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335793-CONAN-GM-sCloset-for-the-Conan-RPG
A LOW LEVEL WORLD OF HIGH ADVENTURE -Typically, with d20 games, there are two types of universes. The first is
dynamic where the world scales with the level of the player characters. You
can see this in some D&D adventures where, when playing a published
adventure designed for characters level 1-3, all the town guards are 1st level
Fighters and the Captain of the Guards is maybe 4th level.
Then, as the PCs gain experience and levels, an adventure designed for 4-6
level characters will have town guards at level 2 or 3, and the Captain at level
7.
The other type of universe is stagnant, where character levels remain what
they are regardless of the PCs' level. Town guards are always about the same
level, no matter where you go, and a Captain of the Guard of similar
experience will be the same level, no matter the level of the player
characters.
The Conan RPG uses this second method for the setting of the Hyborian Age.
Feared Pict savages are 1st level Barbarians. And, from the point of view of a
Commoner classed character, even one that is level 10, that 1st level Pict
truly is something to be feared.
A GM that prefers the dynamic scaling method for his games can certainly
game that way. But, I will note that keeping the Conan universe low-level
(think of it like a E-10 game) will keep the grit and lethal flavor of the
Hyborian Age that comes across so atmospherically in Howard's Conan
stories.
What Does A Level Mean?
Half the game universe's NPCs should be in the 1st-3rd level range. For
clarification, a section was added to the 2E core rulebook that provides
guidelines to GMs when making decisions on character levels. See pg. 11-12
of the 2E rulebook for specifics, and look at the Human entries in the
Beastiary chapter.
In sum, character levels in the Conan RPG are defined as such (from the
examples given in the 2E Core Rulebook).
1st level - a novice fresh out of basic training. But also note that many NPCs
are 1st level. A character can be a novice for years or even most of his life.
2nd or 3rd level - most seasoned NPCs. 50% of all NPCs are level 1-3.
4th level - a cut above. The elites. A leader of a bandit band or the fiercest
warrior of a band of pirates.
8th level - legendary character. Clan chieftans. Infamous sorcerors. Army
generals. Warriors of great renown.

12th level and greater - True mythical characters, as with Conan, ThothAmon, Thulsa Doom, Xaltotun, Akivasha.
Examples.
Where as the first edition and Atlantean Edition used few examples to
illustrate this point, the Second Edition of the rules drove the point home with
the afore mentioned new section describing various character levels and
several new examples in the Bestiary chapter of the book.
Here are those examples:
Belit's Black Corsairs, who terrorized the Southern Coast for all those years,
are 2nd level Southern Islander Pirates.
The feared Darfari Cannibals are 3rd level Black Kingdom Barbarians.
The entry for Picts reveals that they are 1st level Pictish Barbarians.
Typical Zamorian Thief? 2nd level Thief.
Typical Turanian Light Cavalryman? 2nd level Soldier.
Typical Peasant? 1st level Commoner.
Typical Merchant? 3rd level Commoner/1st level Scholar.
Typical Hyborian Socerer? 4th level Scholar.
Typical Zingaran Dancing Girl? 2nd level Temptress.
Typical City Guardsman? 2nd level Soldier.
Typical Bandit? 2nd level Borderer.
There's an example of a Sellsword, which is described as a dangerous
mercenary and killer for hire. This guy is a 4th level character: 2nd level
Soldier/2nd level Borderer.
Also note page 301 of 2E Conan. The majority of a kingdom's military forces
are 1st level Soldiers. Lower-ranking officers are 2nd-5th level Soldiers.
Higher ranking officers are usually Nobles or Noble/Soldiers multiclassed.
Peasant militia are usually 1st level Commoners armed with war spears.
Commoner.
The Commoner class is meant for NPCs. You'll see it listed on page 351 of the
2E Core Rulebook. This class maxes out at level 10, uses a d4 Hit Die, is
illiterate (a character must spend skill points to be able to read and write),
and comes with few class perks in the way of free Feats and class abilities.

For example, a 1st level Soldier character gets maximum hit points (1st level
Commoners do not get maximum--it must be rolled), uses d10 hit dice, is
proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light, medium, and heavy
armor, and shields. Plus, the character is given the Two-Weapon combat feat
for free (in addition to other bonuses).
In contrast, the 1st level Commoner must roll his starting hit points--he does
not get maximum points. He is illiterate and two skill points must be spent in
order to make the character educated enough to read and write. And,
proficiency is given for one simple weapon--that's a single weapon, not all
weapons classed as "Simple" as with the Soldier.
Point of View: Upon first glance, a 1st level Pict Barbarian doesn't seem all
that scary. But, a GM should look at the 1st level Pict from the point of view of
a Commoner of any level. From that vantage point, the Pict savage is
certainly something to be feared.
GM Advice: When considering the power of any character level in the Conan
RPG, always consider that level from the point of view of a Commoner classed
NPC.