Conan the Cimmerian was born a warrior. And though
he was many other things during the course of his epic Hyborian sojourn, a warrior he always remained. Sword in hand he emerged
from the hinterlands of ever-gloomy Cimmeria, sword in hand he carved his legend in blood across the Thurian continent, sword
in hand he seized the mightiest kingdom of the West, sword in hand he became a god to the children of his lost ancestors
while exploring new lands beyond the Atlantean Ocean.
The Warrior's Companion, a Mongoose Publishing expansion to the Conan
RPG, is written by Bryan Steele, author of Cities of Hyboria and Trial of Blood. Bryan's writing remains passionate and colorful and
his enthusiasm is contagious, greatly enhancing the experience of utilizing this useful gaming resource.
A new Code of Honor is presented in The Way of the Warrior that is
better suited for the majority of Hyboria's fighters and general patterns of living are suggested for various types of warriors
when they are not engaged in battle.
In Warrior Nations the uniqueness of each regional variation of the warrior
template is explored, from the barbaric juggernauts of Cimmeria to the sneaky knife-fighters slinking through the
back-alleys of Zamora's decadent cities.
The Art of Bloodshed provides new feats, optional rules, a few handy tables,
added class benefits and special attacks that greatly enrich and deepen the experience of role-playing a warrior
in Hyboria. Skills of the Warrior adds further detail, refinement and polish.
Weapons, armor and gear available in the Conan RPG gain an upgrade
and expansion in Wood, Stone, Steel. There are cultural variations of the tried and true as well as new equipment not found
elsewhere. There is even a section on weapon and armor modification.
Six prestige classes are introduced in Many Paths, All Warriors: Axeman,Duellist,
Pit Fighter, Savage, Warlord and Wrestler. And in Famous Warriors of the Hyborian Age we meet such worthies as Ambalyo of
Darfar, Lord Amalric and Valenso of Korzetta.
This tome concludes with The Martial Discipline, a slim section that compacts
lots of useful information for warriors who wish to master body and mind and use them in combat rather than wielding
conventional weapons.
At the time of this writing my gamers find themselves
in Stygia, not too far from Haraqt, and embroiled in the affairs of wizards. Soon we'll be back in Aquilonia's Khorotas Ward.
Each time we change the scenery I find myself going through the many fine tomes and boxed sets that comprise the Conan
RPG to add greater flavor and color to their gaming experience. Despite
the many times I've gone through this routine since 2007 I still remain amazed at the wealth of nuance and
detail that Mongoose Publishing continues to bring to Conan's world.
The Warrior's Companion greatly contributes to
and upholds this tradition of excellence.
Onwards!
Musing by Thor
the Barbarian
