Supreme Being's Savage Conan PbP (Inactive)

Game Master scranford

So with my first PbP proceeding, and some down time for the holidays, I thought I'd see if there was any interest in a Savage Worlds conversion of the d20 Conan, free form adventure.

I'd be using the great Beasts & Barbarians Savage Worlds rules, with a conversion to the world of Conan.

Any interest?

Oh, tempting. I'm interested. Are there any prereqs as to lore and familiarity with the setting? What kind of posting frequency are you aiming for?

Well not much interest yet, but I'll keep an eye out. I would think daily during the week (I understand that's not possible sometimes), and weekends would be optional (I miss posting on them half the time anyway).

I'll be using the old Mongoose Conan d20 books for setting, and atmosphere, which has a lot of direct crossover for the Beasts and Barbarians Savage Worlds setting...just change a few names here and there...

So I could post the information about where your character originates, and it might be fun to know little about the rest of the world.

So with my first PbP proceeding, and some down time for the holidays, I thought I'd see if there was any interest in a Savage Worlds conversion of the d20 Conan, free form adventure.

I'd be using the great Beasts & Barbarians Savage Worlds rules, with a conversion to the world of Conan.

Any interest?

Definitely interested...I love the Savage World rules system. Daily posting is not a problem! I'll write up a character for review later today if that's okay.

There are a few SW games going on these forums so hopefully it won't take long to get to a full crew.

I would be game, just have to refresh myself on the rules. Will work on a Character once you post more info.

*Gets Savage Worlds Deluxe book off of shelf.*

There goes my afternoon!

Well not much interest yet, but I'll keep an eye out. I would think daily during the week (I understand that's not possible sometimes), and weekends would be optional (I miss posting on them half the time anyway).

I'll be using the old Mongoose Conan d20 books for setting, and atmosphere, which has a lot of direct crossover for the Beasts and Barbarians Savage Worlds setting...just change a few names here and there...

So I could post the information about where your character originates, and it might be fun to know little about the rest of the world.

Starting at Seasoned Rank?

Yes. Ill post more info this evening.

Definitely interested in this!

Tough call ... I have a lot of games going on already, but Savage Worlds and Conan is like ... I can't think of anything that goes that well together to compare it to.

Can I get a pdf of the Beasts and Barbarians Savage Worlds Rules somewhere?

Here's a 2page summary http://maker.e2ogame.net/download/bb_quickstart.pdf

Definitely in! Let me know a timeline.

Never played in a Savage Worlds campaign but I took a peek at the books. Would this work for a character submission?

Nereus Crius

Curious for a Koth, Crius had wandered his way into trouble since a young age. He needed a peek inside every house, castle, and occasional the ladies bathouse. Who could blame him for stealing some shiny bits along the way? Growing up amongst the sprawling capital Khorshemish was the perfect place for the aspiring thief to hone his skills. Nomadic merchants bearing exotic trinkets and apple blossom wine would be miles into the Kothian deserts before noticing their missing merchandise.

And then there were the temples. Towering monoliths of marble and stone, adorned with tapestries of the richest colors. Crius wished he could sneak into their treasure troves but even a curious thief knows its bad luck drawing the scorn of Gods. But Crius learned from lips loosened by coin of a temple devoted to serpents and shadows hidden in an ancient crypt deep beneath the capital. Crius, curiosity aside of course, figured a temple below the surface wasn't a temple at all.

In perhaps his greatest display of subterfuge Crius snuck past the guards, avoiding rotting skulls and an artfully placed poisoned dart trap, and broke into the temple's vaults. Yet more prized to him than piles of silver was a package of parchment that had been locked away. Eager for arcane knowledge, Crius sat down and read. He'd barely finished the first chapter when a priest sounded the alarm. Barely escaping a barrage of sorcery and arrows, Crius fled the crypt and Khorshemish.

In time he read through those pages, learning poisonous arts only known to the highest authorities of Set. Always eager for adventure, Crius dreads the day his ill gotten knowledge might prove the most unlucky loot of his career.

Below are his stats. I added one edge due to Seasoned status. Information in parenthesis is build points.

Well since we seem to have enough interest to play, I'll go ahead and set up a gameplay / discussion thread so we can get things rolling.

The Beasts & Barbarians PDF is available of Drive Thru RPG, and RPG now. I'll work this weekend with getting some game information out, and look to have characters done by next weekend, and start play on December 16th. In the mean time I'll keep the recruiting thread open. I would think 5-6 players would be ideal.

In addition those interested if you do a google search for "savage worlds conan", there is a pdf conversion document there that is pretty good. I will probably use a great deal of this as a guideline, with B&B overriding any conflicts. In particular I like the racial/nationality adjustments from there...and check out the "professions" for guidance. We could come up with some professional packages for those as well.

Cool, i'll take a look this weekend

Wow.
I had made this guy (starting at seasoned - I thought that was asked and answered) but the Hyrkanian racials pretty much buy me two more edges at creation, so I'll be doing a bit of juggling.

Also, Shomari says Hi Bella!

Yeah. Still playing around with the creation rules, but things will get clearer as we go. Still probably start as Seasoned, just might have more to start with. I believe the beginning nationality adjustments are in lieu of the free edge at character creation.

Well since we seem to have enough interest to play, I'll go ahead and set up a gameplay / discussion thread so we can get things rolling.

The Beasts & Barbarians PDF is available of Drive Thru RPG, and RPG now. I'll work this weekend with getting some game information out, and look to have characters done by next weekend, and start play on December 16th. In the mean time I'll keep the recruiting thread open. I would think 5-6 players would be ideal.

In addition those interested if you do a google search for "savage worlds conan", there is a pdf conversion document there that is pretty good. I will probably use a great deal of this as a guideline, with B&B overriding any conflicts. In particular I like the racial/nationality adjustments from there...and check out the "professions" for guidance. We could come up with some professional packages for those as well.

Is this the PDF conversion you're talking about? Savage Conan

It is indeed. Thanks for linking.

It is indeed. Thanks for linking.

Sorry to be a pest but I have another question. I've actually never played an arcane character in Savage Worlds. The arcane rules are very different between B&B and the Conan conversion. I had been thinking a Lotus Master under the B&B rules but with be thrilled to play a Stygian Sorcerer instead. Which way would work better with your campaign concept?

Your not being a pest...and either would work. I'm going to see what characters we come up with, and base the campaign around that. I've really only got an idea for how we're starting, and I'll let the PC's determine where we go from there. If you want to work something into the back-story of your character I'll take that under consideration as well.

Aubster's proposed character for Savage Conan. Here's a background that explains his sorcery training and ties him into Hyboria. If this looks alright as a concept, I'll work on pulling his character together.

Background

Hakketh was one of the multitude of the Stygian underclass who toiled under the lash of Thoth-Amon troops and priests of the dread god Set. When Hakketh was 10 years old his father Hotep was crippled when he did not get out of the way of a Set Priest named Amnun quickly enough in the Priest's opinion. Amnun had Hotep whipped and left tied to a post under the blazing sun for 2 days not allowing any to approach with food, water or medicine. By the time his family could cut him free he was barely alive.

The boy Hakketh developed an intense hatred for the Stygian ruling cast and most of all for the servants of Set. Hakketh began to work in the tanning yards to try to earn enough money to keep his family alive all the while plotting revenge against Amnun.

When Hakketh was 13 he finally made his move against Amnun. Stealing a sharp knife from the tannery, Hakketh took position in an alley and waited for the priest and his bodyguards to pass. His plan was to charge the Priest of Set and stab him through the heart. Hakketh new he would not survive himself but in his anger and frustration he no longer cared.

Suddenly, as the priest Amnun approached, Hakketh was grabbed from behind. He struggled uselessly against his captor but could not break free. Quietly nonsense words were whispered in Hakketh's ear which somehow caused the boy to fall into a deep slumber.

When he awoke he found himself laying on a pallet in an old man's hovel in the middle of the slums. It turned out that the old man was one of the few followers of Ibis left in Stygia following the purges and that the man, who's name was Tuthamon, had been watching Hakketh for some time as he had sensed the budding power of sorcery in the boy and had actually been working to keep the boy's growing arcane strength hidden from the Priests of Set who would have taken the boy for their own uses if they had discovered him.

On that faithful day, Hakketh and Tuthamon swore a pact. Tuthamon would teach Hakketh everything he knows about sorcery if Hakketh would swear to oppose the god Set and his minions. That day was 10 years ago and Hakketh has grown to be a man. His family was killed a few years earlier in a fire that decimated the slums and in honor of their memory he always wears black. His second father was captured and killed by the Priests last week and now wanted posters with Hakketh's name and likeness are showing up all over the kingdom. Hakketh grabbed what supplies he had and made it to a ship that took him away from Stygia before the harbor had been notified about the fugitive. Now Hakketh wanders the land seeking allies to fulfill his quest to drive Set out of Stygia.

That looks great. Lots of juice crunch to hang things on.

That looks great. Lots of juice crunch to hang things on.

Should I make a profile for Crius as well?

Just read Crius' profile. Maybe he and Hakketh ran into each other at the Temple of Set. Crius was there to steal and Hakketh there to extract vengeance on the minions of Set.

Just read Crius' profile. Maybe he and Hakketh ran into each other at the Temple of Set. Crius was there to steal and Hakketh there to extract vengeance on the minions of Set.

Hmm perhaps a classic Conan moment? We both bumped into each other near the temple's entrance, you with no plan on how to infiltrate the temple but seeking death while me ready to break in but clueless as to what I'd find? How would Hakketh react to me using Set poisons?

Hakketh wouldn't have an issue of him stealing and using Set's secrets especially if he turns it against Set's minions.

Sounds good to me! Though Crius lacks your religious fervor, he is awed by magic hoping to learn shadow craft himself one day (but for RP purposes he lacks the "talent" and will never get access to spellcasting abilities, that's your niche ;). Plus he figures with a God's will on his side he can "explore" more temples, only those of Set of course, with a free conscience!

Are the attribute stats of the different races in the Savage Conan PDF bonuses or prerequisites? I'm eyeing a aesir warrior woman as a possible character. Would that mean that she starts off with a free d8 Vigor, or that she has to invest to at least a d8 Vigor in character creation?

After reading the rules from Savage Conan a bit last night, I've decided that if we take the bonus's from the races, and the free edge at character creation for Humans, that we won't need to start at seasoned as well. These bonus make up for that. In addition if everyone picks a starting professional package from the following list, I'll add a small bonus to that as well.

Sorry if you guys have to rework your characters, but I'm still figuring out how we're mashing these systems together.

Careers List

I will be using the following optional rules Joker's Wild (pp109), Multiple languages* (pp109). You will also get bonus points equal to half your Smarts to use on Knowledge skills (We will use the standard Pathfinder Knowledges, as some of the adventures I'll be stealing from use these rules).

*Do you guys want to stick to the tough, but realistic language rules from the Savage Conan PDF, or just have a d4 to speak a language, and a d6 to speak and be literate...for example. (d8 smarts equals four points to spend on languages. You get your native language for free, so you could have spoken in four languages, spoken and literate in two languages or any combination. )

We can take the character development to the discussions page. I'd like to leave recruitment to maybe scare up a couple of more players.

I believe we have (3) for sure right now???

I know jak7217 is in, he's my friend offline. Should have a submission up soon. Also, moved a mechanical question over to the discussion page.

Cool then four, with one or two spots open.

The Savage Conan system seems a bit brutal, especially in a game where there are dozens of languages and no "common" tongue.

However you choose to play it, may I suggest that you (or we) decide on one language that our characters would have in common?

and also ... back to the drawing board, but I knew that.

I agree. That's why I offered the option. Since everyone will have at least a d4 in smarts, that allows for two language slots. So you'll have your native tongue, plus either two more spoken, or a spoken, and written, or Native written, plus a spoken. Good idea about choosing a common tongue. A bit brutal, but I kind of like it. :-). We won't use all the levels of language from there, just d4 for spoken, and/or d6 for spoken and written.

OK. I've got some typing to do this weekend, but we should be ready to go on Monday. Please if you're still planning on playing post in the discussion thread, so I can get a final count of the number of players and what they're playing. Some have posted interest but no concept yet. That way if we need another player or two, I can put a push on over the weekend.

Thanks...

Still have room? Love SW, and would like the opportunity to play.

I'm envisioning a hulking Aesir warrior, large of frame, but small minded. Has a definite eye for the ladies, and tends to sing loudly while in battle.

He'd be under this alias.

Still have room? Love SW, and would like the opportunity to play.

I'm envisioning a hulking Aesir warrior, large of frame, but small minded. Has a definite eye for the ladies, and tends to sing loudly while in battle.

He'd be under this alias.

Sure come aboard. That makes us six starting adventurers. Everyone make their aliases, and I'll get up some informational, and beginning game info this weekend. Looking forward to this...

Also everyone please let me know which Archetype you've chosen, as that makes things easier for me till I learn the characters.

Hakketh - archetype Sorcerer

I can get that posted tonight (currently @ work - no books). And actually finish the character...

BTW...thank you for the opportunity to play!

Opening back up recruitment for this fun Savage Worlds of Conan game. Fun story, and great players, but need two more. Preferably a "tank" type character, and a more "cultured" player.

Don't worry if you don't know Savage Worlds, both my players and myself, can help you through the rough spots. Heck I'll even make your starting character for you if you'd like, you just got to role play.

I am totally game to play a campaign in Howard's Hyborian Age setting. I have downloaded the Test Drive condensed rules for Savage Worlds but I don't know if that is enough to make a proper character or not.

What exactly do you mean by a "cultured" player? Is that a "face" character who does the talking for the group?

Because I don't have the full rule-set for SW, I would probably need some input on how to properly create an effective character as I don't know what the various skills do (obviously, I can guess at many of them). One thing that I don't see addressed at all in the Test Drive rules is what game effect Charisma has. Additionally, is Spirit used for anything besides recovering from being Shaken?

We have a charismatic "Pirate" type player, and a knowledgeable mysterious sorcerer on board full time. What I meant by "cultured" is someone who grew up in cities or is more familiar with that type of thing...Musician, Priest, Merchant, Bandit... The two players are both very active, and share the face duties, so interaction is up to you.

Charisma is used to adjust all social situations...initial reaction, persuasion, bluff...etc. One of the PC's has the attractive talent.

Spirit also affects Persuasion, Intimidation, fear, certain spell-casting abilities.

I'll be glad to help you develop the character if you come up with a concept. I'll throw something together in HeroLab, and you can review, and change as you like.

what is the status of magic in this oh wise gm? As I can certainly throw together a character concept if you will make the character.

I notice you made no mention of a "thief" role. I always associate the Hyborian Age with thieves (Heck, Conan was as much a thief as he was a warrior). Is that something you intend to steer clear of for some reason or does the pirate character already adequately fill that role?

Btw, I am just getting into reading Conan/Hyborian Age material, there really isn't anything analogous to a D&D Cleric in this genre is there? It seems like the only real spell casters are Sorcerers (usually evil) and tribal shamans, correct?

My preference for characters would read like this (greatest to lowest):

1--Thief - (Turan / Zamora)
2--Skald : a barbarian/bard hybrid who would have a small repertoire of defensive/buff/healing spells ( Vanaheim / Asgard)
3--Tank (Unsure on exactly where I would have him from at this point)
4--Cultured (Aquilonia/ Nemedia/ Ophir)

One comment/question based on my limited understanding of the Savage Worlds game: It seems like there is a pretty big advantage in being a missile using character as the TN is static at 4 (not counting range or misc modifiers) while Melee characters have an opposed roll against Parry. Is there something I am not understanding/missing in that analysis?

Sorry, after asking all of these questions, but I think it best if I withdraw from consideration in your game.

Good luck everyone and have a great game!

what is the status of magic in this oh wise gm? As I can certainly throw together a character concept if you will make the character.

Magic is just like in Conan. Mostly frowned upon, dangerous, and for the most part evil...Still we have a sorcerer in the group, who's made it so far. Priests are also Sorcerers, just under the guise of one of the gods. Shamanism is also available with the more barbaric tribes. Let me know if you're good to go...what you'd like to play, and I'll get something going tonight, or this weekend at the latest.

Sorry, after asking all of these questions, but I think it best if I withdraw from consideration in your game.

Good luck everyone and have a great game!

No problem...but if you change your mind we've still got room. But I'll go ahead and answer your questions.

1. No there is no D&D type Cleric. There Sorcerers, or Shamans.
2. I would be happy to make a thief character for you, but would want some clarification...Highwayman, bandit, top-floor man, cutpurse, thug...
3. While on the surface the Missile weapon seems better, it does less damage on the average, and there are a lot more modifiers involved...distance, cover, etc. In addition more important is that reloading is an action as well, so if you want to shoot every round you must take the (-2) two action penalty, raising the TN to 6.

I'm unfamiliar with the game mechanics of Savage World, but I do like Conan and the Age of Hyboria. Here's a character concept for a "tank" with a bit of culture (being from Aquilonia). I scanned the game thread and saw that the PCs are currently in Shem.

Septimilius, a bounty hunter from Aquilonia. He’s patient and perceptive. He prefers to claim his bounty by taking the person unaware, yet when he does have to fight (especially facing two or three people) he attempts to parry and defend until he gets a person in a favorable position to strike. He’s successful more often than not claiming a bounty.

A rich merchant hired Septimilius to recover his son that joined a cult in Shem. He accepted the contract knowing that it would be a difficult journey from Tarantia, but the rewards outweighed the risk. Plus the easier contracts were taken by senior bounty hunters, so this was the best of the choices available to him.

Appearance: 5’10” with the bulk of a gladiator. Brown hair. Hazel eyes. When he smiles, it’s clear he’s lost an upper left premolar. While on a job: faded blue linen shirt. Gray linen pants. A backpack with rope, hand manacles, and dry rations.

If you (or the other PCs) have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to raise them.