David Howard Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 So it looks like Modiphius Entertainment is losing the Conan RPG license. They are handing it over to Monolith. I've always thought the BRP family of games would be ideal for the Hyborian Age setting, and I can't help wishing BRP, Mythras or Legend could step into the breach! Modiphius Conan License Update Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreadDomain Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 I certainly agree with you but the announcement clearly states that Monolith will develop the next RPG themselves. A version of Mythras or Stormbringer would be fantastic for Conan but I don't think TDM is big enough for this and Chaosium doesn't seem to have the bandwidth to take anything more. I suspect it would take @Jason D completely away from RQ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NurgleHH Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 I think it will be another D&D5-Clone. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raleel Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 monolith apparently did a batman rpg based on a light D&D 3.5, so I'm guessing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svensson Posted December 4, 2022 Share Posted December 4, 2022 I would REALLY rather that it be a d100 game, but I have a huge bias against 'level' based games so.... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g33k Posted December 5, 2022 Share Posted December 5, 2022 (edited) On 12/3/2022 at 7:21 PM, svensson said: I would REALLY rather that it be a d100 game, but I have a huge bias against 'level' based games so.... That isn't a "bias against," my good sir... That's an discerning aesthetic in favor of the superior system! Edited December 5, 2022 by g33k 5 4 Quote C'es ne pas un .sig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamonJynx Posted December 7, 2022 Share Posted December 7, 2022 Legend, being OGL would be a good fit. Whilst I like Mythras, it's a far more 'complete' and consistent system, I still have a soft spot for Legend - I think the 'crunch' level is just right for this genre. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickMiddleton Posted December 7, 2022 Share Posted December 7, 2022 "Hither came Conan the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer..." My biggest issue with Modiphius' 2d20 take on the IP was always that it seemed overly fiddly. I have a huge respect for Jason's knowledge and passion for the material, and he seemed very positive about the whole approach to the lore from the get go, and another gaming friend who is distinctly NOT a fan of Modiphius but is an enormous Conan fan was all full of praise for the quality of the writing and its engagement with the lore. But I do feel that from a game play point of view, the IP needs something fluid and light, that lets each session move rapidly and adroitly. To me that suggests the lighter end of the BRP family: Elric! / Magic World, CoC 6e / 7e, OpenQuest (or the currently kick-starting SimpleQuest). Albeit it is very hard, given that quote, to look beyond a suitably tweaked Barbarians of Lemuria: which is what the aforementioned Conan fan who isn't Jason used when he ran one of the two best Conan games I have ever played... for other one, he used a very stripped down but custom built BRP variant... 😉 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravenheart87 Posted December 7, 2022 Share Posted December 7, 2022 Speaking of d100 and sword & sorcery... Does anyone have any experience with Jackals? How well would it fit the Hyborian age? 1 Quote Wielder of the Vorpal Mace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mugen Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 On 12/3/2022 at 3:13 PM, NurgleHH said: I think it will be another D&D5-Clone. It's possible that they use the french Chroniques Oubliées system, as they do in their Barman game. It's at core a simplified version of D&D 3.5, with no skills. In the version I know, each class has 3 branches of feat-like powers. After gaining a level, you take the next power in one of the branches. Asthere are no skills, you usually only roll 1d20 + ability modifier, but some powers may give bonus under certain curcimstances. On combat, you also add your level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobarstep Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 I wonder if they could do licensed sourcebooks or adventures instead of a complete game. SJ Games had licensed Conan stuff for GURPS once upon a time. Like, 30 years ago. But interestingly they're still available to buy "new" in both PDF and POD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mugen Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 On 12/30/2022 at 10:44 PM, tobarstep said: I wonder if they could do licensed sourcebooks or adventures instead of a complete game. SJ Games had licensed Conan stuff for GURPS once upon a time. Like, 30 years ago. But interestingly they're still available to buy "new" in both PDF and POD. Problem is that if they do this, it's very likely to be with books for the most popular game around. And it's neither BRP nor Mythras... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svensson Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, Mugen said: Problem is that if they do this, it's very likely to be with books for the most popular game around. And it's neither BRP nor Mythras... They tried that already. There's a d20 version of Conan produced by Mongoose back in the day. The system is, well, d20. If you like it, then it's not altogether bad. It's a bit overpowered for my tastes personally, and I tend not to like 'ding! I leveled!' systems much anyway. But there was some solid milieu writing in it. It's kind of like MERP that way. Edited January 4, 2023 by svensson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mugen Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 6 hours ago, svensson said: They tried that already. There's a d20 version of Conan produced by Mongoose back in the day. The system is, well, d20. If you like it, then it's not altogether bad. It's a bit overpowered for my tastes personally, and I tend not to like 'ding! I leveled!' systems much anyway. But there was some solid milieu writing in it. It's kind of like MERP that way. Nevertheless, it was a distinct game that tried to "Conanize" D&D, and not just a series of D&D sourcebooks. I remember rumours about a Conan adaptation to MRQ2. But then Mongoose lost both RQ and Conan licences... But, again, I bet Monolith will use the same 3.5 basis as for their Batman game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svensson Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 Well there is a 'Conan-ish' Legend [BRP variant] milieu set in Xoth, a very REH /ERB milieu. You can get those books on Mongoose's website as pdf only d/ls under the Legend heading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachristian Posted March 14, 2023 Share Posted March 14, 2023 My impression is that Conan Properties sells the license to a publisher, lets it run for a few years, and when sales taper off, sells it to a new publisher, hence: TSR > Steve Jackson > Mongoose > Modiphius > Monolith. Every step of the way they produce lots of world books, a limited number of adventures, and then the license moves on - and us gamers are left to buy a new set of core rules, and a bunch of sourcebooks that cover material that we already have for an earlier version of the rules... It's a treadmill, and the main people who benefit are the suits in Conan Properties, who contribute nothing except collecting the money. Or am I being too cynical? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankcam Posted March 24, 2023 Share Posted March 24, 2023 (edited) As far as I'm concerned, all my Modiphius Conan books are just setting lore for Mythras now, not to mention all my pdfs from Mongoose Conan. I've got various novella collections from R.E.Howard, and a stack of Dark Horse Comic graphic novels as well as heaps of Savage Sword of Conan comics reprints. Double the Luck Pts for Mythras characters and I'm on my way to running Hyborian Age adventures, regardless of what system the new shiny Conan will be. Edited March 24, 2023 by Mankcam 6 Quote " Sure it's fun, but it is also well known that a D20 roll and an AC is no match against a hefty swing of a D100% and a D20 Hit Location Table!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreadDomain Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 On 3/24/2023 at 11:00 AM, Mankcam said: As far as I'm concerned, all my Modiphius Conan books are just setting lore for Mythras now, not to mention all my pdfs from Mongoose Conan. I've got various novella collections from R.E.Howard, and a stack of Dark Horse Comic graphic novels as well as heaps of Savage Sword of Conan comics reprints. Double the Luck Pts for Mythras characters and I'm on my way to running Hyborian Age adventures, regardless of what system the new shiny Conan will be. Mythras and Conan seems like a match made in heaven. I would say the same regarding Elric!/Stormbringer/Magic World or even RuneQuest 3 but of the bunch, Mythras feels to be the more readily adaptable to Conan for reasons I cannot quite grasp. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DreadDomain Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 (edited) And just because. Notes: Luck Points are doubled because @Mankcam said so. I like dividing skills in skill categories. This is only cosmetics and bases are as per Mythras (e.g. all Constitution skills are based of CON plus a second characteristics, no changes from the rules). I use species maximum as per BRP (21 for humans) Conan of Cimmeria, 6'3, 235, during or right after Queen of the Black Coast. He is at his physical peak. Characteristics Attributes Hit Locations STR 20 Action Points 3 Head 5/8 CON 18 Damage Modifier +1d8 Left Arm 0/7 SIZ 16 Exp. Modifier +1 Right Arm 0/7 DEX 17 Healing Rate 3 Chest 3/10 INT 15 Strike Rank 16/13 Abdomen 3/9 POW 16 Luck Points 6 Left Leg 1/8 CHA 13 Movement 6 Right Leg 1/8 Strength Skills: Brawn 95, Athletics 80, Unarmed 85 Constitution Skills: Endurance 85, Boating 65, Perception 75, Survival 70, Swim 70, Track 65 Dexterity Skills: Evade 70, Conceal 40, Drive 50, Ride 70, Stealth 70 Intelligence Skills: Lore 50, Customs 60, First Aid 50, Locale 60, Native Tongue 60, Craft 35, Culture 40, Healing 35, Language(s) 45, Literacy 45, Navigation 40, Seamanship 45 Power Skills: Willpower 65, Insight 40 Charisma Skills: Influence 65, Streetwise 50 Passions: Fear Sorcery 60, Love Bêlit 70, Wanderlust 80 Traits: High Pain Threshold (ignore Serious Wounds effect on a successful Endurance roll), Resilient (+1 HP to each location), Strong Hitter (DM + 1 step) Combat Styles Cimmerian Warrior (Battleaxe, Broadsword, Greatsword, Shield - Batter Aside, Do or Die) 95 Street Brawler (Fists, Feet, Knife, Club - Unarmed Prowess) 85 Pirate (Falchion, Club, Dagger, Main Gauche) 80 Jungle Spearman (Spear, Sling, Bow, Shield) 85 Weapon Size Reach Damage AP/HP Broadsword M M 1d8+1d8 6/10 Bleed, Impale Shield L S 1d4+1d8 4/12 Bash, Stun Location Battleaxe M M 1d6+1+1d8 4/8 Bleed, Sunder Edited March 25, 2023 by DreadDomain 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raleel Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 Conan and Mythras are a match made in heaven, from my own experience. I ran one of my best campaigns using Mythras (then Runequest) and Mythras. pete also agrees, as he mentioned he has a large conan document written up that will never see the light of day like the Star Wars one 🙂 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachristian Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 The Hyborian age lends itself well to adventure gaming as well. Religion is kept simple Political bodies are large enough to ignore, unless you have your own army. They are also at war often enough to create opportunities for spy or soldier adventures. All of the classic adventure tropes are available (knights in armor, desert nomads, pirates, lost cities, etc.). Cultural regions are familiar enough that players can easily understand them, and find tropes that they like. For gaming in the Hyborian Age, I propose some additional uses of those extra luck points: Reveal Background Plot: While the character sleeps, they may have an expository dream that explains the background of whatever menace they are facing. If the plot exposition is necessary outside of a rest period, the character is conveniently knocked unconscious (by Black Lotus, or something), so they can have the expository dream. They will not be killed or maimed during this dream, but they may wake up as a captive. Death is too Good for You: When an opponent has the drop on the player-character, instead of killing the character, they fatally delay their strike. If the opponent is a minion or unintelligent creature, something distracts them and they run off, leaving the character to (not) die. If the opponent is a master villain, they throw the character in prison, or into a (supposedly) inescapable death trap. "Bwa ha ha, into the pit with you. The Crawler will destroy you!" 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raleel Posted March 25, 2023 Share Posted March 25, 2023 6 hours ago, pachristian said: Religion is kept simple <unsavory animal> god cult. snake god cult, bat god cult, rat god cult, and so on 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mugen Posted April 6, 2023 Share Posted April 6, 2023 On 3/25/2023 at 4:18 AM, DreadDomain said: Mythras and Conan seems like a match made in heaven. I would say the same regarding Elric!/Stormbringer/Magic World or even RuneQuest 3 but of the bunch, Mythras feels to be the more readily adaptable to Conan for reasons I cannot quite grasp. That's been my opinion too since I read RuneQuest 3. More precisely, I never felt like using a class/level system could work. But it's possible I've been influenced by the example character from the french edition... Spoiler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g33k Posted April 6, 2023 Share Posted April 6, 2023 (edited) On 3/25/2023 at 3:22 PM, Raleel said: <unsavory animal> god cult. snake god cult, bat god cult, rat god cult, and so on I mean... it doesn't even have to be "unsavory" to make a good foe... many "charismatic & predatory megafauna" work just as well: tiger god cult, shark god cult, bear god cult, etc. Edited April 6, 2023 by g33k Quote C'es ne pas un .sig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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