New Classes for Conan RPG

[sgstyrsky]

Over in the Healers and Gladiators thread there was much discussion about character classes and whether new character classes were even appropriate for the Conan RPG.

I was wondering if anyone thought the Conan game could use new classes without violating the atmosphere of the original stories, and if so, what would they be?

 

[Krushnak]

personally i dont think there needs to be any more classes all you really need is the variant class abilities for multiclassing.

as for prestige classes i could definately see them being useful in setting specific campaigns such as across thunder river or as small 5 lvl only theme/profession specialisations, like knight, warlord, assassin, officer etc.

 

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

Do not think they need any at all. Not Even Prestige Classes

 

[VincentDarlage]

Conan does not need new classes, especially not classes that fail to take into account the various cultures of the Hyborian age. I also would not like to see more classes that ignore everything already written on a given topic.

Although I am not fond of prestige classes, I could see some argument for regional prestige classes, but, honestly, I would rather just see new feats, new skills, new uses for old skills, or new optional special abilities for the existing classes or multiclasses.

Further, if a class is to supersede what has already been written, then an explanation as to why the previous material fails to satisfy should be given. Also, some research into the Hyborian age should be done to avoid grossly inaccurate claims such as "every Hyborian city has one" when there is absolutely no evidence to support the claims.

 

[Raven Blackwell]

Hmm- like usual I am with Vincent on this but for different reasons. The Healer seems like at best a NPC class and Gladiators are just Soldiers that have taken certian Feats. Make some of the Healer class abailites Feats for Scholars and other smart types and a new Gladiatorial fighting style for Soldiers and you're good to go. KISS [Keep it Simple, Silly.] ;>

 

[Sutek]

No new classes or prestige classes. There's too many already. If you can't do it with the feats and skills already in there, look again. :wink:

I've sort of been toying with the idea of mini-Classes for a while, but I still don't know exactly how to execute one. The idea is that they only last 3 - 5 levels, and they are more occupation or task-specific. Sort oflike getting a short career path that garners you, say...Tracking, Survival buffs, Heal buffs, wilderness tactics and other outdoorsy proficiencies and stuff.

They wouldn't be a prestige class, necessarily, because there not a list of requirements, per se, but characters would have to meet a base criterion. In other words, you can't get the Tracker mini-Class unless you are in the wilderness and have someone in the party or an NPC available to teach you your new talents.

So...anyway....that's my 2¢.

 

[Trodax]

I've sort of been toying with the idea of mini-Classes for a while, but I still don't know exactly how to execute one. The idea is that they only last 3 - 5 levels, and they are more occupation or task-specific. Sort oflike getting a short career path that garners you, say...Tracking, Survival buffs, Heal buffs, wilderness tactics and other outdoorsy proficiencies and stuff.

This sounds like the setup in Starship Troopers; everyone has the basic "Trooper" class (or whatever it's called) and then you can specialize by multiclassing into a bunch of level 1-3 classes (you know, stuff like Medic, Officer and Sniper).

 

[Trodax]

And, by the way, I really don't see any need for more classes in Conan. The nine core classes and the ability to multiclass freely is more than enough.

 

[Clovenhoof]

I've always been a minimalist I guess, so imho there is no need for any new classes. I am confident that most effects can be accomplished by multiclassing, at least if you stay within the REH / Sword & Sorcery genre.

However, I'm not always sure exactly how to mix the classes. Just now I had an idea of a Bard-type character: one that has some Lore, can entertain or charm people, and encourage allies, just to name the key features. Basically the Noble has that kind of abilities, but they work differently. Besides, you can't take a level of Noble just like that, so you'd have to change the rules anyway.
Any ideas?

 

[VincentDarlage]

However, I'm not always sure exactly how to mix the classes. Just now I had an idea of a Bard-type character: one that has some Lore, can entertain or charm people, and encourage allies, just to name the key features. Basically the Noble has that kind of abilities, but they work differently. Besides, you can't take a level of Noble just like that, so you'd have to change the rules anyway.
Any ideas?

A temptress (or tempter, for a male) would actually emulated that well.

 

[azoth999]

However, I'm not always sure exactly how to mix the classes. Just now I had an idea of a Bard-type character: one that has some Lore, can entertain or charm people, and encourage allies, just to name the key features. Basically the Noble has that kind of abilities, but they work differently. Besides, you can't take a level of Noble just like that, so you'd have to change the rules anyway.
Any ideas?

A temptress (or tempter, for a male) would actually emulated that well.

Yep. My thoughts exactly.

 

[Clovenhoof]

Ah okay. I heard about it but don't have it yet. What splat was it originally introduced in? Was that Hyboria's Fallen? Conan 2nd Ed is not available yet in Germany.

 

[VincentDarlage]

Ah okay. I heard about it but don't have it yet. What splat was it originally introduced in? Was that Hyboria's Fallen? Conan 2nd Ed is not available yet in Germany.

It originally appeared in Hyboria's Fallen, and is revised for Conan 2E in the new core book.

 

[Sutek]

However, I'm not always sure exactly how to mix the classes. Just now I had an idea of a Bard-type character: one that has some Lore, can entertain or charm people, and encourage allies, just to name the key features. Basically the Noble has that kind of abilities, but they work differently. Besides, you can't take a level of Noble just like that, so you'd have to change the rules anyway.
Any ideas?

I don't see an issue with players grabbing the Noble class mid-campaign. The Temptress is a great addition for easily throwing in Charisma-based class adds for conventional leveling, but you still have to explain it some way. In either case, my group has no problem with the explanation of "okay...so a few years later..." and leveling up maybe a couple of times in a class that seems incongruous to the adventure at large at first. I don't award anything beyond INT skill points, so they don't get thier additional points in other words, but they just level up 2 or 3 levels in Nobel or whatever, and more often I let them expend character levels to gain race bonuses, like adding Argossian bonuses or whatever. That takes more years off the character generally, but it lets the player believe that they are living in the world more, and that's a big aspect of Conan, IMO.

 

[Yogah of Yag]

In official lit, I don't think there's a need for more. LNGCA (Let's Not Get Carried Away!) :lol:
In homebrewing: go nuts! :wink:
In all a game should boil down to basics:

CLASS ONE: Human
subclass: Guy
subclass: Chick

CLASS TWO: Monster
subclass: big monster
subclass: ugly monster
subclass: big, ugly monster


Simple. 8)

 

[Valgrim Bragisson]

Clovenhoof,

I have a character like this mostly written up. He's a Noble/Scholar/Theif(4/10/6 by 20th lvl.). I'm giving him the Entertainer Social Ability, and the Hypnotism and Prestidigitation Sorcerey Styles. For feats he gets Performer, skill focus in Perform(Sing) and Perform(Lute), Dangerous Insinuations, Gossip, and Carouser. Also Magic Power Attack and Debaucher. He should work out nicely!

MP :twisted:

 

[Raven Blackwell]

You know, Debaucher always struck me as a NPC Feat because it was one of those things that was more 'background' for the bad guys than practical use in an adventure. Of course, it takes all types...... 8)

 

[Raven Blackwell]

However, I'm not always sure exactly how to mix the classes. Just now I had an idea of a Bard-type character: one that has some Lore, can entertain or charm people, and encourage allies, just to name the key features. Basically the Noble has that kind of abilities, but they work differently. Besides, you can't take a level of Noble just like that, so you'd have to change the rules anyway.
Any ideas?

A temptress (or tempter, for a male) would actually emulated that well.

I think if you can dig up my old thread "Raven's Errata" around here, if it hasn't been deleted, I put in notes about using the Temptress class for entertainers.

 

[sidkfjjteidlkkf]

As I stated before, more classes are NOT needed. A thief or Temptress can be a Bard, but without the magic. Any other class can become exactly what you want by choosing the right Feats and Skills.

That is one of the reasons I do not like D&D, too many classes, official or other wise and way too many prestige classes.

Keep it simple, keep it Conan...

 

[The King]

The only class I would add would be a shaman (or witch). I think the scolar is unsuited for this because scholarship implies knowledge from books and studies of ancient artefact while a shaman uses the knowledge of nature and spirit, that is things immaterial and unwritten.

Beyond this mere fact, they don't have the same fields of influence (perhaps something near the druid class in Slaine).