Post originally by Mike at 2005-05-31 10:25:57
Converted from Phorums BB System

I had the book and sold it.

The Conan setting information was superb. The descriptions and different bonuses and penalties of each race (human ethnicity) were likewise superb. The combat rules were more deadly. The classes fit the setting. The scholar class, which fits adventuring experts whether they drip sorcerous power or can't cast a single spell, is particularly good. The bestiary is appropriate.

However, I bought this book thinking "Conan! D20 sword and sorcery without all the needless complexity from spell levels! D20 without alignments! D20 without multi-class penalties! D20 without other races! D20 without arsenals of magic weapons!"

-The races have many more bonuses and penalties with odd modifiers than traditional D20 races. (e.g. one single race might have a +1 to all saves but -2 to saves vs. hypnotism spells, a +2 to Hide and Spot in desert, +1 to Sense Motive during trades, and FOUR other modifiers.)
-Each rase gets extra background skill points which may be spent on certain skills.
-Each race has a favored class, which adds periodic bonus feats if they take that class to level 10. They also have non-favored classes, which they may not take at level 1.
-Defense bonuses have been broken down from just Dodge to Dodge and Parry, and each has seperate ability modifiers and feat modifiers.
-The Soldier class gets class abilities modified by having other Soldiers within a certain distance during combat. This is another item to track on a battle map.
-The Dodge bonus is modified by how much room the PC has to maneuver, yet another item to track on a miniature battle map.
-Most combat feats are present, plus many extra. To be fair, all are flavorful and interesting. But there are more to choose and PCs get more of them.
-Combat options are introduced, feat-like maneuvers any character can try provided they meet the pre-requisites. (In other words, they are feats that don't require a feat slot to acquire and use.)
-The weapons and armor list is extensive.

... In short, OGL Conan is outstanding Sword and Sorcery D20. However, it is most definitely NOT simpler than regular DnD. The designers, accidentally or not, offset every simplification by some added complexity of their own.

It's more bookkeeping than I care to do. Your mileage may vary.