Conan 2 E Review is hard to do

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

Hey Guys and Gals.

I have my books in now. A review is very hard to do, as you have 450 pages, dealing mostly with minor changes and layout.

So, a review is not really possible. I will say the border art is better than it was, and the binding is excellent.

The biggest change that I see is the Temptress is now a core class. And they have changed it a little. Soldier is changed also adding the officer ability which is flexible.

More monsters have been added and more human (Monsters) as well.

The layout is much clearer, getting rid of alot of the "Howard" book notes.

From what I can see, there is no real "Drastic" change to combat, but they have added a few more combat manuevers.

Some of the races have changed, in that some of the skills are more defined and given more options.

There have been minor tweaks to the sorcerer.

Mass damage has been addressed, as well as some damage from weapons.

I have not noticed any new spells, feats, or skills, but I have not memorized the old ones, or took out my atlantean edition to compare them.

So, giving a review on a game that already exists to people that already have it is hard.

It is STILL CONAN, which we all love, it is still COMPATIBLE with all the other books. WHICH IS GREAT!!!!

So, if you want to get it, GET IT!! If you want to run yours in the current version, you can...

Is it a Second Edtion, I think NOT. The changes are probably as equal from those made in Atlantean edition over 1st edition.

I got TWO copies. I DO NOT REGRET IT...

The choice is yours...

But I do feel if you want to keep this RPG alive and thriving, GET THE NEW EDITION...

Sincerely,

Koski (AKA John)

 

[SnowDog]

I went to see the book again and still fought the urge to buy it. Only so much money to spend etc. But maybe I will bend at the end (of the month when I get more money)?

Anyway, I remember that combat is supposed to be streamlined. Is this the case and if so, how?

 

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

It takes time to read through 450 pages, then remember all the old rules to compare them too.

In a few days, I will give a better going over the new rules.

That the best I can do for now...

 

[Trodax]

Thanks for the summary! I does indeed sound that very much is the same. Some questions if you have the time:

1) Does sneak attack work differently in any way (I heard that it would)?

2) Have weapon damage and armour AP been changed in any way (I think someone wrote that the greatsword/bardiche deal a bit less damage now)?

 

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

AsI sttated above, I will give a more thorough going over, when I get the BIG book read.

I hate to put you off till then, but I gots little time on my hands.

In the meantime, if your game runs well with your house rules, keep the Atlantean edition...

This is a revision, not a new edition, but a GREAT EFFORT by the Mongoose Staff to clarify things.

 

[Axerules]

Thanks for your first thoughts, keep us informed when you will have more time.
I would like to know what are the changes to the sorcerer and to the combat chapter: in which way has massive damage been addressed ?

 

[thulsa]

More monsters have been added and more human (Monsters) as well.

Really? I didn't notice any new monsters except for the rhino.

There is a dozen new generic NPCs, true.

I have not noticed any new spells, feats, or skills, but I have not memorized the old ones, or took out my atlantean edition to compare them.

There are several new spells and also new defensive blasts (each style has its own defensive blast; you get the first one for free but must spend your advanced spell slots on getting other blasts -- and most of them are not "blasts" but have other, more varied effects).

Is it a Second Edtion, I think NOT. The changes are probably as equal from those made in Atlantean edition over 1st edition.

Agreed. There is less new stuff than I thought. Most changes are to sorcery, but I like what I have seen so far.

BTW, there's also a few new uses for Fate Points, and a novel way to regain them which could increase player involvement in the game.

- thulsa

 

[thulsa]

1) Does sneak attack work differently in any way (I heard that it would)?

No, it's still a number of d6 (or d8 for sneak attack style).

2) Have weapon damage and armour AP been changed in any way (I think someone wrote that the greatsword/bardiche deal a bit less damage now)?

Greatsword has been changed to 1d10+1d8. The bardiche damage entry is actually blank in the weapon table (aaargh!), but I believe there was an official response to that (in the deleted thread?).

AP values have not changed, neither has armor DR.

- thulsa

 

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

Thanks Thulsa.

I really want to read the whole thing through, and I should have waited till I had done that, but so many people were asking questions.

Like I said, I did not have the other book to compare it too, so my interpretation of "New" many have been wrong.

The point is: It is a revision, but a good one.

I still feel it all could have been done a few PDF's.

I am glad I got it though...

 

[Trodax]

Thanks thulsa!

 

[The King]

Greatsword has been changed to 1d10+1d8. The bardiche damage entry is actually blank in the weapon table (aaargh!), but I believe there was an official response to that (in the deleted thread?).
- thulsa

Thulsa, there is an errata (pdf file) in the download section of Conan

 

[thulsa]

Thulsa, there is an errata (pdf file) in the download section of Conan

Thanks for pointing that out, I had forgotten about it.

Not sure how I feel about the greatsword and bardiche doing 1d10+1d8, though, it seems a bit clunky to have two different dice for one weapon. I guess we'll see how it works in actual play.

- thulsa

 

[The King]

It's not very important anyway because it isn't a common weapon.
I don't remember Howard ever mentionning Conan fighting with a 2 handed-sword.

 

[Dave2]

8) Is the book 420 pages or 450 as stated in posts? Thanks Dave

 

[SnowDog]

It takes time to read through 450 pages, then remember all the old rules to compare them too.

In a few days, I will give a better going over the new rules.

That the best I can do for now...

Fair enough Thanks for the input so far and good reading!