Conan & 3.5E

[Rhomal]

I am going to start a 2nd game of MotB to follow behind my current game. I thought I would be fun to create the Conan character, during the PC generation aspect of MotB I was thinking how many levels Conan (from the movies) would have in rogue vs barbarion. I was thinking 5 levels of rogue and the rest in barbarion but would like to get other thoughts on the matter. I has seen other builds on the internet with some levels of fighter as well but I think thats a stretch (plus triple classing him will just make playing a epic level module that much harder as I'll prob never get any good epic abilities) any input?

[ramza]

Barbarians get the rogue's trap sense and uncanny dodge abilities. Why would you want to multiclass your character? Make a pure barbarian instead. This class has some nice epic feats that enhance the barbarian rage.

[Rhomal]

Barbarians get the rogue's trap sense and uncanny dodge abilities. Why would you want to multiclass your character? Make a pure barbarian instead. This class has some nice epic feats that enhance the barbarian rage.

 

I understand your logic but you are missing my point. My goal isn't to metagame and create the baddest PC, its to emulate as best that can be done via the D&D rules the Conan char and that does mean multi-classing, on some level.

[Hurlshort]

I would go 4 levels of Rogue. That extra level is really just a waste. Pump all your points into intimidate too

[Walsingham]

The hardest thing is probably going to be fighting in no goddamn armour.

[Kelverin]

The hardest thing is probably going to be fighting in no goddamn armour.

Shouldn't it be easier to fight in no armor?

[Rhomal]

The hardest thing is probably going to be fighting in no goddamn armour.

Shouldn't it be easier to fight in no armor?

 

LOL...

 

On a serious note, while Conan was a bit into the rogue profession he wasn't all pro from what I recall (in either the books, comics or movies). How many times did he get caught trying to sneak? And I do not believe he ever tried to disarm a trap or pick a lock in any story I read... So perhaps lvl4 rogue would be fitting for him.

[ramza]

Barbarians get the rogue's trap sense and uncanny dodge abilities. Why would you want to multiclass your character? Make a pure barbarian instead. This class has some nice epic feats that enhance the barbarian rage.

 

I understand your logic but you are missing my point. My goal isn't to metagame and create the baddest PC, its to emulate as best that can be done via the D&D rules the Conan char and that does mean multi-classing, on some level.

 

No, I got your point. I just don't think Conan should have any rogue levels at all... It isn't because he can sneak or whatever that he also is a rogue. Conan is a full-fledged warrior. His only truth is the sword. Btw, that is the advantage of 3ed: any class can spend points in hide, move silently or open locks. They can pretend to be rogues, but will never be as good as a pure one... That applies to Conan as well...

[Leferd]

Conan is a level 1 rogue at most. He wasn't really much of a thief on The Tower of the Elephant. Plus, he can always use his cross-class skill abilities as a barbarian to touch up his thieving skills.

[Rhomal]

hhhmmm you peeps make good points. Perhaps give him the learned feat (since he was ej-u-ma-cated by that band of monks when he escaped from being a gladiator/slave) and that would make easier to give him some points in thief like abilities.

[Musopticon?]

Conan was a very decent thief in Tower of the Elephant, dodging tigers(well, almost) and guards, climbing the tower, etc. After that he apparently did a lot more gigs as well(if comics are to be believed). Not to mention, he worked as a corsair for a decade, which wasn't mere headbashing. Conan has a working knowledge of stealth, rogue's craft and general swashbucklery, and I'd say he'd be at least a level 4 rogue. I'd like to say 6 or 7, but that would start to outweight the barbarian aspect. The main point is that for a time his...profession wasn't a "barbarian", which is a reason to enough to not make him a pure one.

 

As for being unarmored, well it depends. In Phoenix in the Sword, Conan wore armor and he's used stuff like padded leather before, it's just that the standard Cimmerian is the Red Nails-Conan who fought naked waist up. Sort of a misconception really, Conan probably wasn't stupid enough to gear up like that when the job was known to include battles and raids and not just tombraiding in the tropic, for example, it's not a huge stretch of mind to imagine him wearing armor when he worked as a mercenary in the steppe or a caravan guard somewhere else.

Edited November 12, 2007 by Musopticon?

[Lyric Suite]

The hardest thing is probably going to be fighting in no goddamn armour.

 

Not if you based your character on the books rather then the ****ty film.

 

If you read any of the original stories, he always wore the most appropriate gear for the situation, including full plate armor in Hour of the Dragon.

Edited November 12, 2007 by Lyric Suite

[Leferd]

Those dodging skills of Conan can also be attributed as a "barbarian" skill. Though yes, Conan not only a "barbarian" but is/was a thief/pirate/mercenary/captain-general of mercenaries/king. But through and through, he is a barbarian. His thieving skills consist mostly of his taking advantage of his natural agility and litheness. Not so much on his ability to pick locks or pockets. It should be noted that though Conan is massively strong, he is equally agile and quick thinking. In DnD terms, he probably should roll 20's in all attributes.

 

 

As far as his armor preferences, Conan (in the Robert E. Howard stories -can't speak for the comics) likes to wear light chainmail.

[Musopticon?]

Hour of the Dragon was freaking awesome.

 

*ahem*

 

I think I agree with Leferd, Conan was never a professional thief. If we go by D&D standards, rogue levels, at least only a couple of them, probably isn't unaccurate. It's just that there probably is a prestige class or a combination that fits better and is a more valid choice for him.

[ramza]

hhhmmm you peeps make good points. Perhaps give him the learned feat (since he was ej-u-ma-cated by that band of monks when he escaped from being a gladiator/slave) and that would make easier to give him some points in thief like abilities.

 

That would be the best way to go IMHO... Make sure your character has a high dexterity in order to match up with Conan's agility...

[Musopticon?]

I still think Conan isn't just a dumb barb. Some multiclass should be involved.

 

Edit: Also, I haven't felt this geeky in a while, but Howard's Conan is so great.

Edited November 12, 2007 by Musopticon?

[Leferd]

Howard's Conan is great. Though I will freely admit that Arnie's portrayal is badass. I'd like to see him and John Milius get back together to do King Conan.

[Musopticon?]

I'd like to see Phoenix in the Sword done as a feature lenght movie, with Milius and Arnie. Makings of a modern epic there.

[Rhomal]

I still think Conan isn't just a dumb barb. Some multiclass should be involved.

 

Edit: Also, I haven't felt this geeky in a while, but Howard's Conan is so great.

 

How I started MotB:

 

Conan

human

 

barbarion: 14; Rogue: 4

 

learned feat, thug, power attack, cleave, great cleave, extra critical bastard sword

 

str: 16

dex: 14

con:16

int: 12

wis: 10

chr: 12

 

primary skills (over 14 points):

appraise, intimidate, bluff, tumbling, search, spot, listen

 

minor skills (no more then 14 points):

diplomacy, armorer, survival, heal

 

Sound pretty fair?

[Musopticon?]

Uuh, nice. Of course, the stats cannot really amount to Conan's superman-like robustness, but in terms D&D, I think that your build is pretty spot on. Interesting choice though, bastard sword.

[Rhomal]

Uuh, nice. Of course, the stats cannot really amount to Conan's superman-like robustness, but in terms D&D, I think that your build is pretty spot on. Interesting choice though, bastard sword.

 

Why do you say that? His sword in the movies was a bastard sword (sword and a half) from the size, grip..?

[Musopticon?]

Sorry, I didn't mean that choice was wrong. Just making an observation. I see your choice is based on something.

[Hurlshort]

Int. of 12? Really? I'd say the wisdom is right, but I'm not sure Conan was much of an intellectual.

[Rhomal]

Sorry, I didn't mean that choice was wrong. Just making an observation. I see your choice is based on something.

 

Did he have a primary sword in the howard books like the movies? (Been so long that I read one I cant recall) Or did he not have any attachment to a specific weapon and just used whatever happened to be around at the time?

[Rhomal]

Int. of 12? Really? I'd say the wisdom is right, but I'm not sure Conan was much of an intellectual.

 

Remember once he was released as a gladiator he was taken in by those monks and taught to read/write as well as tactics and combat. I'd say he certainly has more education then a typical commoner and I believe most of the Conan writings back up that opinion as well from what I recall.