[CONAN] Prestige Classes

[Supplement Four]

Consider the Axeman in the Warrior's book. 10 levels are listed, and looking at the prerequisites, a Barbarian classed character could multi-class into the Axeman at 5th level.

What happens once the character spends 10 levels in the Prestige class? He'd complete 15 character levels (5 as a Barbarian, then 10 as an Axeman). But, what happens when he reaches character level 16?

He can't be an Axeman anymore, right? 10 levels is all, right?

Does he revert back to a Barbarian or just multi-class into another class?

 

[Jeraa]

Yeah. He either takes more levels in barbarian, or multiclasses into another class.

 

[rabindranath72]

So long for the original plan that d20 Conan didn't need prestige classes...(it was one of the core ideas during the playtesting.)

 

[Nyarlathotep5150]

I would say, technically no. Conan seems to be based on the idea that there is a Character level cap and the levels listed for a class are all that exist.
The plan seems to have been that you can't have more than 20 character levels, so the levels listed for any class are all thats needed (and if you multiclass, you can never cap out on any class).
That being said, a GM can always house rule in the D&D rule that any prestige class that has recurring benefits (powers that occur at every X-level, like rogues backstab and such), are capless and still get those recurring benefits. I don't know if this applies to the Axeman though. And doing this could end up with power balance issues in the long haul.


On a side note, I'm not sure I'd bother allowing the Axeman at all in my games. Just on the basis that I can't think of ANY other Conan prestige classes. Do any others even exist? even if they do, there's too few of them to bother with.
With so few prestige class options, using them at all just amounts to saying, "I'm going to give certain classes more options than others". If someone REALLY had their heart set on playing a given prestige class, I would probably work up a reasonable facsimile of a multiclass option.

 

[Supplement Four]

Do any others even exist?

There are a few. The Beastmaster is in the back of the Bestairy. There's some in the "Barbaric" books. And, the Warrior's book has others than the Axeman.

 

[Nyarlathotep5150]

Wow. I Didn't realize there were so many. But I still think the game doesn't really need them, unless there are a few for every class. Prestige Classes worked in D&D because the game assumed that every character would take one (even though there were some rules flaws that made certain classes less likely to than others), so there were tons for every class and a prestige class for every possible thing.
Conan seems to be based on the opposite assumption. That people would personalize their characters buy multiclassing among base classes (which in Conan are as specific as D&D prestige classes anyway). And that those classes, coupled with the multiclass templates were all you needed.
Prestige classes, to me seem like a late, unnecessary addition to the game (probably just added to assuage the shock people get from finding out that this was like the only D20 game that didn't use them). If the Mongoose had kept pumping out books (and with the new movie coming out, I think they should have) it probably would have become a useful and fun addition, but with so few available choices, I still think its probably best to do away with them, or make them multiclass templates.

P.S. what are the "Barbaric" books? I don't see them on my check list and I'm trying to get the whole Conan line... Thought I was almost done.

 

[Supplement Four]

P.S. what are the "Barbaric" books? I don't see them on my check list and I'm trying to get the whole Conan line... Thought I was almost done.

These are very good (imo) third party publisher supplements for the Conan RPG. THE BARBARIC WARRIOR; THE BARBARIC SORCERER; BARBARC TREASURES

I bought the hard copies from Lulu. Among these pages you can get new feats and skills; new weapons and equipment; expanded rules for unarmed fighting; expanded rules for piecemeal armor; several prestige classes; notes about black lotus addiction; expanded rules about running a pit fight in your game; more spells; new sorcerery rules; Atlantean weapons and armor; sorcererous items and weapons; new drugs and herbal preparations; supply and demand rules; and weapon modification rules.

The books are specifically written for use in the Conan RPG, but since they are third party, the term "Conan" and references to the Hyborian Age are never used. But the rules are exactly those used in the game.

In many ways, I think these books are three of the best supplements that Mongoose never published. I wish Misfit Studios had published some more stuff in this line.





You also may find this fan made item useful: CONAN: THE RIDDLE OF STEEL




And, although written for a generic 3.0/3.5 d20 game, I find this book extremely useful to my Conan campaign--so much so that I consider it part of the "line". FROM STONE TO STEEL. You can pick up a used hard cover HERE for about $15 bucks.

 

[Nyarlathotep5150]

Awesome. Thanks. I'll have to pick those up.