Gritty Hyborean style setting

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Johnny_Angel

Dec 24, 2007 12:18:32
With the points of light concept being embraced by the newer edition, I feel that a natural fit to the idea would be a gritty setting in the vein of R. Howard's Conan and Kull stories; Beowulf; The 13th Warrior, and other similar artistic works. Some of the concepts of the old Birthright setting would be a natural fit as well. This is a setting I would like to see.
#2

netherek

Dec 31, 2007 1:54:08
Problem is that 3.x and by the news of 4e, is that it's more of a pulp/high-fantasy set of rules. If you want a gritty d20 Hyborian like setting, why not just play Conan d20. It's quite a gem for Sword and Sorcery style gaming, and the best part is that it's in print now.

I'm not dogging D&D, it's fun, but the way it's setup doesn't lend itself well to a low-magic Gritty setting. It does High Fantasy, High Magic, and High-action settings well.
#3

Johnny_Angel

Jan 04, 2008 22:44:00
I've actually considered picking up the Conan game quite a few times, but I'm not very knowledgable about the game. What does it do differently than D&D?
#4

squidyak

Jan 12, 2008 0:29:27
I've actually considered picking up the Conan game quite a few times, but I'm not very knowledgable about the game. What does it do differently than D&D?

AC is replaced by parry and dodge defenses. Armor now absorbs damage, or you can attempt to bypass armor through finesse. In the latter case you have to beat the opponents defense by the same amount as the DR. Magic is completely reworked and toned down, but it's darker. Stats go up faster. Skill points from intelligence ignore cross-class distinctions. And more. Overall it's a grittier and more epic feeling game.
#5

Johnny_Angel

Jan 13, 2008 19:52:24
AC is replaced by parry and dodge defenses. Armor now absorbs damage, or you can attempt to bypass armor through finesse. In the latter case you have to beat the opponents defense by the same amount as the DR. Magic is completely reworked and toned down, but it's darker. Stats go up faster. Skill points from intelligence ignore cross-class distinctions. And more. Overall it's a grittier and more epic feeling game.

I'll definately give it another look the next time I make a trip to the game store.
#6

netherek

Jan 23, 2008 8:58:45
Conan has some of the best source book material I've seen, especially the work that has Vincent Darlage as an author. It's simply the best OGL game out there.

It's very detailed, and true to the original works of Conan literature.
#7

squidyak

Jan 31, 2008 23:12:12
Unfortunately it's looking like Mongoose may not be picking up 4e, so if you want to play Conan d20 you'll have to stick to 3e or homebrew it.
#8

netherek

Feb 02, 2008 7:46:21
Not really, you only need the one book. I plan on getting 4e, but I'll still play Conan as is. I like different styles of play, and don't really care what rules system is used as long as it fits the setting/genre. I'm kind of a game junkie, I have lot of different ones.
#9

McSham

Mar 22, 2008 1:23:48
Conan RPG doesn't need updating to 4.0, it is great the way it is! Mongoose and Vinny D did a great job with it, and didn't hit alot of the pitfalls that 3.X did. To be run correctly though you need a DM that is well versed in Conan, and not afraid for giving the PCs a good butt whoopin once and again!
#10

caeruleus

Mar 25, 2008 11:01:32
From what I hear, 4e will be quite suitable for this type of setting, moreso than 3.x was. I believe Mike Mearls made this point (and I think I read this over at En World). The PHB will give you four martial characters, fighter, warlord, ranger, rogue, and leaving out the divine and arcane classes (for PCs) can help evoke that feel. The only role that doesn't cover is the controller, but that actually works out well, because as superhuman as Conan could be, he didn't fight entire hordes of opponents at once (although he was certainly able to hold them off for a short time before getting away).

4e does assume a certain number of magic items, but that can be taken care of by simply stipulating that PCs get certain flat bonuses when they reach certain levels.

I still recommend taking a look at the Conan RPG, as there's great material in there, but 4e might still work. (Ultimately, we'll have to wait until June to know for sure, though.)
#11

ranger_reg

Mar 25, 2008 18:48:35
Unfortunately it's looking like Mongoose may not be picking up 4e, so if you want to play Conan d20 you'll have to stick to 3e or homebrew it.

And that's bad because...?

Conan RPG from Mongoose is pretty much an OGL-based standalone product. All the rules are in there and therefore don't require PHB.
#12

ranger_reg

Mar 25, 2008 18:50:35
I still recommend taking a look at the Conan RPG, as there's great material in there, but 4e might still work. (Ultimately, we'll have to wait until June to know for sure, though.)

Unlike 3e, I'm not in a rush to get 4e.
#13

McSham

Mar 26, 2008 0:28:11
Unfortunately it's looking like Mongoose may not be picking up 4e, so if you want to play Conan d20 you'll have to stick to 3e or homebrew it.

Why would they? Conan d20 is stand-alone, and doesn't use most of the 3.x rules anyway. IE instead of DC from armor, they have parry and dodge, the magic system is completely different, there is no reliance on magic items, etc...
To update that system to 4E would kill it, taking away the Howard flavor, thus it wouldn't be Conan anymore!

From what I hear, 4e will be quite suitable for this type of setting, moreso than 3.x was.
I still recommend taking a look at the Conan RPG, as there's great material in there, but 4e might still work. (Ultimately, we'll have to wait until June to know for sure, though.)

The first issue between these two settings that comes to mind is that 4E is a setting where you need a “full party” to accomplish much. In Conan, that full party could be 5 fighters, try that in D&D.

Conan, is not magic reliant, and what little magic there is is powerful as all heck. Aside from the above stated facts, an arcane controller, or a priest would be near impossible to guarantee every party, and they don't need to be there.

There are hardly any magic items in the system, and there isn't a problem with it that way. It is harder on the players to accomplish things, but that is how it is supposed to be.

All said, I don't see where 4E will do any justice for Conan. Mongoose has no intention on fixing something that isn't broken, Vince, while curious about 4E, has no desire to model “his” game upon a MMO based system, and the players would revolt something fierce. That said, who knows? I don't lay all my eggs in one basket anymore, when it comes to RPGs as a year down the line you get the “revised x times” edition.
#14

_jayne_cobb_

Mar 26, 2008 16:01:10
Beowulf; The 13th Warrior, and other similar artistic works.

To be nitpicky, Eaters of the Dead (aka. The 13th Warrior) was itself based on Beowulf so that is a little reduntant.

It's a good idea and I support it. I'm hoping that the default "Points of Light" setting is of this vein, though I imagine it will cleave to a more sanitized and safe "high fantasy" milieu.
#15

rozendoo

Mar 26, 2008 22:19:25
I agree that a darker low-magic world would be a welcomed change for D&D, but it seems to me like WotC is hoping to appeal to the kiddies with 4e. That said, i expect to see a resurgence of casual resurections and Monty Hall-style treasure come mid-summer.
#16

ranger_reg

Mar 27, 2008 1:53:31
I agree that a darker low-magic world would be a welcomed change for D&D, but it seems to me like WotC is hoping to appeal to the kiddies with 4e. That said, i expect to see a resurgence of casual resurections and Monty Hall-style treasure come mid-summer.

Not if we veterans -- who have had made rookie mistakes when we were rookies -- take matters in our own hands and educate them.

Okay, not me. I'm not into 4e yet. :P
#17

rozendoo

Mar 27, 2008 22:14:23
Not if we veterans -- who have had made rookie mistakes when we were rookies -- take matters in our own hands and educate them.

Okay, not me. I'm not into 4e yet. :P

Well I am pretty much on board for 4e at this point. I resisted for quite a while, but decided that the real key to enjoying D&D lies in who you are playing with more than the specifics of the rules. This edition just seems like it is better suited for drawing inspiration from the movie Labyrinth than anything Robert E. Howard ever wrote. I'm not saying that's a bad thing per see, just that it's probably going to take a little more work to make a gritty setting viable with the new engine.
As for educating the younger players I am presently teaching D&D to a group of WoW fanatics, so I'm doing my part. :D
#18

Johnny_Angel

Mar 29, 2008 9:38:18
Wow, I haven't checked this thread in a while.


I'm not saying I feel that the Conan RPG needs to be updated. I'd just like it if WoTC made a similar style of setting. I'm not sure how that would mesh with 4E, but I'd at least like to see what would come out of the attempt.



I see a lot of really good reviews for the Conan RPG. I still haven't had a chance to pick it up, but I do plan to do so. I've just been a bit busier than expected lately.
#19

ranger_reg

Mar 29, 2008 21:35:25
I'm not saying I feel that the Conan RPG needs to be updated. I'd just like it if WoTC made a similar style of setting. I'm not sure how that would mesh with 4E, but I'd at least like to see what would come out of the attempt.

Maybe they'll do it as part of the "one setting per year" plan, but I'm not holding my breath if they intend to sustain such a setting for more than a year, unlike Eberron and Forgotten Realms lines.
#20

dimitrix

Apr 02, 2008 11:57:49
You should also check out Iron Heroes. It is a low to no magic setting that focuses more on character abilities than equipment and magic items. In fact, after all I reading I've done into 4e, a lot of the concepts of 4e are in Iron Heroes (stunts, combat challenges, expanded use of skills, greater character flexibility) with 3.5 rules. Mike Mearls, one of the developers of 4e, wrote Iron Heroes, so I'm guessing that it isn't an accident.

Iron Heroes doesn't really have a campaign world described in it. There's a bare bones campaign setting (more of a suggestion of a setting really), but it's not fully fleshed out like d20 Conan. So, depending on what you're looking for, Iron Heroes may or may not fulfill all your needs.