Resource collecting for my own RPG campaign:

[Bygoneyrs]

Hello everyone,

For years now I have been a huge fan of D&D, well after the anouncement of v4 of D&D I have thrown in the towel on D&D. Honestly I liked v2.5 of D&D the best but have a HUGE v3.5 d20 library. I have been gaming now for 32+ yrs, and thus have a extremely huge library of gaming stuff.

Ok that being said I am looking at using Basic Roleplaying with some add on House Rules to revamp my Fantasy Campaign. Now I am always on the lookout for more resource materials on fantasy to add to the ever growing fantasy resource library.

Now I am looking at (3) Conan books of:

Conan RPG: Faith $ Fervour HC
Conan RPG: Ruins of Hyboria HC
Conan the Barbarian RPG 2nd Edition: Cities of Hyboria

Looking at these three books as pure references for plots and ideas for adventure and such to be developed and used within my own campaign using a different mechanics system..how would you it fans define each of the above three books?

I only know about them from what I have seen and or read from the standard ads that are out for buying them online. I am looking for some more indepth reviews from the folks that like the system and content of the Conan universe. how do you folks feel about them and will they make effective and useful resources to obtain?

Thanks,

Penn

 

[DimitriX]

I can only speak to Cities of Hyboria as I don't have the other two books.

Cities is great. You can create random settlements completely from scratch, which means that you don't even have to have an idea at all of what you are looking for and simply create a settlement using random dice rolls. This can lead to a small communal group to a huge metropolis.

I've played with this a few times and I've found that by the end of the process, the characteristics that come up randomly can give me a background of a settlement with adventure hooks and even a whole campaign idea. Because of the random nature, I am forced to come up with connections that I probably wouldn't have thought up on my own and shows that the random tables can be a great way to spark creative ideas. Even if you decide not to use that specific settlement, something is bound to come up that could be used in another setting.

It is created for a sword and sorcery world so depending on how 'fantasy' your campaign world is, the book may not be that useful. You won't find listings for a dwarven forge or an elven outpost. Magic shops are very rare and don't carry the same sort of magic items that one would expect in a typical DnD world. It's also a darker world than the typical DnD world with slave markets and brothels, but you can always just ignore those if they don't fit into your world.

I have Ruins of Hyboria on order and once I look through it I'll let you know what I think.

 

[Bygoneyrs]

My own campaign realm has always been different than standard D&D any version. Elves are apart of FAE and thus NPC race only. As to magic, well it is rare and I use many different flavors and etc, within it. Also religion is a whole other ball of wax completely ( I use Holly Points, and a player must EARN them through Roleplaying within a game...those this is how True Clerics gain their Prayers/Spells from their God)! So most people play only Human's but some have been known to also play a Dwarf(brought up in a human society) or Halfling (also in a mostly human society). For years many of my players have been playing fighters that became Knights of the Realm(kingdom of Jhorgule). I feel much of what I have done would work perfectly within a Conan env, except I'm more set in the age of Knights. Ok I do use monsters other than men, but i use alot of nasty men NPCs that really make my players scream and run<VBG>!!!

Penn

 

[Bygoneyrs]

Actually I am considering after reading more on this form in buying the following items:

Conan RPG: Across Thunder River
Conan RPG: Hyboria's Finest - Nobles, Scholars and Soldiers
Conan RPG: Hyboria's Fallen - Pirates, Thieves and Temptresse
Conan RPG: Faith & Fervour
Conan RPG: Ruins of Hyboria
Conan the Barbarian RPG 2Edition: Core Rule Book
Conan the Barbarian RPG 2Edition: Cties of Hyboria

All look and sound like they would have good things to have for resource material. Is there anything else that might be good to also have as well and why? The more I can get on the magic and gods would be a great plus, just to see what has been done.

Penn

 

[DimitriX]

Across Thunder River is pretty good especially if you want to emphasize a more primitive, brutal society like the Picts.

The Hyboria's Finest/Fallen are good for character ideas but much of these books are specific to the Conan classes offering multiclass options, background ideas for the various Conan races, and some feats and combat maneuvers. The info in these books may be so specific to Conan that they might not be as useful outside of the Hyborian world.

Of course, if you're planning on getting the core book and allowing the races and classes in there as options to your players, then that won't really matter. I'm quite partial to the temptress class because I haven't really seen anything else like it in d20 materials: a class that focuses primarily on roleplaying and social encounters. So, though many of the classes in the core book could be replicated through the DnD classes with the proper selection of feats, the temptress really stands out as something unique.

If you're interested in learning more about magic then look up Secrets of Skellos. It has a lot more sorcery styles and feats as well as rules for making spells permanent and using spell components. There's a section on creating cults as well. But for gods, you'll want Faith and Fervour.

 

[Dark Mistress]

I have been slowly buying a few of the Conan books, i like the Hyboria's finest/fallen ect series a lot. Yes they are fairly tied to the conan setting I found a lot useful for any setting.

The core book i liked I thought it was well done and even if you don't run Conan there is a lot of good idea's to steal and use as rules in any D20 based game.

I don't have any of the rest yet.

 

[Voltumna]

These are not Conan per se, but have enjoyed great popularity in this forum:

Ancient Kingdoms: Mesopotamia, and The Spider-God's Bride

These are adventures, both by Thulsa in this forum. They fit very well the Hyborian age, and although not part of the line, I would consider them intrinsic to it. See Xoth.net for conversion notes to Conan.

The books on Shem and Stygia and Secrets of Skelos are also great, these expand on dark deities, religions, magic and alchemy an important element of the setting.

 

[Hervé]

Voltumna wrote:

The books on Shem and Stygia and Secrets of Skelos are also great, these expand on dark deities, religions, magic and alchemy an important element of the setting.

I agree for Secrets of Skelos, but Faith & Fervour seems a better choice than the Shem or Stygia sourcebook as it seems Bygoneyrs will run his game on his own gaming world and that he's looking for information on religions. The religious parts of these two regional sourcebooks are reprinted for the most part in Faith & Fervour. Of course if Bygoners campaign world includes evil Egyptians worshipping dark gods, Stygia is probably a good choice too.

Ancient Kingdoms: Mesopotamia, and The Spider-God's Bride

Yes. Thulsa rocks! Don't forget about the free modules on hyboria.xoth too! Thulsa's site also holds a wealth of information on the Hyborian world and its religions.

Bygoners, it seems that you're not using the D20 system for your campaign world, so I would advice against the Hyboria's series that are very much rule oriented, with lots of characters options, multiclassing, new feats and such.

Across The Thunder River is an old favourite on this forum and most users around agree thazt it's probably the best book of the entire line, along with the Road of Kings and Ruins of Hyboria books.
ATTR can be adapted into any campaign world that has a place for evil indians styled Picts.

Ruins of Hyboria is another of my favourites. The first part is a Ruin Generator system, in the mood of the City Generator from Cities of Hyboria. The second part describe the major ruined cities, temples and necropolises from the Conan stories, with a complete non-dungeon approach that's refreshing.

Cities of Hyboria follows quite the same format as Ruins but I didn't find it as interesting as the first book. The described cities would not have been my personal choice and THERE ARE NO MAPS! Quite a shame for a city book!

Mongoose MUST really do something about the map problem. Players all around the world have been complaining about this for years now. The Mongoose Map problem has become a sort of running joke in the gaming industry!

With people like Gamerprinter lurking on the forums, you have no excuse, now! :wink:

 

[kintire]

but Faith & Fervour seems a better choice than the Shem or Stygia sourcebook as it seems Bygoneyrs will run his game on his own gaming world and that he's looking for information on religions. The religious parts of these two regional sourcebooks are reprinted for the most part in Faith & Fervour.

I'm not sure about this. For a generic game its certainly true, but if the game is more focussed on magic and religion Stygia and Shem are good buys. They are summarised in Faith and Fervor, but there is a lot of extra material. Stygia is especially good on the role of priests and magicians in society, for example, and how the priesthoods interact.

Bygoners, it seems that you're not using the D20 system for your campaign world, so I would advice against the Hyboria's series that are very much rule oriented, with lots of characters options, multiclassing, new feats and such.

On this point, however, I largely agree. The Hyboria's F series are system support books, and won't be much use if you are not using the system.

Apart from the others mentioned, Aquilonia is also good. Like Stygia, it has some good stuff on priests and magigcians place in this (very different) society.

It is also a fact that you will be producing most of your own maps.

 

[Bygoneyrs]

Ok well I just ordered the following from either Mongoose Pub, and/or FRP Games:

Aquilonia
Across Thunder River
Faith & Fervouer
Ruins of Hyboria
Shem
Secrets of Skelos
Cities of Hyboria
Conan the Barbarian RPG 2nd Ed Core Rule Book

I figured I should get the 2nd Ed Core Rule Book to get a good base for the Conan game and then these other books as add on resource materials. The only other book that I wanted to also get was Stygia, FRP Games was out of it and that means I will have to pay full price plus SH from Mongoose if I get it. I am considering doing that still, as I just ordered Aquilonia from them yesturday, and the rest from FRP games.

BTW I have been playing RPG games for 32+ yrs (AD&D to start with) and Traveller RPG for 30 yrs (since it first cam out). I am one of those collectors/gamers/GMs split between Fantasy and SciFi. Although my Fantasy game is based loosely on D&D 3.5/d20 and BRP and many many house rules, I am always looking to add to my huge resource library. I GM gritty realistic RPGing.

Penn

 

[Bygoneyrs]

Oh as a followup, if I like what I see in all the above books then I will next buy/absorb the books of:

HF: Nobles,Scholars & Soldiers
HF: Pirates, Thievies & Temptresse

Are there other books that folks would advise? As to maps and etc, I could care less because I always create my own or etc...and add lots to it.

In my gaming hobby, I consider myself as extremely lucky. Having a background in Construction Enginering, Architecture, and Archeology, helps me out alot in coming up with my own maps and building complexes layouts for my gamers to roleplay. Also being a Artist and using figures and such greatly helps to create a indepth playing experience for my players. I have also been lucky to have retained the same players for the past 20+ yrs, and all of our focus is on roleplay. My campaign realm of Jhorgule has existed and played now for over 25+ yrs using many rules from different systems (AD&D, D&D 2.5, D&D 3.5 d20, BRP, Hero Systems v5, and many many House Rules). So now I am looking at Conan for more resource and ideas. I hate D&D v4 and will never go there, but there are many other good systems to absorb and add to my campaign. Conan seems alot like my own campaign, except mine is more in the genre of Knights in Shinning Armor than Barbarians. Althought the old ways of the people are the ways of the Celtic culture. I use stronger magic and my own religions backdrop. One can never have enough resource material, their is always something that can be absorbed to improve and expand on the system to add to the fun of it all.

Penn

 

[Bygoneyrs]

Ok as a update, I just also ordered Stygia from Mongoose Pub to add to my more complete resource!

Penn

 

[Dark Mistress]

Hyboria's Fiercest - Barbarians, Borderers and Nomads

I would recommend that one as well. You can't get the book from Mongoose anymore not sure about other places but DrivethruRPG and others sell it as a PDF if you can't find it as a book.

 

[Dark Mistress]

Of course to be fair the Warriors Way I believe is the second edition version of the soldier book. So if so i imagine the rest will be done in 2nd edition soon as well. Just as a FYI.

 

[Bygoneyrs]

Thank you so very much 'Dark Mistress' actually I am looking at getting the Hyboria's Fiercest - Pirates, Thieves & Temptresse because the Temptresse sounds extremely interesting to me.

Penn

 

[Bygoneyrs]

Update:

well in the mail yesturday I got from FRP games the following Conan books:

Across Thunder River
Faith & Fervouer
Ruins of Hyboria
Shem
Secrets of Skelos
Cities of Hyboria
Conan the Barbarian RPG 2nd Ed Core Rule Book

Now I am still awaiting 2 from Mongoose as well still: Aquilonia and Stygia. From what I have read and seen so far I am quite surprised and impressed. I wish I had purchased many of these books a few years back.

Penn

 

[Bygoneyrs]

Ok next to add to my collection I am thinking about obtaining to my growing collection the following books:

Conan RPG: Argos + Zingara HC (OGL)
Conan RPG: Hyboria's Fallen - Pirates, Thieves, and Temptresse
Conan RPG: Hyboria's Finest - Nobles, Scholars, and Soldiers
Conan The barbarian RPG 2nd Edition: Betrayer of Asgard
Conan The barbarian RPG 2nd Edition: Cimmeria
Conan The barbarian RPG 2nd Edition: Khitai
Conan The barbarian RPG 2nd Edition: Player's Guide to the Hyborian Age
Conan The barbarian RPG 2nd Edition: Return of the Road of Kings

Are there any others that would be good to also obtain? Comments on any of the above books pros/cons?

Penn

 

[Bygoneyrs]

Ok so I have just ordered today from FRP games the following three Conan books:

Conan RPG: Argos + Zingara HC (OGL)
Conan RPG: Hyboria's Fallen - Pirates, Thieves, and Temptresse
Conan RPG: Hyboria's Finest - Nobles, Scholars, and Soldiers


I am thinking about orderring some more Conan books from Mongoose Pub today as well but have not decided which yet. I might buy the older books first to get them as a resource before the rest of the 2nd ed books. I do not want to loose good resource material if I can help it.

So I am seriousely thinking about ordering today as well:

The Free Companies
The Pirate Isles

As one can read I am starting to obtain quite a collection of the books and I have always prided myself on gaining a completed collection of whatever for my gaming/resource library.

Penn

 

[Dark Mistress]

I will say this I have yet to buy one of the Conan books and been disappointed. I thought some was better than others but not a single one did I feel was a waste to buy. So I am not much help to you since I suggest you do what I am going to do and been doing. Buy all of them when money allows.

Just wish Paizo carried the older Conan books, I get a discount with them so would help me buy them plus I could have them ship with other stuff which would save me on shipping.

 

[Bygoneyrs]

Actually check out FRP games

http://www.frpgames.com/new/index.php

They give a nice discount and I have used them for quite a few years. Yes they charge you for S&H BUT you still get the books for cheaper.

Here is their Conan selection:

http://www.frpgames.com/new/cart.php?m=product_list&c=404

Currrently I have orderred more hard to find or just out or pre-orders directly from Mongoose Pub (like all the Traveller line)!

Penn