Robert E. Howard's Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of

Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of · Conan 2d20

Robert E. Howard's Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of

Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of immerses you in the Hyborian Age, a harsh world of warring kingdoms, arid deserts, and treacherous ports. It embodies sword and sorcery with a gritty edge. Magic is scarce and expensive. Heroes emerge through daring, cunning, and steel. Fans appreciate its fast-paced action and the freedom to engage in mercenary work, tomb raiding, or courtly intrigue, all within a single campaign.

A session feels like a pulp story recounted by the fireside after a battle. Quick decisions, desperate risks, vibrant imagery, and meaningful consequences define the experience. It caters to newcomers seeking bold adventure and veterans who relish tactical action without lengthy rules discussions. Organise a one-off raid or a full campaign, for adults only. You can book a professional Game Master for birthdays, team events, or a regular table, whether online or in person.

How to play Robert E. Howard's Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of

Players roll two twenty-sided dice to determine if a task is successful. You aim to roll equal to or below a target number based on your character’s attributes and skills. Each die that succeeds counts as one success. Surpass the difficulty and any extra successes become Momentum, which you can spend on bonus damage, useful details, or follow-ups. The Game Master uses a Doom pool to increase the stakes, trigger unpleasant surprises, or empower enemies when you push your luck.

Most fights are quick and brutal. Damage is calculated using six-sided dice. Parrying and armour are important. Sorcery is powerful but risky. For online play, dice rollers and voice chat work effectively. Expect 2 to 6 players for a 3 to 4 hour session. You bring a bold character idea, a few d20s and d6s, and a willingness to take risks. The Game Master provides pregenerated characters if needed, props, and clear stakes. One-shots focus on a heist or survival dash. Campaigns develop renown, rivals, and scars. To match the tone, see GM playstyles.

Seven friends crowd together and pose during a StoryForgers D&D night
Seven friends crowd together and pose during a StoryForgers D&D night
A red, marble-textured ten-sided dice showing the numbers 5 and 9 in gold, used for tabletop RPG adventure games.
A red, marble-textured ten-sided dice showing the numbers 5 and 9 in gold, used for tabletop RPG adventure games.

Common questions

Do I need Conan lore or the rulebook to participate?

No rulebook or setting homework required. A professional Game Master explains the 2d20 basics in just a few minutes and teaches as you play. You’ll receive a brief overview of the Hyborian Age, its key nations, and the atmosphere of sword and sorcery. Pregenerated characters are available if you want to dive in quickly, or you can create one together before starting. If you’re a Conan fan, the GM can incorporate familiar names and lore. If not, you’ll be just fine.

How is this different from playing D&D?

Conan uses Modiphius 2d20, rather than classes and levels like most D&D tables. You roll under target numbers with two d20s, build Momentum on successful rolls, and spend it for extra actions and details. The GM has a Doom pool to counter players. Armour reduces damage. Heroes keep track of Vigor and Resolve, with Wounds and Trauma as lasting effects. Magic is uncommon and comes with risks. The atmosphere is pulp action with quick, tough decisions, not lengthy spell lists and dungeon maps.

What types of characters can we play?

You can be a thief from Zamora, a Pictish scout, a mercenary, a pirate, a noble schemer, a desert nomad, a grim scholar, or a rare sorcerer. There are no strict classes. Lifepaths shape your homeland, caste, and skills, while talents make you unique. For one-shots, pre-generated sheets keep things quick. For campaigns, character creation can be a brief session zero or organised in advance with the GM.

How gritty is it, and is it suitable for teenagers?

The setting is harsh. Violence, horror, and moral ambiguity are prevalent. It is designed for adults, not children. Your group can adjust how graphic the scenes are and which topics remain off-limits. A professional Game Master establishes safety tools first, then aligns the level of danger with your comfort and objectives. You can opt for swashbuckling high adventure, grim survival, or courtly treachery. To explore tone options and how GMs approach it, see GM playstyles.

What group size and session length are most effective?

Conan works best with 2 to 6 players over a duration of 3 to 4 hours, with 3 to 5 being the ideal number. This range helps maintain the flow of scenes and supports the Momentum economy. With just two players, the spotlight is strong, creating a lean and tense atmosphere. Six players can be accommodated if you prefer quicker rulings and larger set pieces. Our Game Masters schedule a short break and manage the pacing of fights, ensuring you spend more time making decisions and taking actions rather than flipping through pages.

Can I play a sorcerer, and how does magic function?

Yes, but sorcery is uncommon and expensive. Player magic relies on rituals, pacts, and forbidden knowledge, rather than combat spells. The rules reflect risk through Corruption and mental strain. Spells may require time, materials, or grim bargains. Alchemy and relics provide alternative options. If no one wants a full scholar, minor tricks or occult backgrounds still suit the tone. Your GM will explain the options and ensure the consequences are clear.

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Genres you can play in Robert E. Howard's Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of

  • Pulp

    Action-packed excitement, nail-biting pursuits, mysterious villains, and deadly traps. Imagine adventures in the style of Indiana Jones or…

    View genre: Pulp
  • Pirate

    Salt spray, creaking decks, and cutlass duels as you pursue treasure and rivals across treacherous waters. Swashbuckling adventure…

    View genre: Pirate
  • Gritty

    Difficult decisions, limited resources, and lasting consequences. Imagine Game of Thrones, where trust is tenuous, debts must be repaid…

    View genre: Gritty
  • Low Magic

    A gritty fantasy where a whispered charm holds more weight than fireballs. Steel, cunning, and tough decisions shape the narrative, much…

    View genre: Low Magic
  • Ancient

    Marble courts, desert caravan trails, and the thunder of legions. Schemes in the forum, omens in the flames, daily life under empire…

    View genre: Ancient
  • Steampunk

    Victorian grit, brass gadgets, and bold invention. Imagine Around the World in 80 Days with airships, clockwork automatons, and smokestack…

    View genre: Steampunk

What players think

  • It was an amazing experience for the girls! Thank you, Marie! You were incredibly well prepared, the girls were captivated by your every word, and it felt like you had been playing together for years! Looking forward to seeing you next time!

    Annick

  • Tom was fantastic! He was really great with the kids and patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The children asked the next day when we would be doing this again.

    Danny

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did a fantastic job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a large portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't really know how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but see it as honest criticism. Cheers, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed from our less experienced players while also keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his extensive knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided an excellent experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was really engaging. I got a game as a gift for my boyfriend, who is very keen on it, and he was very pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • Baptiste was a fantastic GM who adapted seamlessly to our group and helped us move forward in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided, as they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were quite rough. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a healing spell, even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left their game saying it was the most fun they’d ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another game with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach allowed the players to fully immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

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