AGE of Conan - first draft published!

[Vaelorn]

For those that are interested in such things I've posted the first draft of my Conan mod for Dragon Age on my blog at
http://vaelorn.wordpress.com/2011/09/10/age-of-conan-modification-draft-version/.

I'd be happy to get back any (constructive!) feedback.

[Saisei]

Briefly skimmed the PDF and I'm seriously impressed.

The work you've put into it is fantastic and a very clever approach tot he backgrounds and the like. Really really like it.

[Admiral Yacob]

This is awesome. I'm reading it through right now.

Just spotted a typo (I think). Under Kushite, on page 2, you list Dexterity (Stealth) but the description appears to be more about Strength (Spears).

Another question point, under Vendhyan on page 4, you mention they get Communication (Persuasion) but the explanation is that they are "an ancient, cultured and well-educated race." I'm just curious if you meant a lore instead of persuasion.

Just finished the races, I will update if I find anything else. So far, awesome

*EDIT* A recommendation might be to do a brief listing of countries just below the racial listing. This will allow users to more easily skim the countries section after they have chosen their race to find the countries they can consider.

[Vaelorn]

Thanks for the kind words!

Just spotted a typo (I think). Under Kushite, on page 2, you list Dexterity (Stealth) but the description appears to be more about Strength (Spears).

Yes, I think you're right!

Another question point, under Vendhyan on page 4, you mention they get Communication (Persuasion) but the explanation is that they are "an ancient, cultured and well-educated race." I'm just curious if you meant a lore instead of persuasion.

I'll have a look at that - I may have edited the description too severely.

A recommendation might be to do a brief listing of countries just below the racial listing. This will allow users to more easily skim the countries section after they have chosen their race to find the countries they can consider.

I had that originally, but wanted to save some space! I can put it back in if you think it will help.

[Vaelorn]

Briefly skimmed the PDF and I'm seriously impressed.

The work you've put into it is fantastic and a very clever approach tot he backgrounds and the like. Really really like it.

Thanks! I meant to put in the acknowledgements that I got the idea for the backgrounds from this web site:

http://xoth.net/blog/2010/03/cultural-archetypes/

[Hellebore]

Very nice! Really well put together and laid out. gives a real sense of the people of Hyboria and cleverly uses the DA rules to represent them. Thumbs up.

What program did you use to do the layout?

Hellebore

[Vaelorn]

Very nice! Really well put together and laid out. gives a real sense of the people of Hyboria and cleverly uses the DA rules to represent them. Thumbs up.

What program did you use to do the layout?

Hellebore

Thanks! I used Pages on the Mac. I'm also slightly OC about document formatting!

[Andferne]

I'd like to echo what's been said here. You did a wonderful job with this. It looks great.

[raithane]

Now to stat up some common and not so common adversaries!!! Great work!!!

[Vaelorn]

Now to stat up some common and not so common adversaries!!! Great work!!!

Thanks! Yes, a bestiary is on the 'to-do' list! Of course, most of Conan's foes are humans of various types which makes it a bit easier.

[raithane]

I think a good start would be to make some templates of the human adversaries from the different culture/sub types

Raithane

[Vaelorn]

Yes, that's the plan: Pictish Raider, Zamoran Assassin, Red Brotherhood Pirate etc!

[Siroh]

Very nice! Really well put together and laid out. gives a real sense of the people of Hyboria and cleverly uses the DA rules to represent them. Thumbs up.

What program did you use to do the layout?

Hellebore

Thanks! I used Pages on the Mac. I'm also slightly OC about document formatting!

Pages _is_ awesome. It's what I use for everything.

[Hellebore]

Not having owned a mac or really used one I'm not familiar with it.

I use Adobe Indesign for all my layout needs. I originally started using it because I could drop a photoshop doc straight into it and it would preserve transparencies, something I find very handy.

Pages looks like it does some great stuff. Read the wiki on it, seems to be a cross between a word processor and layout.

Hellebore

[Siroh]

I've used Illustrator to make character sheets and maps before, and learned how to use InDesign, but never used it for a whole book project though. I don't have access to a copy of CS now anyway, so this suits my modest needs for now.

Vaelorn, if you feel inclined, there is this java based bookmark creation program. I used it to insert the PDF bookmarks into the Mystara book I made. It isn't fun to use, but it is cross platform and doesn't cost anything. http://flavianopetrocchi.blogspot.com/

[Vaelorn]

@Hellebore: Pages can work in either word processing or layout mode, although I mainly use the former. I'm still getting to grips with the details though!

@Siroh: Thanks, I'll take a look at that! I noticed that although the table of contents in the document itself has working links you don't get anything in the sidebar.

[HalWhitewyrm]

Vaelorn, ready for this to go up on the Oracle this week?

[Vaelorn]

Vaelorn, ready for this to go up on the Oracle this week?

Sure! That would be great!

[JoJa]

Vaelorn,

I haven't had a chance to take a look at this yet as I've been busy with RL and finally getting the revised Dragon Hack playtest out the door, but reading through the Age of Conan pdf is on the top of my list this week. Can't wait to see what you've been up to. Cheers!

P.S. I have both a mac and PC, and while I use inDesign for some things (like the layout on the Who Watches the Watchfires free adventure) I use Pages for almost everything. So easy to compose and format things. All the Dragon Hack docs have been done in it.

[Vaelorn]

@JoJa: Yes RL can get in the way! I'd be interested to see what you think of the Conan mod! Also check out my blog - I've put up a background for Shifters in the Eberron setting and will be putting more bits and pieces on there in the next few days...

[Zapp]

Cool stuff.

Makes me dream Green Ronin picks up the Conan license to make your idea into a real game... Already at v0.1 your game (and the AGE) engine fits fast-flowing sword-and-sorcery soo much better than the complex d20 ruleset...

[Vaelorn]

Cool stuff.

Makes me dream Green Ronin picks up the Conan license to make your idea into a real game... Already at v0.1 your game (and the AGE) engine fits fast-flowing sword-and-sorcery soo much better than the complex d20 ruleset...

Thanks! If you (or anyone else) has any playtest experiences I'd love to hear them! I think the AGE system hits the sweet spot between complexity and playability just right!

[camazotz]

Just wanted to say this is a brilliant adaptation, thank you for your work on it. I just "discovered" Dragon Age the pnp edition by way of playing the CRPG (and was left wanting more of Thedas and the setting) but I'm an old Howard/Conan fan and frankly I think I am going to see if I can sell my group on trying out your adaptation for the AGE System.

[Vaelorn]

@Camaztoz: That would be awesome! Please let me know how it goes. I'm working on v0.2, when I get time anyway!