New to the game

[GrimmSqueeker]

So I've just started to look into Conan. As the license is apparantly ending, my timing seems to be as good as every, but that's another issue. AS funds are limited, I'm looking at what books i should consider initial essentials. I have a copy of the 2nd ed core book on order, and I can order one more for now. Would I be better off with Return to the Road of Kings, or would one of the others be better for more setting info and such?

I also see that while stats for Conan himself are easy to find, the other iconic character Red Sonja seems to be lacking. I assume she's a seperate licence? At any rate, is there a good Sonja build out there somewhere?

I'll ask other questions as they come to me. And thank you for your support.

 

[Malcadon]

(Return to) The Road of Kings are both essential, if you what a good sourcebook. The Ruins of Hyboria is a good book is you what good ides for exploring a dungeon-like site - it also has some good NPCs stats. The Scrolls/Secrets of Skelos is good is you what more sorcery in your game - although, I highly recommend using the Savant class variant, as it really make the sorsery system easier to work with. The GM Screen also come with a world map - not to mention, it looks way better then any of the D&D screens!

This site has a number of useful stuff in it.

You would not find Red Sonja in this game because she not canon to Howard's Conan, and she is not covered by the license. You can find her stats here. The guy that made these stats - Vincent N. Darlage - also did a number of the Conan books. Even before the Conan game came out, he made this Conan site. He is also a regular here.

If you what to your own Red Sonja stats, you can find her race in the NPC section, under Hyrkanian - they are a race of commoners.

Sign & Portals - the Mongoose e-zine - has a number of articles related to Conan: #26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38 ,41, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 52, 53, 56, 58, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69, 70, 73, 74, & 75. They are all free!

 

[Strom]

Sign & Portals - the Mongoose e-zine - has a number of articles related to Conan: #26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38 ,41, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 52, 53, 56, 58, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69, 70, 73, 74, & 75. They are all free!

Mal missed a few issues - luckily there is a index:

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=20177

Welcome to the game! 8)

 

[Majestic7]

Road of Kings is THE book to get! If you don't use d20, it would be perfectly fine to use it as your main book with some other ruleset, forgetting the core book completely.

Other good books in the line imho are the regional books (excluding Cimmeria and Khitai, I'm too much of a Howard purist), Ruins of Hyboria and possibly Secrets of Skelos. Skelos is heavy with rules, so if you don't run with d20, it isn't that useful. I like Pirate Isles and Free Companies too. However, none of these books is as good and useful as Return to the Road of Kings.

 

[rabindranath72]

Ruins of Hyboria is my preferred book, chock full of ideas to mine.

 

[GrimmSqueeker]

Thanks for the advice, just what I was looking for. I now have the 2nd ed core book and return to the road of kings shipping, and I can't wait to get into them.
It's likely that I'll end up running widely spaced out one shot adventures, due to the sporadic scheduale my gaming group runs. Not sure if d20 is well suited to that, since character growth and development won't be as strong a focus in the games, simply out of the necessities of real life. Dang. We may well end up using the Mutants and Masterminds fantasy supplement, in which case the conan books will be more for setting information and to help establish the proper feel. Which means dual statting every character. Ah, the work of a GM is never done.

At any rate, thanks for the input folks, much appreciated. Expect more annoying questions in the future

 

[Malcadon]

One-shot adventures really works well with Conan-styled yarns, because Robert E. Howard don't really do "sagas." He just writes out his yarns as he feels fit. Not having to focus on continuity or an overall arch, really liberates the writer to focus more on the story at hand (unfortunately, a lot of sages suffer after a while, trying to maintain the overall epic).

Good luck with with you adventure! And don't be afraid to ask more questions (as we spread all day glued to this forum, with a deep-seeded need to make ourselves feel useful and somehow important ).

 

[rabindranath72]

One-shot adventures really works well with Conan-styled yarns, because Robert E. Howard don't really do "sagas." He just writes out his yarns as he feels fit. Not having to focus on continuity or an overall arch, really liberates the writer to focus more on the story at hand (unfortunately, a lot of sages suffer after a while, trying to maintain the overall epic).

Good luck with with you adventure! And don't be afraid to ask more questions (as we spread all day glued to this forum, with a deep-seeded need to make ourselves feel useful and somehow important ).

QFT
I have found that episodic adventures work quite well in the Conan setting. I have also run adventures which see the characters randomly placed in their careers. So, they might be at 10th level one adventure, and 2nd level at another. These "glimpses" into the future are very interesting since the players wonder how come their characters will achieve those positions. Think Conan when he has a sort of "premonition" of becoming king one day.
Unfortunately these kinds of games require quite a lot of preparation with d20, since you must fully stat characters at different points in their careers, so it works best with rules-light games, or if you have lots of time to devote to preparation.

 

[parejf63]

Just posted a lot of the books for sale or trade. Me me a good offer and I will concider it.

Just to let you know..

If not, do not worry....

 

[decker423]

I would personally recommend getting as many "setting" books as possible- Aquilonia, Argos, Shem, Stygia, the Shadizar box set, the Black Kingdoms.
Also, it's good to read the stories, they give flavor and a feel to what certain parts of the Conan "world" are like.

 

[PrinceYyrkoon]

Recommended in buying order...

The rulebook, (obviously!)
Return to the Road of Kings
Secrets of Skelos
Ruins of Hyboria
Both Aquilonia and Across Thunder River, they make a great campaign
Stygia
Free Companies/Pirate Isles
Screen (if you like that kind of thing)
Scenario pack like Black Kingdoms, Trial of Blood, Betrayer of Asgard
Other setting books (not incl Cimmeria or Khitai)
Other crunch books (3Fs, Players Guide, etc..)
Other scenario books
Titos Trading

Some of this is difficult to get now, but sometimes available in surprising places. Even if you have the 2nd ed rulebook, Id always go for the 1st ed supplements, in the main (except for Road of Kings and Skelos).

Hope this is slightly helpful.

 

[Erekose]

. . .
The rulebook, (obviously!)
Return to the Road of Kings
Secrets of Skelos
Ruins of Hyboria
Both Aquilonia and Across Thunder River, they make a great campaign
Stygia
Free Companies/Pirate Isles
Screen (if you like that kind of thing)
. . .

Wow - that pretty much describes my Conan collection!