[CONAN] Commoner and PC's as Commoners

[Cheomesh]

In an effort to see how others DM (having never really been a player in any d20 game), I am working to get a friend of mine (a player in a Conan d20 game I DM'd) to run a game in which I am a Zingaran Commoner who works as a porter/dock worker and occasionally as a knife-man (murderer for hire). I figured Messantia would be my port of call. Run away from the horrors of modern Zingara, he's taken up the life of a laborer, but not one adverse to cruel acts if it'll pad his pocket a bit.

Admittedly I'm stacking the deck a tiny bit, as the Zingaran race is set up to do a lot of literal backstabbing. I'll likely take an interior variant from Argos and Zingara. The class gets a single simple weapon to be proficient in - naturally I'm going to pick the baddest knife in the book. Not yet decided what my one (and only, come to think of it) Feat will be.

The real question though is if Commoner is implied to be a "favored" class for anyone other than the Khauran? Naturally, for anyone except probably the Cimmerians (who's populations seem to be 99% Barbarian classed), this would be the bulk of the population - farmers, craftsmen and even merchants (which in the Bestiary have at least a few levels of Commoner before Scholar). This would be the difference between getting one feat at 1st or two feats.

Second: Is it a typo in the Commoner section regarding skill points per level? Traditional D&D has it at 2 + Int, though in Conan they have 2 + Int at 1st but go up to 3 + Int afterwards. Also, shouldn't "Skill Focus" be a feature starting at 1st rather than 5th?

Third: Has anyone tried the "Players as Commoners" approach? Even the rulebook mentions that as one way of taking a campaign. I know the "Joe Wood" Chronicles were popular so I figure it might have caught on somewhere.

Thanks,

M.

 

[Jeraa]

The 3+ skills is a type. Commoners should only receive 2 + int modifier skill points per level.

The real question though is if Commoner is implied to be a "favored" class for anyone other than the Khauran?

No. The only reason the Khauran have commoner as a favored class is because they are all non-violent. That means the normal classes aren't suitable, as most are combat oriented. Think of favored classes as stereotypes. Your stereotypical Cimmerian is a barbarian, the typical Turanian is a nomad, and everyone knows that the evil sorcerer is a Stygian.

Also, shouldn't "Skill Focus" be a feature starting at 1st rather than 5th?

No. Skill Focus isn't something the majority of people have. It represents an unusual ability with a skill above and beyond what others can do. The majority of commoners shouldn't be that specialized. Skill Focus should be reserved for the truely skilled, like the towns best blacksmith. Giving everyone (Well, every commoner) Skill Focus, how would you represent the ones that are really good at what they do? Besides just giving them more levels, which also makes them harder to kill.

I've heard about people running commoner campaigns, but would never do it myself. The characters aren't supposed to be commoners - they're great heroes/villains, kings, warriors, and conquerors. They aren't supposed to be the dirt farmer from down the road. At best, they would start out as commoners, then sometime near the beginning, (After getting some training) switch their commoner level for a level in a real class. (Essentially, the campaign would start with them as normal village people, but then their village is attacked and destroyed, the PCs swear vengeance, and go from there. Or something similar.)

 

[Cheomesh]

Thanks.

I've heard about people running commoner campaigns, but would never do it myself. The characters aren't supposed to be commoners - they're great heroes/villains, kings, warriors, and conquerors. They aren't supposed to be the dirt farmer from down the road. At best, they would start out as commoners, then sometime near the beginning, (After getting some training) switch their commoner level for a level in a real class. (Essentially, the campaign would start with them as normal village people, but then their village is attacked and destroyed, the PCs swear vengeance, and go from there. Or something similar.)

Sort of what I'm chasing - pretty much starting as a run away dirt farmer who is a bit of a scumbag (hat optional). I'd probably inevitably end up as a Thief, unless I get caught up in something else. Basically I am playing the role of a minor mook, the kind you meet as an encounter at level 1 in some city alley.

M.

 

[Supplement Four]

In an effort to see how others DM (having never really been a player in any d20 game), I am working to get a friend of mine (a player in a Conan d20 game I DM'd) to run a game in which I am a Zingaran Commoner who works as a porter/dock worker and occasionally as a knife-man (murderer for hire).

That sounds AWESOME! My kind of game.

The real question though is if Commoner is implied to be a "favored" class for anyone other than the Khauran?

I wouldn't think so, but you're going about the game in a creative, albeit abnormal, way. Make the rules work for you.

Naturally, for anyone except probably the Cimmerians (who's populations seem to be 99% Barbarian classed),

The Barbarian in the Core rulebook is intended for Cimmerian barbarians, of course. It stands to reason that the Cimmerian Barbarian would be a favorite in Conan's role playing game.

But, there are a TON of other types of Barbarains. Spend some time in the Pictish Wilderness, and you'll run into a lot of Pict barbarians. Spend some time in the Black Kingdoms and run into a lot of non-Cimmerian, non-Pict barbarians. And so on...

One of the things I like about the "3 F" books (Fiercest features the barbarian) are all the variant ideas that Vincent puts into them.

Don't think of the classes as written in stone. Think of them as well-thought-out starting points. If you want to create a specific class or a variant class, then do it.

For example, the Barbarian Code of Honor in the Core rule book seems directed towards Cimmerian Barbarians. Vincent, in Fiercest, gives you an idea of going a different direction with that if not playing a Cimmerian Barbarian.

And, there's plenty of ideas for variant classes throughout all three of the "F" books.

S&P provides some alternate classes (plus, you'll find an alternate class or two in the various rulebooks, like the Beastmaster in the Beastiary).

- farmers, craftsmen and even merchants (which in the Bestiary have at least a few levels of Commoner before Scholar).

I think some heroes can certainly be Commoner classed before taking on a "hero" class, but I think that this should be rare.

For example, Cimmerians start training at a very early age, thus, Cimmerians are vary rarely anything but Barbarains, at least at their first level.

But, if you want to work it into the story....I could definitely see a Commoner Farmer grow up to be 19 or 20, and then get "recruited" (without choice) when a roving warlord came through the area looking to bolster his troops. Thus, you might have a 3rd level Commoner Farmer become a 1st level Soldier.

Contrast this to that same farmer's oldest son who, at 15 years old, left the farm to join King Yildz's Army of Turan--a 1st level Soldier from the start.

The Conan RPG is flexible. Do what what you feel appealing.

This would be the difference between getting one feat at 1st or two feats.

If you're planning on Multi-Classing into one of the Core classes later on, with your Commoner, I'd stick by the rules and award that bonus Feat if it applies at Level 1 of one of the "heroic" classes.

Also, shouldn't "Skill Focus" be a feature starting at 1st rather than 5th?

As I said above, make the game work for you.

But, at the same time, remember the Rule of Unintended Consequences.

Commoners aren't meant to be heroes.