12

Roleplaying in the Hyborian Age

Ian Sturrock

Solo and Duo Play

It�s a sad fact
of life that not
every gaming
group is lucky
enough to be packed
out to the rafters
with eager players.
Does this mean that
two- and three-
player groups should
be denied access to
the wonderful world
of Conan? By Ollam-
Onga I think not!

The swords-and-sorcery genre in

which the Conan stories so firmly fall
does not usually have quite such large
numbers of player characters as most
fantasy roleplaying games. Rather
than associating with the usual ‘party’
of perhaps four or five adventurers,
Conan usually works alone, or with
the assistance of one other main
character (along with great armies of
henchmen on occasion). Characters One important difference between
The Games Master and player or play when there is a balanced party,
For Conan the RPG groups of small players should work very carefully and when there are only one or two
size, with only a Games Master and together when creating characters for player characters, is that the party
one or two players, it is probably solo or duo play. It is recommended of several adventurers will usually
a good deal more rewarding to that characters be designed as a group be sufficiently versatile to cope with
run games with only one or two effort, rather than generated in the almost any situation in which they
characters rather than having each normal manner. If all parties involved find themselves. This is down to the
player run several characters, or using can reach a consensus as to each better balance of classes, and as a
Non-Player Characters to make up character’s statistics, that is probably result, of skills, in the larger party.
the numbers. the ideal.
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There are two main ways to
circumvent this in a ‘party’ of only
one or two characters.

The first is careful choice of classes

and multiclassing. Conan the RPG
is designed to be very forgiving of
multiclass characters, so combining
combat-capable classes with skills-
heavy classes works quite well. It
is not usually necessary to have a
scholar, even in a larger party; in a
smaller party of only one or two, it
is perhaps more heroic not to have a
scholar, though a few Counterspells
are useful so the Dabbler feat might
be a worthwhile investment.

The second way is the alternate skills

system presented over the next few
pages. With this system, not only
do most characters advance in their
specialist skills every level, but all
characters also advance in most other
skills at least every couple of levels.

If you do use the alternate skills

system, you may also wish to give
solo characters more feats than usual,
again with the aim of ensuring they
are well rounded. Rather than the
usual feats at 1st level, 3rd level and
every three levels thereafter (6th, 9th,
Half a What?
etc.) it is suggested that you allow
For easier generation and
feats at 1st level, 3rd level, and every
advancement of single-classed
two levels thereafter (5th, 7th, etc.).
characters without having to bother
the skill points each character class
with adding up half skill points,
Note that Conan, like the other gains each level. See Table 1.1: Skills
follow these steps:
characters presented in Chapter 10: by Class, along with the example
Adventurers and Notables of the below, for precisely how this works.
1. Work out how many
Hyborian Age, has not been created
skill points you gain at
using the system here. This allows Note that under this system,
each level beyond first.
him to be reasonably balanced against the characters do not gain any
2. Choose twice that many
player characters in most cases (other background skills for race. This
class skills to specialise
than his truly heroic ability scores). system replaces the usual background
in.
However, if you are running a solo skills system.
3. You have (your level
campaign, you may wish to boost his
+3) ranks in each of
skills and feats somewhat according This system may seem complex at
these skills.
to the guidelines given here. first, as it adds an extra stage to the
4. Note down all the
process of determining how many
skills which you did
Skills ranks in each skill a character has.
not choose from Table
This is done by simply allotting However it has several advantages
1.1: Skills by Class,
characters two ranks at first level, for gaming in the Conan genre
but which have either
then half a rank per level thereafter, and should prove easy enough for
a ‘C’ or a ‘1⁄2’ in the
in each of a wide variety of skills, experienced d20 players to grasp. If
appropriate column.
including all their class skills and not, see the sidebar ‘Half a What?’ for
5. You have (your level
several others. These half ranks are a way to achieve the same effect with
+3)/2 ranks in each of
allotted before the character spends less maths.
these skills, rounded
down.
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Table 1.1: Skills by Class for Solo and Duo Play

Skill Barbarian Commoner Borderer Noble Nomad Pirate Soldier Scholar Thief Key
Ability
Appraise 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 C C Int
Balance 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Dex*
Bluff 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C C C 1⁄2 C C Cha
Climb C C C 1⁄2 C C C 1⁄2 C Str*
Concentration 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 Con
Craft (alchemy) cc cc cc cc cc cc cc C* cc Int
Craft C* cc C* cc C* cc cc C* C* Int
(herbalism)
Craft (any C* C* C* cc C* C* C* C* C* Int
mundane)
Decipher Script 1⁄2 cc 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C C Int
Diplomacy cc cc cc C cc cc cc cc C Cha
Disable Device cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc C Int
Disguise 1⁄2 cc 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Cha
Escape Artist 1⁄2 cc 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Dex*
Forgery cc cc cc cc cc cc cc C C Int
Gather 1⁄2 1⁄2 C C C C 1⁄2 C C Cha
Information
Handle Animal C C C C C 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 Cha
Heal 1⁄2 cc 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 Wis
Hide C 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Dex*
Intimidate C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 C C C C Cha
Jump C C C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Str*
Knowledge 1⁄2 cc 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C C Int
(arcana)
Knowledge 1⁄2 cc C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C C C 1⁄2 Int
(geography)
Knowledge 1⁄2 cc 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 Int
(history)
Knowledge 1⁄2 1⁄2 C C C 1⁄2 C C C Int
(local)
Knowledge 1⁄2 cc 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C C Int
(nobility)
Knowledge 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 Int
(religion)
Listen C C C 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Wis
Move Silently C 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 C C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Dex*
Open Lock cc cc cc cc cc cc cc cc C Dex
Perform 1⁄2* 1⁄2* 1⁄2* C* 1⁄2* C* C* C* C* Cha
Profession C* C C* cc cc C* C* C* C* Wis
Ride C C C C C 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 Dex
Search 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 C C C C C Int
Sense Motive 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C C Wis
Sleight of Hand 1⁄2 cc 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C C Dex*
Spot C 1⁄2 C C C C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Wis
Survival C 1⁄2 C C C C 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 Wis
Swim C C C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 Str
Tumble 1⁄2 cc 1⁄2 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Dex*
Use Rope 1⁄2 C C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C 1⁄2 1⁄2 C Dex
 15
(Ability)* This skill is affected by the Armour Check Penalty of any armour worn.
C Class skill, and you gain 2 ranks in this skill at 1st level, then 1⁄2 a rank in this skill each level
thereafter, always before spending any of your own skill points.
C* Class skill, and you gain 2 ranks in any one sub-skill of this skill at 1st level, then 1⁄2 a rank in
the sub-skill each level thereafter, always before spending any of your own skill points.
Cc Cross-class skill.
1⁄2 Cross-class skill, but you gain 2 ranks in this skill at 1st level, then 1⁄2 a rank in this skill each
level thereafter, always before spending any of your own skill points.
1⁄2* Cross-class skill, and you gain 2 ranks in any one sub-skill of this skill at 1st level, then 1⁄2
a rank in the sub-skill each level thereafter, always before spending any of your own skill
points.

Skill Point Example: aboard the riverboats of her Vanaheim As a soldier she gains 1⁄2 a rank in each
home – which was also where she of the following skills:
Starting Character picked up some shipboard work songs.
Jackie decides to generate a character
Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Climb,
for a solo campaign. She will be
At this point she spends her 16 skill Concentration, Craft (swordsmith),
Mabb, a 1st level barbarian. Her
points as follows: 2 each on Craft Decipher Script, Disguise, Escape
Intelligence is 13, probably more than
(swordsmith), Spot, Jump, Intimidate, Artist, Gather Information, Heal,
that of most barbarians, but she hopes
Profession (sailor), Perform (drum), Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge
at some point to take some levels in
Ride, Move Silently, Listen and (arcana), Knowledge (geography),
the thief class and so wants to ensure
Survival. Note that although Knowledge (history), Knowledge
she will gain a reasonable selection of
Perform is a cross-class skill for (local), Knowledge (nobility),
skills when she does so.
barbarians, Mabb has sufficiently high Knowledge (religion), Listen, Move
Intelligence that she can simply spend Silently, Perform (any one), Profession
Her skill points at 1st level are (4 + Int
her Int bonus skill points on Perform. (sailor), Ride, Search, Sense Motive,
bonus) x4, or 4x5 = 20.
Sleight of Hand, Speak Language,
So, after spending all her skill points, Spot, Survival, Swim, Tumble, and
However, before spending these skill
Mabb has the following ranks in her Use Rope.
points, she determines her base skill
skills:
points.
She also gains 2 + 1 = 3 skill points.
Appraise +2, Balance +2, Bluff +2, She spends these as follows: 1⁄2 a point
As a barbarian, she gains 2 ranks in
Climb +2, Concentration +2, Craft on each of the following: Climb, Craft,
each of the following skills, before
(swordsmith) +4, Decipher Script Intimidate, Knowledge (geography),
spending any skill points:
+2, Disguise +2, Escape Artist +2, Profession (sailor) and Ride.
Gather Information +2, Heal +2,
Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Climb,
Hide +2, Intimidate +4, Jump +4, Her skill ranks are now as follows:
Concentration, Craft (herbalism or
Knowledge (arcana) +2, Knowledge
any one mundane), Decipher Script,
(geography) +2, Knowledge (history) Appraise +2.5, Balance +2.5, Bluff
Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather
+2, Knowledge (local) +2, Knowledge +2.5, Climb +3, Concentration +2.5,
Information, Heal, Hide, Intimidate,
(nobility) +2, Knowledge (religion) Craft (swordsmith) +5, Decipher
Jump, Knowledge (arcana),
+2, Listen +4, Move Silently +4, Script +2.5, Disguise +2.5, Escape
Knowledge (geography), Knowledge
Perform (sing) +2, Perform (drum) +2, Artist +2.5, Gather Information +2.5,
(history), Knowledge (local),
Profession (sailor) +4, Ride +4, Search Heal +2.5, Hide +2.5, Intimidate
Knowledge (nobility), Knowledge
+2, Sense Motive +2, Sleight of Hand +5, Jump +4.5, Knowledge (arcana)
(religion), Listen, Move Silently,
+2, Spot +4, Survival +4, Swim +2, +2.5, Knowledge (geography) +3,
Perform (any one), Profession (any
Tumble +2, and Use Rope +2. Knowledge (history) +2.5, Knowledge
one), Ride, Search, Sense Motive,
(local) +2.5, Knowledge (nobility)
Sleight of Hand, Speak Language,
Spot, Survival, Swim, Tumble, and Skill Point Example: +2.5, Knowledge (religion) +2.5,
Listen +4.5, Move Silently +4.5,
Use Rope. Level Advancement Perform (sing) +2.5, Perform (drum)
When Mabb reaches 2nd level, it turns +2.5, Profession (sailor) +5, Ride
She decides that her sub-skills in out that she has spent much of her +5, Search +2.5, Sense Motive +2.5,
Craft, Perform and Profession will time fighting as a mercenary in the Sleight of Hand +2.5, Spot +4.5,
be as follows: Craft (swordsmith), army of Koth, rather than thieving as Survival +4.5, Swim +2.5, Tumble
Perform (song), and Profession Jackie had planned. It seems more +2.5, and Use Rope +2.5.
(sailor). She is the daughter of a appropriate to give her a level of
swordsmith, and has spent some time Soldier than anything else.