Empires of the Hyborian age What happened to it???

[Azgulor]

Sigh.

Since these were the two upcoming books I was most looking forward to getting, this is annoying to say the least.

Mongoose has treated the Conan RPG very well and I'm willing to go on faith here since they haven't let me down in the past (staying d20 - I'm looking at you!).

Rampant speculation time:
Since Matt says the books are "postponed" and not cancelled, I'm taking him at his word that that's the way it'll be. Matt hasn't given me reason to doubt him thus far.

Since the books are Conan OGL, I taking it at face value the books will remain Conan OGL - with one major modification.

Since Matt says "major things" will be happening and "all will be good", I'm guessing Conan books moving forward will be dual-statted Conan OGL & MRQ.

While the latter wild-ass speculation isn't what I would like to see, I guess it's preferrable to losing OGL to MRQ entirely.

Two announcements that would irrevocably piss me off:
1. Conan OGL is dropped in favor of converting Conan to MRQ.
2. Conan will have a 4e/GSL version. While I don't see this as likely, GSL modifications in recent months make it possible (as I understand the changes).

Long-shot SWAG: Conan RPG separates fluff-books from crunch-books. So, your setting book is crunch-free, with separate OGL or MRQ crunch books following. Since the Thief book would be mostly crunch anyway, I see this as falling into the "slim-to-none" category, but I suppose it's possible.

 

[Scorpion13]

Only someone involved with the marketing of rpgs could possibly regard November as 'soon'.

And to be honest cryptic (even Delphic) utterances such as 'all will be good', 'very big things' and 'something wonderful' are just plain annoying.

If you know, speak plainly. If not keep quiet. If you know but for some bizarre reason cannot speak plainly, keep quiet.

Frankly, if Mongoose know what these 'big things' are now then they should just say. Unless of course the reason they're not saying is because d20 based Conan sales will likely plummet (yes, I know a few folk will get the stuff while they can, but new sales won't be likely if the line is doomed) if a percentile based game is to be released.

Mongoose isn't the only rpg company with the strange idea that vague mutterings are somehow worthwhile. I don't want to be seen as singling them out for that reason. It is a disease that afflicts most small-medium sized rpg companies.

WOTC pulled the same thing when they pulled the D20 Supers supplement for D20 Modern.

And while Im also of the opinion that vague prophecies dont really do much of anything except incite frustration, Ive never really been too bothered by it. They sure as hell arent the first, or even near the worst offenders by far, and they certainly wont be the last.

Any irritation I have at announcement like this is severely mitigated by the fact that the developers often visit the boards. THAT is very nice chance of pace.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Any irritation I have at announcement like this is severely mitigated by the fact that the developers often visit the boards. THAT is very nice chance of pace.

* Just passing through. . . *

 

[zozotroll]

Just checking out the acccident site as you go by?

 

[flatscan]

Well, it is a shame the books won't be coming out as previously announced. I for one was planning on using the empire book as an endgame for my current campaign. But as that's years away I guess a push back to the end of the year won't hurt too much. I can only speculate as to the big change but I hope it's not abandoning OGL for RuneQuest. I will stress again, myself and my gaming group will not buy any RQ Conan and Mongoose will lose 5 loyal customers (and yeah, I've purchased the 40+ Mongoose Conan products released so far as well as multiple PDF versions as well). I don't care too much about dual-statting books as long as it doesn't increase the cost to customers, but honestly with the page count increase I don't see how it couldn't. :?

I guess until November I'll remain skeptical. But Mongoose has done a bang-up job with this line so far. Hopefully that continues.

 

[Dark Lord Skippy]

I will stress again, myself and my gaming group will not buy any RQ Conan and Mongoose will lose 5 loyal customers (and yeah, I've purchased the 40+ Mongoose Conan products released so far as well as multiple PDF versions as well).

I have a group that varies from 8-12. We started Conan just a few months ago and we've bought quite a few of the books.

I really dont think any of us will buy more books if we have to go back and re-buy the rule book due to a rules change. I cant speak for them (although I do heavily suspect) but I certainly wont re-buy the core books I just bought.

Personally, I'm hoping they are just changing the cover art......

 

[The King]

This one was already scheduled some years ago. It would becomes the myth of Conan rpg.

 

[Brisco]

Based on past experience, I'm not concerned about a delay. It should take as long as it needs to be the best product the budget will allow.

This may not apply to gaming, but keeping future projects under wraps is normal where I work. In TV, "managent" doesn't even tell "production" (me) anything until they have the money and all the legals are sorted out.

This next big thing has been in the works for a while. It may be coincidental, but Vincent can't say what he's been working on either. This may not be the same project, but the omens are good.

As I have mentioned in the past, I like the Paizo/Pathfinder rules for a rule heavy campaign and Cortex for quick and simple games. The Conan rules are ideal for this game but I will be happy to buy any improved rules.

Cheers,
Brisco.

 

[Demetrio]

There's nothing at all wrong with keeping projects under wraps. But keep them under wraps. Or say something worthwhile about them, not vague, subjective utterances that don't actually mean a damn thing.

For instance saying:

The products have been temporarily withdrawn because Conan is being revised. But be aware it will remain a d20 based game.

Would give useful information without 'blowing the gaff'.

Alternatively, if d20 is not the way forward, simply saying:

The products have been temporarily withdrawn because Conan is being revised. We are considering another system but will not reveal what that might be until very close to a release date. So please don't ask. Speculate as much as you like in the forums but Mongoose won't be saying anything yet. We will continue to produce d20 books for the current system for as long as there is reasonable (ie commercially viable) demand.

To my mind these are much more straightforward than 'all will be good' (oh yeah? says who? suppose you don't change the system and I want you to? that won't be too great for me will it?). There's less of the 'I know a secret and you don't but bet you wish you knew' about it.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Only someone involved with the marketing of rpgs could possibly regard November as 'soon'.

Considering my head is normally with our mid-2010 releases these days, November is practically tomorrow!

If you know, speak plainly. If not keep quiet. If you know but for some bizarre reason cannot speak plainly, keep quiet.

Someone asked a question (where are these books?). I answered as fully as I can - the alternative would have been to ignore or stonewall them.

We have a policy at Mongoose to be as absolutely as open with our fans as possible. There are, of course, some things we cannot reveal, but I am happy to discuss everything up to that point.

I think you and others would agree this is a Good Thing. The downside is when you want to know just that little bit more, and I have to say 'sorry, you'll have to wait.'

I can understand that frustration, but it is a by-product of our general openess and, in the general scheme of things, it really won't be so long to wait

 

[MongooseMatt]

I am still annoyed at them other guys over the secrecy of 4e. If conan goes the same way I will be less than thrilled about that as well.

There is absolutely no way, no day, that Conan will move to 4e.

 

[MongooseMatt]

It may be coincidental, but Vincent can't say what he's been working on either.

Vincent is currently bound and gagged in a Mongoose cupboard.

 

[Teriudin]

I hope you're feeding him well.

 

[MongooseMatt]

I hope you're feeding him well.

We reward each feverishly scrawled page with a piece of cheese.

 

[zozotroll]

I am still annoyed at them other guys over the secrecy of 4e. If conan goes the same way I will be less than thrilled about that as well.

There is absolutely no way, no day, that Conan will move to 4e.

That certainly makes me feel much better.

 

[bolen]

Matt

No matter what changes you plan for the Conan line may I request that you put a book on running kingdoms in the Conan universe ASAP. This is the second time that Mongoose has delayed/canceled a Kingdom/mass combat game for Conan. (if I remember correctly you had such a product coming out when you switched to 2nd edition)

Of course if you put out a Conan miniature game with pre-painted mini's all will be forgiven!!

 

[Scorpion13]

Matt

No matter what changes you plan for the Conan line may I request that you put a book on running kingdoms in the Conan universe ASAP. This is the second time that Mongoose has delayed/canceled a Kingdom/mass combat game for Conan. (if I remember correctly you had such a product coming out when you switched to 2nd edition)

Of course if you put out a Conan miniature game with pre-painted mini's all will be forgiven!!

Id pay upwards of 30 dollars for a "Sack Fulla Cannibals!!".

And I love the idea of Vincent Darlage all dressed up like The Gimp, suspended from a chain with a ball in his mouth hammering out the details for the Kothic Archers.

 

[Mr Teatime]

Hope, next incarnationt of Conan prg will be systemless, something like Freeport with many Companions for popular rulesets like Savage Worlds, True20, MRQ, BRP etc.

 

[Supplement Four]

Hope, next incarnationt of Conan prg will be systemless, something like Freeport with many Companions for popular rulesets like Savage Worlds, True20, MRQ, BRP etc.

The problem with "systemless" systems is that it puts a lot more work on the GM. The GM will be using a system, and having someone put some time into considering what a throw will be is part of what I expect when I slap down money for a supplement or adventure.

No, I vote for Conan to have a system. It doesn't have to be d20. But, just pick a system and stick with it.

I won't like Conan as much if it becomes multi-system.

 

[Deathdealer]

The common answer here when a Runequest Conan is mentioned is that Runequest players should just buy the OGL stuff and convert it to Runequest. So why don't you guys just buy the Runequest Empires book and convert it? :wink: