By Crom, A New Conan RPG Is Coming! Are You Ready? Interview with Writer Matt John
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- We talk to writer and rules development director Matt John about the new Conan roleplaying game, called Conan: The Hyborian Age, from Monolith Board Games. We discuss everything, from beginning stages of dvelopment, to the free Quickstart Guide, and what fans can expect from the coming core rulebook and Kickstarter.
You can get a free PDF copy of Conan: The Hyborian Age Quickstart Guide here: monolitheditio...
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This looks great. I have been wanting an easy to use Conan RPG for decades and the Quickstart looks amazing. Recent attempts have been convoluted and ultimately not for me. With this version, though it’s different from the board game, it still totally has the same fun and fast paced vibe.
The 2d20 is for me the pinnacle of My rpg experiences. I am very pleased that they seem to be replicating the style and font of the books. Which means I am expanding my 2d20 collection with more books under a different system. It seems complementary rather than separate.
I have TSR Conan, GURPs Conan, D20 Conan, 2d20 Conan, the big monolith Conan skirmish game and play Conan Exiles, I even have the 1975 Royal Armies of the Hyborean Age wargame rules. this was going to be a hard sell but it uses normal dice so I'm interested.
Great interview! Thanks!
Truthfully, I was on the fence as an owner of the complete 2d20 set and the board game in its entirety. (Plus a lot of bits from the older systems.) Did I need a new system? However, Matt has me sold; he’s hitting all the right notes and his passion comes through as well as his sensitivities to those of us who’ve been following Conan products for a long time. Thanks Manny for a timely and incisive interview, especially about the Mamoa Conan movie. Matt’s reply was dead on. Cheers.
Really excited about this! I was sad when Modiphius didn't renew the licence but they did came out with lots of stuff. I heard that Monolith was going to make a RPG on Conan and now this really hypes me up. I skimmed through the quickstart and it seems really interesting. However, there is one thing I want to know. How is social interaction done in the system? Granted not everything is present in the quickstart and it seemed to focus on combat which is totally thematic as a Conan game, but lies and manipulation is also something that I want to see in a Sword and Sorcery game. I also love that RPG focused player can opt to play with the RPG only, because I am not really interested on the boardgame side.
@@Farsear05 this is the second time (first was with Infinity) that I hear about Modiphius dropping a game based on a external IP. Are they just unlucky when choosing said IP, are they not so good at their job or what?
@@mrmaster9801 Well, Modiphius dropped Mutant Chronicles and John Carter of Mars (probably), too. I think Dishonoured will also face the same fate, but that's quite natural giving the problematic condition of the game itself. The only IP that they haven't dropped is Star Trek which is having a second edition. Same goes for Achtung Cthulhu, though I think it's their original IP. They have also made Homefront and some other games. I wonder what they will do with the Dune IP. I think Star Trek made quite a success for them to reinstate it for a second edition. But, I wouldn't say that they didn't do anything with their IPs. Mutant Chronicles, Conan, Infinity, John Carter, all of them had several products fleshing out most of the areas of the respective IPs. Conan had lots of supplements before it was dropped. Personally, I don't like the 2d20 system that much and the recent games have started to become more vague and problematic to understand. Maybe it's my problem though.
@@Farsear05 from their point of view it looks a reasonable strategy (milk the cow as much as you can, then drop it if it doesn't seem to reach a certain degree of success), but I wonder what the players of those games do think about such a strategy, expecially if the products pumped out in the meantime were not so high quality ones.
For example, I bought nearly all Infinity supplements because I play the miniature game and love its background (I don't play the rpg because I don't like the 2d20 system), but I noticed how all those manuals are severely lacking in maps (there's always just one at the start of the book, which sometimes is also not complete/precise), while some of them don't have crucial illustrations (the spaceship one is the worst in this regard, lacking pictures for nearly all ships).
Anyway, what do you mean when you say that Dishonoured is problematic in itself and that the recent games have started to become more vague and problematic to understand?
@@mrmaster9801 Well, Microsoft now owns Arkane studios (Dishonoured game maker) and sometime recently I heard that they closed a portion of Arkane studios (for the failure of Redfall game, probably). I don't know what happened next but if no new Dishonoured is coming, who is going to licence the IP? I don't know who owns Dishonoured IP (Microsoft or Arkane) and won't that clash in the long term? The other 2d20 games that are recently coming out is breaking away from specific attribute-skills technicality. Like if you look into Mutant Chronicle/Conan, they have attributes which are linked to skills and talent tree linked with skills. But, when you go for Dune, they have taken out the attributes entirely and given a broader archetype linked with 'master' skills which determine how you will succeed or fail and progress the narrative. In Conan you might have an Agility/Strength attribute which linked with Melee and ranged skills but for Dune you just have Battle that encompasses both. There is nothing wrong in either of this case. For example having Melee skills lets you make a specialize character that is good at fighting when compared to someone who has more experience in sorcery skills. But, when the skill is Battle there is no such inherent granularity. However, in Dune you have something like individual play and House play. So, in a scene focused on you, a use of Battle can mean that your character is fighting a Harkonnen soldier in blade to blade combat but when you are using that for your House play, it can simulate a methodical war directed against an army of enemy Harkonnen soldiers and your house's own army. There is beauty in both system, but I tend to blank out in the latter broader ones. Like, I said, it is my fault. The designers have done a great job, but I need a better gameplay experience to understand it. Which I think, I am yet to do.
Me too. Modiphius smashed it out of the park with their books. Really a home run for me.
Attribute die size and attribute score is redundant. Just scale the difficulty target number and use die size, or else pick a die size for everyone all the time and only have attribute scores. Flex die is unnecessary because the effects can done with stamina points.
You’re adding complexity without improving versatility.
I agree. It looks like unnecessary window dressing.
I had the 2 d 20 system was too much crunch for me but i just downloaded the new quickstart rules and im all in on this new ruleset those of you that have the 2 d 20 need to just take a look at this!!!!!!!!!!!!
What type or RPG will this be: lightweight and fast (like Savage Worlds), medium crunch?
please tell me that monolith games is going to release all of the miniatures from the original games that they had in the kick starter?
I agree completely with another comment that the flex die has to go. It rolls too much with no effect. Just reward rolls that simulate crits. Simpler and better. The only other thing I would change is getting rid of the AR. Damage reduction mechanics also slow the game down and are unnecessary. The PD is enough to filter damage potential.
I couldnt spare 300 for the all inclusive boardgame rpg expansion with the core set. But i will go all in next time they do a "buy everyhthing" kickstarter
I really enjoyed the Modiphious 2d20 system. I unfortunately didn't have money when they had the HUGE clearance sale of the Conan books, so I am missing several that I really wanted.
And now OF COURSE scumbag resellers are hiking the prices online because you can't readily buy them anymore 😓
I looked at the Quick Start of these rules and it seemed a bit confusing for me. The 2d20 game was pretty easy to play. I am hoping this new game is like that.
I would have rather had the 2D20 Conan to be revived.
@@tabletopgamingwithwolfphototec
I can't believe how long and the absolute amount of FUN my group had with it. Legend.
@@tabletopgamingwithwolfphototec The new rules will be better. Doom and momentum got in the way of the narrative Flow way too much.
Same here. This new game doesn't seem necessary, though I do like this guy's passion for the IP.
@polvotierno my group loves doom and momentum. Never inderstood the hate, honestly.
@@spaceranger7683 I watched dozens of game sessions on youtube. I measured the time spent talking about momentum and doom in comparison to the narrative. The time was much more for momentum and doom. I got to the point where I would try to stay focused on the narrative, but everytime the group would start talking about momentum and doom, I would forget the narrative, like what was happening. I could not follow the story.
Would rather a Rolemaster Conan, but then there is Gurps Conan already.
Not sure on this game...this will be the 3rd Conan RPG for me. TSR, Mongoose and the 2d20....I will watch the kickstater and see what happens. I do love the board game...I was hoping for more of an exspansion of the board game rules.
The preview rules of the system are available for free. It used the 2d20 style and fonts.
@@AAron-gr3jk yea a read them...they stray pretty far from the board game
Ever tried Gurps Conan?
@@BanjoSick nope i have not
Explains why Alexander Macris got bounced. He was set to convert or reinvision it
@primafacie5029 Which is not a good sign. Based on his work with Adventurer, Conquer, King, I'm willing to believe he would have done this justice.
However, after seeing a flex die being used, every roll (which is a lazy, player-facing oracle) I have very little faith in this.
@@Drago5899 Agreed
That Flex Die needs to go. It's too arbitrary. The results that are tied to it need to be tied to the actual rolls that are creating the actions, not random.
So, one thing I always do with a new RPG, is looking at the system for damage and injuries and with the quickstarter/preview of this one, I found there basically is none. Like, a very basic hitpoints system, and especially for a setting like the Hyborian age, I found that very unfitting and boring, to be honest. If that's something that changes in the full version, maybe to a more grim and gritty system giving us the kind of pain and blood typical for a Conan story, I'm on board!
Yeah, I feel GURPS Conan has done the best job of making it feel grim and gritty, but still having the potential for great feats.
@@slaapliedje I actually like the Mödiphius version.
@valorin5762 I haven't played it, but did see some play throughs of the Star Trek Adventures game, and it seems like (at least with any ST game) that there absolutely should be a more tactical version of the combat. I am not quite sure the differences between Conan and STA under 2d20, but I do lean more toward tactics on a hex sheet, rather than ambiguous mechanics. Might just be me though. 😜
@@slaapliedje I'm more of a storyteller. I _nerver_ use hexsheets, battlemaps of minis. I do use situational maps so people know where they are, but everything else is theater of the mind. I'm not particularly a fan of the 2d20 system, but after getting into Conan, the whole Momentum/Doom Mechanics really worked awesomely for Conan-like dramatics and scenes. Took a bit of getting into for me though.
I heard the system is not too well suited for Star Trek, but didn't play for myself.
DEI conan will be fun to watch
Wow. Two words that should never be in one sentence. DEI and Conan
@@AAron-gr3jk maybe they should spell it DIE since that's what it usually causes things it's connected to to do.
@@pedromatiasmullervannordt9659 Conan IS already DEI, and always has been. I’ve read every Conan book ever written, and if my memory serves he’ll pretty much side with anyone if it profits him or advances his cause, or slay anyone if it profits him or advances his cause. Although to be fair I don’t remember him ever adventuring alongside Picts, just killing them.
I never sensed any DEI issues in the writings.. maybe just the equity part. But you have to admit, Conan’s world is pretty meritocratic - if you’re strong or cunning enough anyone can rise to the top!
Maybe you’re talking about political correctness? If so that’s a different matter entirely.
Went through the quick start when it dropped. Low grade trash with lame ass trigger warnings. Way to emasculate Conan, bro!
I respect the passion and zeal. But Ip games fail all the time. They are often nice shelf dressing or coffee table books. Ip games are essentially an expensive one shot.
Trying to appeal to boardgamers and role-players is bone headed. A man who is everywhere is nowhere.
The question game designers should ask is, do i want to be unique, or do i want to win? A 5e conan patch would of killed. Not that i think that much of 5e but jeeze i want players at my table who dont have to learn lore and game law.
My prediction is another game that claims deadly cinematic combat focusing on narrative. This means unkillable PCs sitting around a table trying to write a novel together. 😴
But hey, Thats just my opinion man.
We've been working on the Conan IP for a decade. We take it very seriously and consider it part of the DNA of our company. It's far from just an IP for us.
Love the passion. I'm sure it will launch. I just doubt anyone will be playing it when the sheen of "new" rubs off. That's not success imo. Heck, there are more people playing old-school essentials and other osr than there are playing Star Wars or pick your IP. I'm happy it's in passionate hands, but I really believe you've made a mistake in the direction of the game. 5e is not the greatest rpg. MacDonald's is not the greatest food, but they win. Why is that?