Conan RPG
I’m really torn. Have you seen this? It’s already blown through its initial funding AND a couple of stretch goals and it’s just launched.
The trailer looks great. The people involved are top-notch, and some of them are my friends. Given my love for the Hyborian Age, it seems like a no-brainer… but I have SO many game systems already, some of which emulate a sword-and-sorcery vibe quite well, AND while I would love to play in such a game, I’m not sure that any of the people I game with are even half in love with the setting and character as much as I am, particularly my wife. I love her madly, but she has little appreciation for Conan or REH. And that means this game would probably end up as a glorious shelf decoration.
My other worry is that If I do sign on just so I can have this great looking book on my shelf, I’ll feel compelled to buy all the other books as well, and I’m leery of falling into that particular pit.
Have any of you out there played the system it’s using? I’d be curious to hear your opinions on it.
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However, the game uses a house system that I find actually discourages sword & sorcery style play. I ran the playtest for my players last May, and while some changes have doubtless been made, it looks like my primary objection remains. There's a mechanic by which players accumulate counters, which are subsequently used by the GM to pay for dramatic complications. I found that it encouraged my group to AVOID heroics, since acts of derring-do are mostly likely to be penalized. "Better play it safe or the GM will screw with you" became an unspoken understanding with my players.
I might buy the books for use as setting material with other systems (Barbarians of Lemuria and Runequest 6 are my go-to S&S games) but I'm very disappointed with the system they're going with. I'm also disappointed that they ended up with the John Carter of Mars license as well, since it means another one of my favorite settings is going to end up shackled to an unappealing rules set.