Last week I watched the Indiana Jones trilogy on DVD; it had been a while and I'd almost forgotten how those films set a new standard for action adventure... and I started wondering how well the Indy saga might be adapted to Hyboria and the Conan RPG.
For the character, high levels of either barbarian or borderer seem likely, depending on if the character is a Conan-eqsue barbarian or a civilized adventurer. At least a few levels of thief for locating and acquiring treasure and dealing with traps, and possibly a few levels of soldier for raw combat ability. Scholar may or may not be appropriate for knowledge skills but I figure that would be better represented by a high intelligence and thus bonus skill points. The character archtype we're talking about is a quick-witted, tough-as-nails action hero after all. Signature gear would include light armor, probably leather but possibly a mail shirt in the Hyborian Age. The whip is possible for trip attacks and swinging over chasms and what not, but equally likely in Hyboria is the trusty broadsword the Brawler feat.
As for the adventures, the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark would fit perfectly, IMHO, in the Pictish wilderness. Temple of Doom could easily be set in Vendhya or even the Black Kingdoms, where several montrous deities are worshipped and dark sorcery is performed.
The main plot of Raiders might also work, with some tweaking. I figure the expansionist Turanians, the evil-cult-led Stygians, or even the Hyperboreans would fill the role of the evil empire. The Ark or a similar object could possibly fit in the Hyborian Age. I could see the climax of Raiders occurring in a Howard-esque story. Due to it's darker side, a Hyborian version of the Ark wouldn't necessarily have to belong to a good diety such as Mitra.
Last Crusade would probably hardest to adapt but I figure a creative GM could do it. The Grail doesn't really fit Howard's vision but even Howard did hint at some form of magical healing in Xuthal. So with a really good background story it might be possible to introduce a mostly "good" magical item into Hyboria.
Here's one possibility I just pulled out of the air... perhaps Ibis is in fact of Stygian origin and was driven out by the priesthood of Set. Perhaps in ancient times the priest of Ibis were indeed able to discover the secret of magical healing, before they were driven out and their talisman was lost. Since then the priests have spent ages trying to rediscover it, and now perhaps Kalanthes or a similar character (filling the role of Henry Jones :wink: ) has discovered it and needs help retrieving it from the deserts that Stygia used to claim, before the Stygians themselves or perhaps the Turianians get ahold of it.
Oh, one other thing, Indy's friend Sallah (played by the same actor who played Gimli in LOTR) would be perfect as a Meadow Shemite solider.
So yeah, that's my thoughts on adapting the Indy saga to the Hyborian Age. Thoughts or comments anyone?
For the character, high levels of either barbarian or borderer seem likely, depending on if the character is a Conan-eqsue barbarian or a civilized adventurer. At least a few levels of thief for locating and acquiring treasure and dealing with traps, and possibly a few levels of soldier for raw combat ability. Scholar may or may not be appropriate for knowledge skills but I figure that would be better represented by a high intelligence and thus bonus skill points. The character archtype we're talking about is a quick-witted, tough-as-nails action hero after all. Signature gear would include light armor, probably leather but possibly a mail shirt in the Hyborian Age. The whip is possible for trip attacks and swinging over chasms and what not, but equally likely in Hyboria is the trusty broadsword the Brawler feat.
As for the adventures, the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark would fit perfectly, IMHO, in the Pictish wilderness. Temple of Doom could easily be set in Vendhya or even the Black Kingdoms, where several montrous deities are worshipped and dark sorcery is performed.
The main plot of Raiders might also work, with some tweaking. I figure the expansionist Turanians, the evil-cult-led Stygians, or even the Hyperboreans would fill the role of the evil empire. The Ark or a similar object could possibly fit in the Hyborian Age. I could see the climax of Raiders occurring in a Howard-esque story. Due to it's darker side, a Hyborian version of the Ark wouldn't necessarily have to belong to a good diety such as Mitra.
Last Crusade would probably hardest to adapt but I figure a creative GM could do it. The Grail doesn't really fit Howard's vision but even Howard did hint at some form of magical healing in Xuthal. So with a really good background story it might be possible to introduce a mostly "good" magical item into Hyboria.
Here's one possibility I just pulled out of the air... perhaps Ibis is in fact of Stygian origin and was driven out by the priesthood of Set. Perhaps in ancient times the priest of Ibis were indeed able to discover the secret of magical healing, before they were driven out and their talisman was lost. Since then the priests have spent ages trying to rediscover it, and now perhaps Kalanthes or a similar character (filling the role of Henry Jones :wink: ) has discovered it and needs help retrieving it from the deserts that Stygia used to claim, before the Stygians themselves or perhaps the Turianians get ahold of it.
Oh, one other thing, Indy's friend Sallah (played by the same actor who played Gimli in LOTR) would be perfect as a Meadow Shemite solider.
So yeah, that's my thoughts on adapting the Indy saga to the Hyborian Age. Thoughts or comments anyone?