Free Companies

[Jason Durall]

Also, anyone have the new Signs and Portents? Issue 16 with the Zingarian Code. Any thoughts on it?

Saw it at the game store, but since I wrote the Zingaran Chivalry article, I didn't pick the issue up (feels weird to buy something you wrote a part of).

Would love feedback, as I quite enjoy writing the smaller Conan articles for S&P.

 

[The Warlord]

Jason,
Is it a similar game mechanic as the two codes in the corebook? I'm on the fence as I'd love a few more codes besides the two, but do worry about rules creep.

I won't be able to hit the LGS anytime soon, anyway I can get an idea what the article's about?

Thanks

 

[Jason Durall]

Jason,
Is it a similar game mechanic as the two codes in the corebook? I'm on the fence as I'd love a few more codes besides the two, but do worry about rules creep.

I won't be able to hit the LGS anytime soon, anyway I can get an idea what the article's about?

Thanks

It was basically a more refined civilized code of honour, more restrictive than the civilized or the barbarous one, emphasizing personal integrity and knightly virtues.

 

[Belkregos]

So.....
getting back to freecompanies....
when does it hit the stores??

 

[The King]

So.....
getting back to freecompanies....
when does it hit the stores??

when we stop being off topic. :lol: :wink:

 

[MongooseMatt]

It will be out next week! Apologies for the delay, but the first run from the printers was poor quality and so had to be trashed. Nothing but the best for Conan fans!

 

[bobrunnicles]

......poor quality and so had to be trashed.

:shock:

I appreciate your efforts, but damn - the whole run? That sucks, dude!

On the other hand, I wish SJG had taken that approach with the dad-gum G*RPS 4th Ed core books; everyone I know that owns one has had it fall apart on them - myself included

 

[bobrunnicles]

Oh, meant to say - what's the latest ETA on Shadizar?

 

[The King]

Getting back to the point, however, we are just awaiting the arrival of Free Companies in our warehouse which, I am told, is imminent.

your post is from Nov., 20th. What did you mean by "imminent"?

 

[The King]

Afghanistan, Iran, Irak... I don't want any bullet holes in my copy.

Why would they shoot at the books? But chances are they steal the mules. Exactly why Mongoose should then engage some mercenaries to ensure protection of the Free Companies.
Wouldn't it be a nice tale you tell later to your grand-children how you worked as an escort for the Mongoose sourcebooks to make sure that avid and impatient customers receive their outmost source of pleasure.
The Mongoose way of life makes us rediscover Adventures after all this dull RPG years. :wink:

I'am now pretty sure the books have been kidnapped with the mules and will provide the bandits with ignitable material to light their camp fire for these cold winter nights in the mountains.
Please call Father Christmas to the rescue.

 

[Padre]

I'am now pretty sure the books have been kidnapped with the mules and will provide the bandits with ignitable material to light their camp fire for these cold winter nights in the mountains.

I think they took the books, ate the mules and are now running a huge Conan campaign with enormous battles invovled. Their families are starving, but hey - how can you resist trying out Mass and Narrative Combat rules?

 

[The King]

Hey wait a minute! I just saw "The Free Companies" were now is the available Status.
However, no annoucement was ever made of it.

 

[Lucius]

Yet another point on why Mongoose should have a regularly updated News page? :?

 

[The King]

Why? Simply because mules are the best means of transport in these mountains.

However I don't see any relationship between Conan RPG and oil stealing.

I know that many countries would have liked to stay in their old colonies to steal the ressources and the raw materials. Unfortunately when colonization began, there was not much use for oil and some countries never had the chance to have any. They had cocoa instead.

I forgot an important and vital point: they also have excellent pineapples.

 

[Belkregos]

Just got my copy yesterday, looks good!

so...what are your first impresions???

 

[Maximo]

Please, Belkregos, can you tell us more?
Is there any tactician or general prestige class? Now we are at it, what are the prestige classes included? Are there stats for Zingaran armies? I need them for my Zingaran Civil War campaign :wink:
What about flavour text? I think that's what I liked the most in Thunder River. Is there enough flavour text or is the book too rules heavy?

Thank you in advance

 

[Tristan]

I'll try and answer a bit:

There are no new prestige classes. Rather, there are soldier hybrid classes which are given much the same treatment as if they were their own class, with individual charts and even some optional bonuses. That being said, the Officer(soldier/noble) is essentially general material while the Adjutant (solier/scholar) is essentially a tactician.

There are stats for Zingaran armies and rules for using them in the new narrative combat system. There are coat of arms descriptions and descriptions of typical gear for such troops, but there are no stat blocks for an individual in the army.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by flavour text, it seems to be different for everyone. I would say that Free Companies has a fair share of rules compared to other books in the line but they're all very good. There is a fair bit of detail on the various mercenariy groups throughout but the book also has to explain warfare so there's (understandably IMO) plenty of rules for all that(once again, they all seem very good). Again I'm not exactly sure what you mean by flavour text.

 

[Maximo]

Thanks for the info, Tristan, the book seems to be meaty

By flavour text I mean non-stat/rules info, for example stuff related to a soldier daily life -you know, so I can answer typical PC questions such as how many ranks are in the army, how much can he expect to earn for his hard job or what are the duties of a non mercenary grunt during peacetime.
The ethics -or lack of them- of war, professional codes of mercenaries -if any- or any hint at the Hyborian soldier mindset would also be most interesting. Is there anything like this in the book?

 

[Voltumna]

What about feats? Any new killer feats?

 

[Tristan]

Thanks for the info, Tristan, the book seems to be meaty

By flavour text I mean non-stat/rules info, for example stuff related to a soldier daily life -you know, so I can answer typical PC questions such as how many ranks are in the army, how much can he expect to earn for his hard job or what are the duties of a non mercenary grunt during peacetime.
The ethics -or lack of them- of war, professional codes of mercenaries -if any- or any hint at the Hyborian soldier mindset would also be most interesting. Is there anything like this in the book?

Wow, they've got almost exactly what you want then! There's rules of conduct(or lack thereof) and what to expect as far as jobs go, I just read a bit of that section today.

As for feats, there's a fair bit, most of them are rather specialized in use however. Quite a few add bonuses related to the new mass combat system, great for aspiring leaders.