a tithe worth two sp/level/month to the priests of Derketo, participate in at least three orgies a year. Benefits of Worship: Spells (Counterspells, Divination and Nature Magic only), orgies (at least once a month). Requirements for Ordained Priesthood: Must know at least one sorcery style. Benefits of Ordained Priesthood: Standard, plus as follows: sorcery teaching is available (Counterspells, Divination and Nature Magic only). Perks include training noble girls in the ways of pleasure. Typical Punishments for Disloyal Priests: None.


Woe to the poor bastard who cannot commit to at least three yearly orgies! You will suffer... NOTHING!! Thats what!

And for the jock-lord himself, Crom:



Requirements of Worship: Be a Cimmerian. Benefits of Worship: None. Requirements for Ordained Priesthood: None (There are no priests). Benefits of Ordained Priesthood: – Typical Punishments for Disloyal Priests: –


For those who don't know, Crom laths weakness. To ask for anything from only him invites doom! Crom imbued his people with the strength to fight and survive, and to ask more of him means you squandered the gifts that he gave you. To be a Cimmerian means to nut-up and to YOLO.

I really like this compared to what you see in D&D. It does need more gods listed, and an extra Worship note or two, but this is fine.

Yeah, it is extensive.

When it comes to reviewing an RPG, I don't know how to KISS (keep it simple, stupid). I should learn to trim them and get to the point.

The campaign/setting information is great. The core rulebooks include Howard's setting essay The Hyborian Age, and gazetteer section, Conan's World, that further details the setting by kingdom and regain. The Bestiary list entries by Humans, Animals and Monsters. All of the animals, and most of the monsters are D&D stock monsters — everything else are setting specific entries.

I highly recommend The Road of Kings and Return to the Road of Kings, both by Vincent N. Darlarge. The Road of Kings is the first edition gazetteer book that goes into greater detail about the setting. You'll get additional information on the people, places, history, military, religions and politics of each kingdom, as well as a few adventure hooks. Return to the Road of Kings is a second edition update that further adds the mentality of the people, gender & sexual norms, rights & property, social hierarchies & mobility, economics and so forth. Both books try to minimize hard game text and gratuitous D20 "splatbook" content, but the first book includes useful NPC stats for major characters from Howard's stories, while the second lists location-specific creatures. The lost two pages of the first book contains a list of D20 feats (which was not Vincent's doing or idea) that are so ill-conceived, you can easily them rip out and you'll only improve the book overall! The second book ends in a highly useful Bibliography.

The core rulebook (any of them) gives you enough detail to run the game without a problem, and the gazetteer books are highly useful for enriching a Conan game overall. The information they contain are useful regardless of what rule system you are using.

Thanks.

And thanks for reminding me about the Player's Guide the the Hyborian Age book. I only have that book in PDF and never bothered reading it. I was never a fan of D&D "splatbook" content, especially prestige classes. The Conan RPG line does cover them, but they always felt shoehorned to me for me to bother with them, and the game doesn't looses anything with their exclusion. There was this one book that made combo-classes that just felt... clunky.

Although, I really need to keep things short and simple, or it becomes too much to read for most people. But since I did all this... Well... In for a p; in for a £.


Oh, and I added additional information I forgot to include on the last post below "(addition)". Basically magic items and religion.