CONAN errors compiled

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think Listen and Spot are good candidates for Soldier class skills, as they spend a lot of time guarding... yet Conan usually ambushes or sneaks past civilized soldiers quite easily.

Two good reasons for that: (1) Conan's practically a demigod. (2) Soldiers get a lot fewer skill points than other classes.

Having said that, I agree that these would make logical additions to the class skill list for soldiers. I can live without them, though. And let's not forget that said soldiers can pick them as background skills if they're Hyborian, or simply spend any INT-bonus points on them.

True, but soldiers usually have Int as a dump stat, a rotten class skill selection, and no way of being good at anything but a couple skills unless they multiclass. I know that's to make up for being feat monkey combat masters, but adding Listen and Spot to their list is logical, as is keeping Search. It's what they do, while waiting for enemies to come by that they can chop up.

 

[arcady]

Personally, I think Listen and Spot are good candidates for Soldier class skills, as they spend a lot of time guarding...

Having been a soldier I can tell you that we're not specially trained or given the mindset of spotting unless we are specially trained or given the mindset of spotting.

It's not in the general training package. If you join special forces, get trained as a sniper, or something along those lines then yes - it becomes a part of your paradigm. But for a normal soldier you need to know your Gun, thinking for yourself (unique to only a few militaries in the world, such as the US - most just instill the chain of command), keeping fit, and whatever your specialty is. Some militaries also teach military history and the Geneva conventions (the US does this).

To translate that to fantasy or historical militaries - you're taught the rules of your day, the weapons of your day, the chain of command in your day, and whatever special role you fufill (which for most soldiers in the pre modern era is simply grunt).

If you're lucky, your nation will also teach you it's military history, and how to take your own initiative and assume command if the chain is broken - that second teaching though is very rare in history, limited as far as I can tell to the US and certain 'barbaric' cultures like some of the north american indian groups. Since the Roman era most militaries instead preffered extreme discipline and chain of command.

Enough rambling...

Spotting, as a way of thinking and dealing with life - is unusual training. Put in terms of how it comes across in the modern military I think of how Air Force Rangers, Navy Seals, and so on act and think. They have an awareness of the world around them that common people and common soldiers don't. In the pre modern era I think of Apache Scouts with their uncanny ability to pick out details others missed.

Anyone can get it as a cross class skill - but only certain people have it as a way of life, which for me is where I put it into class skill territory.

 

[Anonymous]

Spotting, as a way of thinking and dealing with life - is unusual training. Put in terms of how it comes across in the modern military I think of how Air Force Rangers, Navy Seals, and so on act and think. They have an awareness of the world around them that common people and common soldiers don't.

Anyone can get it as a cross class skill - but only certain people have it as a way of life, which for me is where I put it into class skill territory.

Hmm. Makes sense to keep them off the class list, then. Why do you think Search is in there? As a former no-special forces soldier, were you trained to "search"?

 

[Gorden the Pict]

P4 Introduction – meadowland city states are in the west not in the east as listed. The desert is in east not the west as listed.
P9 The abilities – strength has no reference to parry value (DV)
P10 – Dexterity bonus refers to Defense value instead of dodge value (DV)
P10 – intelligence – reference to ‘spellcraft’ – needs removing
P10 – charisma – reference to ‘use magic device’ – needs removing
P11 – lifting any carrying – should be ‘loses any bonus to defence..’ not dexterity bonus. I fail to see how you could parry or dodge while carrying this load.
P12 movement run (x4) last 18 words re ‘riot gear & tactical body armour’ need removing.
P14 – light sources chart – ‘light stick’ ‘oil lantern’ ‘flood-light lantern’ do not appear in the game. Also is candle lantern the same as lantern?
P16 – background skills example refers to profession (sailor), survival, perform (dance) then suddenly profession (sailor), survival, move silently. Move silently needs to be changed to perform (dance).
P18 names – suggest dropping brian from the list. Brian the Cimmerian – come on guys?
P21 aquilonia – column 1 para 3 line 4 missing the word have
P41-67 class features, weapon and armour proficiency – ‘Note that armour check penalties for wearing medium or heavy armour apply to…’ this should read ‘Note that armour check penalties for wearing armour apply to…’ only quilted jerkin has no armour check penalty.

More to follow…I’m making my way through whole book :shock:

 

[Anonymous]

Actually, the Run feat was included in the first official errata to 3.5

Nowadays, it should read:
Benefit: When running, you move five times your normal speed (if wearing medium, light, or no armor and carrying no more than a medium load) or four times your speed (if wearing heavy armor or carrying a heavy load).
If you make a jump after a running start (see the Jump skill description), you gain a +4 bonus on your Jump check. While running, you retain your Dexterity bonus to AC
Normal: You move four times your speed while running (if wearing medium, light, or no armor and carrying no more than a medium load) or three times your speed (if wearing heavy armor or carrying a heavy load), and you lose your Dexterity bonus to AC.

 

[Ian Sturrock]

Hmm. Makes sense to keep them off the class list, then. Why do you think Search is in there?

I put Search in there because both historically and in Conan, almost all soldiers supplemented their meagre pay by looting wherever possible. If you can't find that ruby sewn into the fallen foe's cloak, or that cask of fine brandy hidden away in the back room of the burning tavern, you're not much of a Hyborian Age soldier.

Of course in these enlightened times it's no longer a part of the skill set of most military personnel, at least those from Western countries.

 

[Anonymous]

Hmm. Makes sense to keep them off the class list, then. Why do you think Search is in there?

I put Search in there because both historically and in Conan, almost all soldiers supplemented their meagre pay by looting wherever possible. If you can't find that ruby sewn into the fallen foe's cloak, or that cask of fine brandy hidden away in the back room of the burning tavern, you're not much of a Hyborian Age soldier.

Of course in these enlightened times it's no longer a part of the skill set of most military personnel, at least those from Western countries.

Thanks, Ian! Makes sense to me.

 

[LWM]

and for people who complain about Mongoose spelling errors, i'd suggest you remember we're dealing with mustelids without opposable thumbs. how those ferrets and weasels even can type or use a computer is beyond me, since most mustelids i've seen want nothing more than to chew on toilet paper and "chip" at strangers. I'm amazed we're getting Conan out of such crazy critters. Also, the fact they're in Albion means they get first dibs on creating English.

So what you're saying is that they didn't try very hard to get the spelling right, but they really otter?

 

[TAROT]

p37. (Boxed Quote): Should be "sledge-like fist" Also, a couple of names with periods in the middle on this page.

p46 Borderer (Improved Combat Style): Shot on the Run does not exist. I am replacing with Far Shot. (I am also changing p168 under Fighting on the Run to read "When using an attack action with a melee or ranged weapon..." Why? Because I can.)

(House rule: I am also giving the borderer Second Combat Style, Improved Second Combat Style, and Second Combat Style Mastery at levels 10, 13, & 18.)

p49. First full paragraph: "The DC for the check depends upon the type of assistance.

Question: Favoured Terrain, At +4... does the +20 movement replace the +10, or stack with it?

p54. Nomad (Bonus Feat): Shot on the Run is listed and does not exist.

(House rule: Soldier: Formation Mastery is +3, Improved Formation at level 9 for +2, Weapon Focus for free at level 1, and Weapon Specialization free at level 4)

p66. Thief. Chart lists "Trapfinding", text on p67 reads "Trap Disarming" for name of class ability.

 

[TAROT]

p106: Survival (Synergy) - suggest deleting reference to travelling to other planes.

The Conan stories often talk of other worlds. . .

Yeah, but I take every opportunity that I can to delete skills. So in this situation I would just use Knowledge(arcana) or (religion) dependent upon which one the character had.

Similarly, I combine Balance & Tumble into one Acrobatics Skill.
I combine Listen and Spot into one Perception Skill.
And I combine Hide and Move Silently into one Stealth Skill.

YMMV

 

[TAROT]

Superior Armourer and Opportunistic Sacrifice are missing from Table 5-1.

Mobility is missing, unless a soldier is required to take 5 levels of barbarian, nomad or pirate in order to qualify for Whirlwind Attack, which is marked as a Soldier bonus feat. Of course, Whirlwind Attack is also missing, which is required for the Devastating Sweep combat manoeuvre.

Under the Special section for Endurance and Track, it is noted that the borderer receives these as bonus feats at 3rd and 1st level respectively. It is not noted that the nomad and barbarian also receive Endurance at level 3, or that the nomad also receives Track at level 1.

Similarly Diehard, Eyes of the Cat, Iron Will, Sneak Subdual, Navigation & Poison Use & Light-Footed, are given as bonus feats to various classes at various levels.

p122 Mounted Combat - references to Armour Class instead of DV

p128 Track (Special) - reference to pass without trace spell

p129 Web of Death - has Weapon Focus as prerequisite, so should have the no barbarians of 7+ level may select or use this feat blurb.

 

[Anonymous]

There's a person listed as actually being the editor. Surely this is in error.

 

[Gorden the Pict]

Similarly, I combine Balance & Tumble into one Acrobatics Skill.
I combine Listen and Spot into one Perception Skill.
And I combine Hide and Move Silently into one Stealth Skill.

I like those ideas. It does seem to me that d20 is overly complex at times. To such an extent that even the game designers are confusing themselves. I really don't care about carry loads and stuff. I'd just as rather guesstimate it - cf riddle of steel - or the old 80's class Dragon Warriors. Too much play time revolves around trying to work out the damn rules. The rules become a straight jacket choking out spontaneous creativity. As for skills - too many...isn't it enough to for example with professions or crafts just to say..'you make a bow' rather than going into this whole thing about aggh to what level of quality...etc ...etc...

There are now so many rules and sub rules to creating an NPC that I spent 2-3 hours on sunday trying to formulate an easy system for creating one. Eventually I gave up...the NPC downloads from Mongoose are wrong...cf thief parry at 3rd level or the sudden appearance of mobility at 3rd level...for example...all I really need is what's his attack, defence, armour protection, damage (AP), hp, and any specials qualities. What do I care whether a pict warrior at 3rd level has craft (roleplay game) or not. If I need that I'll just pick it at random...+1 for apprentice, +5 for craftsman, +10 for master craftsman...

saying that why do I even need strength 3-18 scores when I only ever use the modifier. Why not save space an effort and work straight from the modifier. Strength +2, Dexterity +1, Intelligence +0, etc

I used to love role playing in the 80's as the games I played were more about adventuring and free creativity than charts and tables and ... you can't do that because rule 3142 p 445 says an Hyborian mercenary can't...we just used to make it up and rule it ok or not...I love the setting here but would like to have seen Mongoose streamline the rules not add to the already overly complex system...I find it hard to get people to play because they look at the books and think I'm not #*! reading that lot.

sorry hard day at the work...don't mean to rant...

 

[slaughterj]

p106: Survival (Synergy) - suggest deleting reference to travelling to other planes.

The Conan stories often talk of other worlds. . .

Yeah, but I take every opportunity that I can to delete skills. So in this situation I would just use Knowledge(arcana) or (religion) dependent upon which one the character had.

Similarly, I combine Balance & Tumble into one Acrobatics Skill.
I combine Listen and Spot into one Perception Skill.
And I combine Hide and Move Silently into one Stealth Skill.

YMMV

Didn't 3.5 combine Balance and Tumble or some such into 1 skill?

I like the Hero games skills list / system personally, which has Perception which includes each of the 5 senses, thus would include listen, spot, and search. Acrobatics under Hero would combine Balance and Tumble above as well.

As for Hide and Move Silently into one Stealth skill, maybe, but Hide can be for Hiding yourself or Hiding other things - need to address that (Hero games has Concealment for Hide, and Stealth for Move Silently...).

 

[TAROT]

Didn't 3.5 combine Balance and Tumble or some such into 1 skill?

I like the Hero games skills list / system personally, which has Perception which includes each of the 5 senses, thus would include listen, spot, and search. Acrobatics under Hero would combine Balance and Tumble above as well.

As for Hide and Move Silently into one Stealth skill, maybe, but Hide can be for Hiding yourself or Hiding other things - need to address that (Hero games has Concealment for Hide, and Stealth for Move Silently...).

Well, I just downloaded the SRD three days ago and. . .nope, Balance and Tumble are still two skills.

I would use Search to find a good hiding spot for an object.

 

[Anonymous]

There's a person listed as actually being the editor. Surely this is in error.

I'd surely be worried about my job if I were him.

 

[Anonymous]

Folks, while I am sure Mongoose designers are thrilled at the opportunity to listen to our suggestions, could we stay on track and put in this thread only errata rather than what we would change given a chance?

 

[Red Tulwar]

There's a person listed as actually being the editor. Surely this is in error.

I'd surely be worried about my job if I were him.

Hey, how about some constructive criticism and an intelligent listing of errors and errata? Shots like these are hardly constructive, and are frankly a waste of time. Nothing in life is perfect, friends.

 

[Anonymous]

Obviously Red has never had a good beer.

 

[TAROT]

p135. Table 6-1. Column headers on second page would be nice.
Martial, 2-H melee, is War Sword finesse?
Exotic, "Two-Handed Melee Weapons" is not bold text.
p142. Table 6-2. Primitive War Spear should be 2d4 damage?
p151. Loincloth. bare minimum. :roll: