Post by yrgael on Nov 20, 2016 8:50:43 GMT -8
The new Conan RPG "An Age Unheard of"
Much to my surprise, I was offered play testing credit for this.
To understand my surprise, you would have to read the "war" that occurred between me and the other "Beta Testers" and the Lead Design Team. I eventually block notifications on my Email. I would just login every day to see the new string of hate mail.
I think in the end, I had my own section that covered why I was wrong and what should be done to me. The most creative part of the game design process was things to be done with me or to me.
I ended my tenure with a quote from Conan, "Enough talk!" Then I cordially invited them all to start rolling initiative. Not surprising, all talk and no initiative rolls. It was amazing how many "martial arts masters", "weapon experts" and "members of SEAL Team 6" couldn't grasp "Pointy End Toward Enemy".
I don't blame the gentleman in England; but, supposedly, he can do cartwheels in Articulate Full Plate. This seemed to be the biggest factor in designing the rules. I keep suggesting the Skill: TiP (Tumble in Plate). I was assured no skill was needed.
Now I have no problem with a fantasy world where TiP exists as a matter of course. However, TiP, as a matter of course, for Howard's Conan is not trying to make "the most accurate version of Conan ever".
I tried to remind people that sword swallowers exist. It is a very specialized skill. For those who doubted, I recommended they try. I even offered help. They had a lot of suggestions on what I should swallow. Apparently, they have a whole lot of pent up sexual frustration.
So onto the game itself...
When the playtesting was opened up on Drivethru, they list an impressive lists of designers and artists. I will assume the arists have done artwork for it. I will probably buy the book just for the art. There is suppose to be the "best information ever" on Howard's world. This may occur.
The actual game was a watered down version of D&D 5th with bonus dumb mechanics. As far as 5th Edition goes, I felt they were trying to get back to the roots of D&D; but, since I already own several copies of the old Basic D&D, I didn't need another. The old TSR Conan RPG was far better than the system they was trying to pass off as the "best system ever". With the impressive list of designers, I wondered how much they had been paid to put their name on this train wreck and what percentage was spent trying to drink the pain away. I know they all probably stood in the shower for hours, sobbing, trying to scrub the unclean feeling away.
So for any Conan fans out there, you have been warned what you will get. If you are determined to play, I recommend changing a few skills and the equipment list of TME. It actually will work perfectly. I know, I have done it.
Final note: I can't remember if they went with "An Age Undreamed of" or "An Age Undreamed". This particular debate raged for weeks. Literally, thousands of posts.
I now understand why the Mutant Lord retreats to the woods to work. It avoids the crowd of people that would gather while he was drawing, all suggesting that what TME really needs most is Tumbling Power Armor. "You know there is this guy in England..."
Much to my surprise, I was offered play testing credit for this.
To understand my surprise, you would have to read the "war" that occurred between me and the other "Beta Testers" and the Lead Design Team. I eventually block notifications on my Email. I would just login every day to see the new string of hate mail.
I think in the end, I had my own section that covered why I was wrong and what should be done to me. The most creative part of the game design process was things to be done with me or to me.
I ended my tenure with a quote from Conan, "Enough talk!" Then I cordially invited them all to start rolling initiative. Not surprising, all talk and no initiative rolls. It was amazing how many "martial arts masters", "weapon experts" and "members of SEAL Team 6" couldn't grasp "Pointy End Toward Enemy".
I don't blame the gentleman in England; but, supposedly, he can do cartwheels in Articulate Full Plate. This seemed to be the biggest factor in designing the rules. I keep suggesting the Skill: TiP (Tumble in Plate). I was assured no skill was needed.
Now I have no problem with a fantasy world where TiP exists as a matter of course. However, TiP, as a matter of course, for Howard's Conan is not trying to make "the most accurate version of Conan ever".
I tried to remind people that sword swallowers exist. It is a very specialized skill. For those who doubted, I recommended they try. I even offered help. They had a lot of suggestions on what I should swallow. Apparently, they have a whole lot of pent up sexual frustration.
So onto the game itself...
When the playtesting was opened up on Drivethru, they list an impressive lists of designers and artists. I will assume the arists have done artwork for it. I will probably buy the book just for the art. There is suppose to be the "best information ever" on Howard's world. This may occur.
The actual game was a watered down version of D&D 5th with bonus dumb mechanics. As far as 5th Edition goes, I felt they were trying to get back to the roots of D&D; but, since I already own several copies of the old Basic D&D, I didn't need another. The old TSR Conan RPG was far better than the system they was trying to pass off as the "best system ever". With the impressive list of designers, I wondered how much they had been paid to put their name on this train wreck and what percentage was spent trying to drink the pain away. I know they all probably stood in the shower for hours, sobbing, trying to scrub the unclean feeling away.
So for any Conan fans out there, you have been warned what you will get. If you are determined to play, I recommend changing a few skills and the equipment list of TME. It actually will work perfectly. I know, I have done it.
Final note: I can't remember if they went with "An Age Undreamed of" or "An Age Undreamed". This particular debate raged for weeks. Literally, thousands of posts.
I now understand why the Mutant Lord retreats to the woods to work. It avoids the crowd of people that would gather while he was drawing, all suggesting that what TME really needs most is Tumbling Power Armor. "You know there is this guy in England..."
