[CONAN] "Kosher" Technology?

[Cheomesh]

So they've got aqueducts, road paving, pumps, mechanical mills, consistent (and large scale) steel making and a host of other technologies I can't recall in (at least) the civilized western nations. What else do you guys fathom is "kosher" to include in campaigns and stories?

Obvious ideas include gunpowder, and the subsequent cannon and rockets that would theoretically bring, as well as more fantastic ones like bicycles and hot air balloons/airships. Printing presses (which are really an ink technology more than a stamp technology) also jump to mind.

What kinds of technology / inventions have you used in Conan games and stories that don't show up in the old tales and pastaches? What do you think is within the realm of approval?

M.

 

[Supplement Four]

You may want to track down an article L. Sprague de Camp wrote called Hyborian Technology. It's contained in a book called The Blade of Conan (which is a collection of articles from Amra magazine and has a sister book called The Spell of Conan), but I'm sure I've seen it posted on the net somewhere.

 

[Spectator]

I would probably maxx out the tech level to our equivalent of the 1200s: so no gunpowder, no bicycles, airships, or printing presses.

I don't like reading about Pirate Code: Barachan Smoke and Rockets (I don't think thats in the Canon, is it)? a Rocket is pretty powerful stuff.

That being said the Ship technology in the Canon material is pretty advanced REH wrote of caravels and Carracks which represent mid 1400s ship technology. None of his ships had cannons though.

 

[Cheomesh]

In my slightly alternate Cannon (as every game session would be), one of the islands far off the coast of Zingara (rulebook mentions some) is inhabited by Khitai outcasts, which have very limited contact with the Thurian continent (mostly Messentia). One of the ship captains is unscrupulous and is selling Khitai technology - particularly rockets. That is how (at least some) of the pirates have rockets for signalling. While he has weapon rockets, the ones he trades are kept small and not very abundant to prevent them from being turned on him (and thus making it harder for him to conceal his origin, as they're a bit insular).

M.